Savour this all you lovers of old sheds or wacky gate machinery, (mainly the men I assume?)

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
"As far as I can remember" we once had a quite successful thread on the topic of old/derelict sheds, (or sheds in general?).

This thread is for aficionados of anything mechanical that is wacky, (in the UK this kind of thing would have been called "Heath Robinson" at one time, after inventions made by an inventor from Victorian times).

I'm afraid in true haphazard fashion I mucked up the video orientation, but will post it anyway, along with a still photograph to assist you to appreciate the finer points of the creation!

Gate closure.5.JPG
 

officerripley said:
Might this be the vid?

Click to expand...
Great video, and the level of invention was terrific, but my only criticism would be those contraptions designed by each of the students all linked together did not perform a "useful task" did they, except to trigger the next one! :)

My gate closure device, using both a pulley and weight mechanism, and a spring mechanism, that came into its own when the gate was about fully open, performed the very useful task of allowing human walkers through, but was designed at least to close quickly enough to keep "wooly backs" out! :)
(I hope everyone understands what a "wooly back" might be!? :) )
 
Last edited:
We need to see a this gate closure mechanism from a few more angles dont we, (and there is tale to tell as to what happened to the gate and its mechanism a few hours after these shots were taken two days ago, but I'll save tht for now lest it puts people off showing examples of the own mechanical prowess etc.:

Gate closure mechanism.3a.JPG

Gate closure.4.JPG
 
Right, now maybe is the time for the sad story of the demise of the gate closing so sweetly only hours after I'd fitted it, and before I'd had time to shield the working parts so no one could trip on the busy footpath and hurt themselves.

My "so called mate" who owns the field and had seen my work just before I shot the video, and only said "he'd hoped for a simpler mechanism" tore the "work of art" down, after another "so called mate", who I brought in to give my efforts his endorsement had gone behind my back to give the owner some lurid tale of his brother getting into some bother when a walker injured themselves in his field.

Obviously I can accept the need to be ultra cautious when dealing with issues of safety, BUT the mechanism in the picture to the right of the gate could easily have been shielded so no one could injure themselves I believe, and the nice slow gentle closing system fitted to this "unique", "bespoke" gate, (a feature for walkers enjoying the trail I'd say), had real positives in its favour over alternative closing mechanisms.

The upshot is the "so called mate" can't yet use his field to house his sheep, or they'll obviously trespass onto the neighbouring field he rents only during the summer months, unless he and the so called expert mate, (who is very knowledgeable I admit), can come up with a better system, having failed so far, "that doesn't cost an arm and a leg", (attempt at black humour in the face of the sad demise of said gate! :( ).

What "mates" I do have, maybe its time to find some new ones!!!? :)
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top