Test Equipment Anonymous

Zenith wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:25 pm

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:04 pm As a kid I used to look all the time, partly through boredom, and partly because old coins were still in circulation, even though grossly eroded. I have many Edwardian and Victorian coins, the oldest being 1863. I seem to recall having had a small booklet listing prices of each coin/date.

A lot of topical or whimsical 50p coins are issued. Some of them are worth far more than face value to collectors. I've seen this thing mentioned sometimes in the daily rags. I can't see interest myself, but it takes all sorts to make a world.

https://coinhunter.co.uk/50p/worth/

I can remember the odd Edward VII penny so worn as to be barely recognisable.

Quite a few of mine are like that, some with the date barely legible. Nobody cared; they were just used.

I have six 2007 coins that are worth far more than their face value. No need to pay capital gains tax on their appreciation, either.

Looks like I also have

• several £5 commemorative coins
• several £2 commemorative coins
• many florins; yes they were called that
• only one half-crown, which is surprising since they were common
• tanners (half-bob), shillings (bob) , ha'pennies, thrupenny bits

but no farthings (out of circulation in 1947, IIRC).

I'll take some pictures of the old coppers tomorrow, when the light is better.

Anybody got any idea about how I could spend or change paper Euros?

EC8010 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 2:32 pm I wonder how long it will be before Trump's fizzog appears on US currency? (Mild stir.)

I suspect this is as close as he'll get:

Ouch! And I see one can wipe one's bottom with Farage, too. In fact, such political paper seems quite popular.

I was amused/saddened by the EU 50p coin.

Back in 1984 you could buy a lifesize cartoon cardboard cutout of Margaret Thatcher, as a form of guy on Nov 5th[1]. I put mine in the passenger seat of my Land Rover

[1] https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collect ... tradition/

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 5:15 pm
Anybody got any idea about how I could spend or change paper Euros?

Visit EU? France is fast reached via the Eurostar. You probably (but no guarantees) can pay in Euros already in the bistro car en route. Given the ticket price it would be a hideous exchange rate, of course.

mansaxel wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 9:00 pm

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 5:15 pm
Anybody got any idea about how I could spend or change paper Euros?

Visit EU? France is fast reached via the Eurostar. You probably (but no guarantees) can pay in Euros already in the bistro car en route. Given the ticket price it would be a hideous exchange rate, of course.

That's he obvious default, but it would be good to be certain.

In the UK shops might not accept old UK currency. The Bank of England will, and probably many banks will, but not shops.

What about old euros issued in Italy being accepted in France?

The TV ads said "American Express Traveler's Checks accepted world-wide". Except in the UK as I found out the hard way and got hosed on exchange rates. Damn Limeys.

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 9:10 pm
Anybody got any idea about how I could spend or change paper Euros?

What about old euros issued in Italy being accepted in France?

I wasn't aware there was any difference in Euro notes across the EU, regardless of the issuing nation's code, nor that any were considered expired would only be accepted at banks.

Have you tried the local travel agent? They usually have a currency desk.

I've usually got a couple of hundred Euros in paper money, but I go to France a couple of times a year and top up if I need to, before a trip.

Changing the subject, I thought I'd indulge in some pre-Christmas quality control this evening. We bought some 15yr Glenmorangie last week. First off, the bottle was fitted with a huge child-proof knob the size of a coffee cup over its neck. I had to resort to a hacksaw to cut the thing away. Sadly, once into a tumbler, it was a bit disappointing. We only get through a bottle or so a year, so we're scarcely expert, but it seemed a bit like some of the Australian Chardonnays late last century. They had a little too much oak to conceal other weaknesses, and this whisky seemed to have a little too much sherry finish to try conceal something else that wasn't quite right. It wasn't a patch on the stuff we had perhaps seven years ago...

I haven't had Glenmorangie for years. I recall it was one of the nicer ones, with what I'd call a rounded flavour and not too fiery. I thought Highland Park was similar but smoother still. Just the thing for a winter night with the rain lashing against the windows.

The Scottish whisky industry preferred to use used casks from the Sherry industry and Sherry was a very popular drink in the UK. However, it went out of fashion maybe 30 years ago and the supply of casks became less. Maybe they've been forced to use some less traditional way of achieving the Sherry finish?

Zenith wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 11:47 pm I haven't had Glenmorangie for years. I recall it was one of the nicer ones, with what I'd call a rounded flavour and not too fiery. I thought Highland Park was similar but smoother still. Just the thing for a winter night with the rain lashing against the windows.

The Scottish whisky industry preferred to use used casks from the Sherry industry and Sherry was a very popular drink in the UK. However, it went out of fashion maybe 30 years ago and the supply of casks became less. Maybe they've been forced to use some less traditional way of achieving the Sherry finish?

The Scotts import used oak casks from over here. US law states that bourbon casks can only be used once.

EC8010 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 10:34 pm Changing the subject, I thought I'd indulge in some pre-Christmas quality control this evening. We bought some 15yr Glenmorangie last week. First off, the bottle was fitted with a huge child-proof knob the size of a coffee cup over its neck. I had to resort to a hacksaw to cut the thing away. Sadly, once into a tumbler, it was a bit disappointing. We only get through a bottle or so a year, so we're scarcely expert, but it seemed a bit like some of the Australian Chardonnays late last century. They had a little too much oak to conceal other weaknesses, and this whisky seemed to have a little too much sherry finish to try conceal something else that wasn't quite right. It wasn't a patch on the stuff we had perhaps seven years ago...

I haven't had any for about 30 years. I remember it being a whisky in a distinctive bottle with a cork stopper. I only recall seeing one sort, possibly 12 year old, maybe there were others. Looking on their website

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

They now sell about 30 different whiskies, from prices as low as single malts get (about £30) to grand reserve and vintage versions, one of which is £1,900 a bottle. It could easily be that what you bought 7 years ago was nothing like the last bottle.

As for casks and finishes, entries for each sort of whisky explain in the the artistic description, which sort of casks were used to mature the whisky; bourbon, rye, sherry, Port, Calvados, white wine, new burned oak, Malaga, Cognac.

It looks to me as if they've had a makeover with some very imaginative marketing people involved, and that's where all these unusual variants, the florid descriptions and the strange stopper are from.

Well, they want to sell more of their product and if this works, good for them. I'm finding I can resist A Tale of Ice Cream, capturing "the lavish flavours found in an ice cream parlour in a single malt" and yours for a trifling £76 a bottle.

I buy around one bottle of single malt a year, around Christmas. I'll stick to looking out for whatever's on offer in the supermarket and expect to pay no more than about £30.

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 4:26 pm Quite a few of mine are like that, some with the date barely legible. Nobody cared; they were just used.

To finish the topic, here are two pictures of coins I found in my pocket...
Two queens, old any young
Two ages
1d and ¹/₂d
1863 * 3
1901
1966
One too warn to tell, but an early Victoria

I bought a very nice Pultra lathe at Dunstable Downs two years ago. A bargain at £60 even though it was a bit of a mongrel with a 1750 headstock on an earlier bed had no tool rest. It had several other accessories They were a bit rusty but a soak in evaporust sort them out. I've since aquired the correct bed and a compound slide. The Pultra is a precision watch / clockmakers lathe. They are so precise you can swap headstocks, tailstocks etc between lathes without adjustment. This is by design and even applies to between models. The slide is a bit of a project but I get it sorted.
Maybe it was the same one that was at Newbury.
There was a little Emco lathe at DD last year at a bargain £50.I was sorely tempted but I don't have need or space for 3 lathes...

Robert.

tggzzz wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:34 pm

nixiefreqq wrote: ↑Tue Nov 25, 2025 1:00 pm hmmmmm.......coins with a queen on them.

just out of curiosity........have coins been issued yet with an image of the king?

(not trying to stir up anything.......just wondering).

Interesting question; can't think how it would stir anything up!

King Charles notes have been in circulation since June 2024, and on looking it seems I have one. Wouldn't have noticed unless you asked.
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknot ... -banknotes

Looks like coins are entering circulation at various times. Haven't noticed any.
https://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/press ... rculation/
https://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/press ... rculation/

well ya' know swmbo thinks she is still a royal subject. she has all kinds of commemorative stuff from the princess of wales. (plates, books, doodads and nicknacks). and she liked the queen. but don't mention charlie. (maybe its an ex thing?) but if you really want to set her off .....call camilla the new "queen" and stand back because she starts winding up like a gas turbine about to take off.

nixiefreqq wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 3:43 pm but if you really want to set her off .....call camilla the new "queen" and stand back because she starts winding up like a gas turbine about to take off.

Have you tried her with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and his delightful semi-ex Fergie? You could spice the mix by pointing out that he hasn't actually been convicted of any wrong-doing, and so has been unfairly treated.

The counter to that would be Anne, and Edward+Sophie, who seems to do a reasonable low-key job.

Wish Anne would keep her cows in her own fields; I've had to play cowboy to get a herd off the runway.

Mind you, at least they could be chased away. Two miles away on Minchinhampton Common, the damn things are quite content to chew the cud lying in the road, or just hold up the traffic.

Robert wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 12:43 pm Maybe it was the same one that was at Newbury.

There was a little Emco lathe at DD last year at a bargain £50.I was sorely tempted but I don't have need or space for 3 lathes...

No, I don't know what it was I saw at Newbury, but it wasn't a Pultra; it was nice, but not super, and I'd have snapped up anything of that quality for £70.

And as for an Emco for £50... A Unimat?

I used to reckon £30 was adequate for a decent single malt, but the goal posts appear to have moved. Fortunately, I'm not so sure I'm all that keen oin whisky any more.

EC8010 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:31 pm No, I don't know what it was I saw at Newbury, but it wasn't a Pultra; it was nice, but not super, and I'd have snapped up anything of that quality for £70.

And as for an Emco for £50... A Unimat?

I've always been interested in machine tools and have seen what they can do. Modern life depends on them and their history is fascinating. Unfortunately I have never been so well placed as to own and use a lathe, let alone less basic gear. I do have a few Cree Led/Li-ion torches and the metalwork in them, churned out in bulk, is impressive. It must be all CNC.

I view it as a bit like the interest on here with calculators. I have a few and they are useful, but I find I have no desire whatsoever to harbour more. However, I can see why people do, and I enjoy it vicariously. I hope that when I get round to describing one or two of my prospective projects - not exactly TE, closest may be industrial electronics - I hope I will be met with polite indulgence.

EC8010 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:31 pm I used to reckon £30 was adequate for a decent single malt, but the goal posts appear to have moved. Fortunately, I'm not so sure I'm all that keen oin whisky any more.

Something like hi-fi. You can spend very little on something that produces a recognisable sound and gives pleasure. You can spend more and get something better. You can spend a lot more and get something a bit better still. You can spend even more and get something slightly better, but tastes vary and no one would mistake it for being at a concert or having a chamber orchestra appear in your home. Then the thing descends into audiophoolery and bullshit; little rings to enhance the sound of valves, cryogenically treated valves, acoustically competent IEC mains leads........ There's never any shortage of enterprising souls happy to relieve those struggling with the burden of excess wealth of the weight they bear.

There are blended whiskies, some little more than firewater, others smoother. There are (or were) single malts, all different, some peaty to different degrees, definitely to be sipped and savoured rather than be used in cocktails. Then we have this nonsense of £200 plus bottles of whisky for real connoisseurs.

If you want to continue this experiment, try a bottle of supermarket single malt. I doubt you'll feel ripped off, and at least you won't have to get out a hacksaw to pour it.

These days I prefer bourbon, although I'm not much for spirits.