Martin Shaw
Western Thunderer
I went yesterday to see my local transport bookseller, he had some new secondhand stock to view and I bought rather too much, including for the princely sum of £2 this,
a catalogue from 1958 including a price list which is most interesting. I think they probaly still made all their products in Sheffield then whereas nowadays the vast majority is produced in the far east although they apparently still manufacture some more high tech stuff in the UK.
As a comparison a 0-25mm type 961M plain outside micrometer to 0.01 accuracy would have cost you £4.20 then, or today allowing for inflation £100.30. The current model, now called a 1961M has an RRP of £81 but available from suppliers anywhere between £49 and £64. I suppose this is not an entirely fair comparison, micrometers are much more common now than in 1958, I have two in my modest workshop, but have quality hand tools actually gone down in price.
Martin
a catalogue from 1958 including a price list which is most interesting. I think they probaly still made all their products in Sheffield then whereas nowadays the vast majority is produced in the far east although they apparently still manufacture some more high tech stuff in the UK.
As a comparison a 0-25mm type 961M plain outside micrometer to 0.01 accuracy would have cost you £4.20 then, or today allowing for inflation £100.30. The current model, now called a 1961M has an RRP of £81 but available from suppliers anywhere between £49 and £64. I suppose this is not an entirely fair comparison, micrometers are much more common now than in 1958, I have two in my modest workshop, but have quality hand tools actually gone down in price.
Martin
