Hi Thomas, Does not sound like hoarding at all.
I still have some of late fathers woodworking hand tools which do the job fine.
Many years ago I did a bit of printing using lead type.
I found out and visited a chap at Morpeth he had workshops full of vintage cars motorbikes etc and the machinery to make lead type. Fascinating place
Modern day things do not last we do not get tvs washing machines ect fixed now we just through them out.
I can happily spend hours at Beamish or similar places.

Sorry if going off topic in original thread.
We least a chemist shop in Alnwick from 60s to late 70s.
Built in 1825. We found all sorts of things including draws full of glass plates.
Large jar of arsenic marked one shilling and three pence an ounce.
Quick phone call drug squad came from Morpeth to remove Arsenic
I have a very old book of Alnwick which has photos of most of the businesses that used to be in Alnwick.
Including Alnwick Foundry which I think has a picture of a stationary engine on it not sure if engines were built in Alnwick Foundry/
Book is packed away as we are moving soon. I will get it out and check after we have moved and settled in. .

Back in the mid 1960s,our headmaster had been in the RAF during the war,and he had written a book called "The Hungry Clouds". The cellar had boxes of these books-much to the boys' amusement. I never did read it-it was probably very interesting.

Found this image would most towns manufacture engines ??
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im1887-Alnwick.jpg

Had a rummage through the useful box today ,found a couple of lengths of copper pipe and some sheet brass
Nice little soldering project
Came up with this .....
http://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pic...ictureid=60205

Looks the part ?

And where do you strike the matches ?

Only on the box now Bob
Even these ones are now the new swan vesta safety type
Can’t strike them on a rough surface any more ,need the chemical agent on side of box to ignite them


Suspect the original had a striker plate ,perhaps under the bottom of ashtray section ?
Any way pipe is only for show so ignition isn’t really a major issue

Stubble?

Thought they banned stubble burning years ago ...
Best baler ever invented the swan vesta mark one !

Fitted http://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pic...ictureid=60210