“MADE IN ASHBURTON”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 169, 29 April 1943, Page 2

“MADE IN ASHBURTON”

RESIDENT’S HOBBY WITH TOOLS.

“I can’t do Anything vvith tools,” is a common phrase. Mr F. A. Coldicott, of Havelock Street, Ashburton, was, in • his own words, a few years ago, hardly able to use a saw, yet with a few home-made machine tools he. has constructed two farm tractors, a drill, a rotary hoe,; a grubber, a drill, a caravan and several smaller agricultural implements. This machinery he made mainly with metal parts obtained from the car-wrecking depot, using tools he made himself. What was., the blade of a circular saw form's the moulding board of a single-furrow hand plough, the wheel of which was made hy cutting down the spokes of an old car steering wheel and welding a steel brake-band on. ■ • ••••••

The largest piece of machinery made in this home workshop is a 20 horse-power tractor made by building a strong frame-work around a car motor. This tractor is just as serviceable as any factory-made machine, as are the rotary hoe, the six-coulter drill and the six-tyne grubber. These implements were built for ' working an orchard in the North Island, but never left Ashburton. Another tractor was built expressly for working the section by Mr Coldicott’s home. A small, two-wheeled job, it has proved an amazing success. A third and still smaller tractor is being constructed, and will be driven by a motor-cycle engine. Workshop Small But Complete.

Though small, the workshop has all the tools necessary for metal-work. Electric welding, turning, machine drilling and sawing come within its scope. Only the lathe and circular saw were not made by Mr Coldicott. The machine drill is another ex 1 ample of the ingenious use of odd parts. The base plate was made from a. piece of car chassis, and for the drilling table a stove lid. A gramophone spring was pressed into service to hold the chuck up. Car axle beai--ings and binder parts make the rest of the tool, the chuck being the only part not made by Mr Coldicott. Saving hours of hand-sawing, one of the most useful tools is the mechanical hacksaw. Besides the drill and hacksaw, Mr Coldicott has made a wood bandsaw. .Near the workshop is a small smithy with a forge made from an old separator.