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Post by kiwijim on May 12, 2009 22:20:21 GMT 10
G'day all, Question- How many of you happy campers have had the joy of trying to tune your outside T.V. antenna which is on a pole attached to the side of the caravan, inside, the Bride is Yelling....... "around a bit more"..... "stop" .........".no you've gone past it"......." Ya silly old BxxxxR"......"AW leave it, ya tea's getting cold"  Well here is a little invention I con-cocked in the shed, it will save a lot of agro, as you can sit inside, watch the T.V. and wind the handle on the wall which will slowly turn your Antenna either way until you have that perfect picture. ;D ;D ;D Costs very little......an old Millard window winder, a couple of pieces of copper tube, a short piece of Millard window winder Hex rod, a few screws and nuts and bolts, a rubber washer and a tapered pin. The winder turns at a geared ratio of 22:1 ideal for a slow tuning of your T.V. antenna, SEE BELOW...............        |
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Post by bobt on May 12, 2009 22:29:12 GMT 10
Hi Kiwijm Most innovative.  Well Done Now please tell me how you get along with it once it is all installed. |
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Post by kiwijim on May 12, 2009 22:38:15 GMT 10
G'day Bobt, I presume you are thinking that the invention is a permanent fixture............. wrong, in the first diagram you will see that the top support is a loose fit, meaning, when you get to a site, you drop the pole with antenna attached down through the top support above the winder, until the slots in the pole base go over the winder pin. the weight of the pole and antenna hold it all together. kiwijim |
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Post by bobt on May 12, 2009 23:24:57 GMT 10
Hi Kiwijim Yes I notice you mentioned "loose" fit so I suspected you were not going to travel with the antenna in place. Sure would beat the "You ruined the picture" response I often get. It is a real pain setting it all up for a one night stand stay...  |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 2:34:25 GMT 10
Hi Kiwijim,
What a Brilliant Idea,Many thanks for posting that,
Along with your Pics,makes it a very simple thing to try.
Far,and Away Better than turning the Antenna from the outside,apart from the Grief from the Bigger....ERRR Better Half.
I loved your description,of the Bride Yelling.
A couple of years ago,my wife had a bad back,and asked me to give her a Massage with Deep Heat.
Kathy,
Nightie up over her head,bent over a chair in the Kitchen...
ME,
standing behind her doing my best to ease the pain in her back
Kathy,
Be Gentle,your doing it too hard,come down a little,yes thats good.
Youngest Daughter about 30 at the time....
I hope nobody is outside listening,or watching you 2,they would think your depraved.
Sorry to go off your Topic Mate,It still brings a smile to us.
Thanks Again.
John
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Post by atouchofglass on May 13, 2009 6:01:17 GMT 10
arhhhhh ha ha ha aarrhhhh ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Oh boy.... you paint one funny picture Johnno ;D ;D ;D ;D Gave me a good laugh as I try to wake up for work at 5.30 am.  Hey Jim Nice bit of inventumness.... Cheers Atog |
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Post by millard1399 on May 13, 2009 20:04:57 GMT 10
Hey kiwijim, part of me congratulates you on a very very clever idea!! The other part of me wants you to do six months of weekend detention for "butchering" a poor old Millard. Couldn't you have picked a winder off a Viscount??! I mean...they're not worth that much anyway  [...INCOMING!!!!!... ;D ;D] Do you have a spare parts bin that has other Millard winder handles in it?? I'm looking for two of the grey cast alloy winder handles. I'm missing one, and I think I'll end up wrecking another to get it off the gearbox spindle. Maybe if I can find a Viscount handle, I can swap you for the Millard one you've used. I could sneak around to Keelz's place and do a bit of tampering... [Where is Keelz these days?? ] Kiwijim, let me know if you can do something for me ps. Did you see the new member "thomsonglennevis"? Is he/she related to you? cheers, Al. |
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Post by mike on May 13, 2009 20:38:31 GMT 10
Hey kiwijim, What a great idea!!  Well illustrated! Its the simple things that make for really great inventions.  Cheers Mike ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2009 22:03:07 GMT 10
Nice Well done KiwiJim Now we need a u-tube video of it going 'round ... and 'round ... and 'round. |
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Post by kiwijim on May 13, 2009 22:06:34 GMT 10
G,day Al, I thought the butchering of a Millard part would send you off, ;D ;D ;D Now........how many handles do you require, because the answer is yes, we do have a shed full of old parts at work, I was scratching around in there the other day and found all sorts of goodies including about 6 complete Millard windows, these will never be used again as we sold our last Millard some time ago, unfortunately there was a Hugh clean-up at work last week and most of the treasures were sent to the crusher. I will send you all the remaining cast winder handles that I can find.........no worries, just P.M your address to me Al and I will hopefully find some still hidden around the many box's in the workshop. The new member... THOMSONGLENNEVIS is the Web Master of the Scottish based Site dedicated to the preservation of the Thomson caravan, I have been in regular contact with Graham over the last two years regarding information on the history of the Thomson caravan, and no he is no relation of mine, by the way I haven't noticed many welcomes being extended to him on this forum as yet, maybe no one has noticed he is another over-seas visitor who has a wealth of information regarding British caravans.  Cheers and beers kiwijim |
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Post by kiwijim on May 16, 2009 9:59:08 GMT 10
Calling.... MILLARD 1399.......HELLO...HELLO....HELLO P.M. Sent AL ......." CHECK YOUR INCOMING" You lucky little vegemite.....  Cheers and Beers kiwijim
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Post by millard1399 on May 16, 2009 14:27:06 GMT 10
kiwijim, I take back all the nasty words and thoughts I ever said about you You are a CHAMPION! The 1977 Millard here thanks you from the bottom of its chassis!! PM sent. cheers, Al. |
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Post by kiwijim on May 16, 2009 20:02:03 GMT 10
G'Day AL, Rec"d your P.M. posting Goodies Monday, glad I could help. Following are the latest developments with the Aerial Rotator.....  Here is the winder box attached to the side of the THOMSON.  The top support is a modified Fire Extinguisher hanging bracket, cut in half and heated to make loose snap-lock fitting. ;D  The complete winder box with Aerial pole fitted  All fitted......and it worked a treat ;D ;D ;D  The Millard winder fitted to an inside wall......very easy to turn. another day on the Thomson finished.......Now for a BEER ! ! ! Cheers all kiwijim |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2009 21:00:49 GMT 10
Hi All,
Kiwijim,
Many thanks for posting the Great Pics of your setup.
Without doubt,that is the best Antenna setup I have Ever seen, and I will be fitting it to my Freedom Express.
Cheers.
John
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Post by kiwijim on May 16, 2009 23:32:45 GMT 10
G'Day John, Best of luck with your winder, Unfortunately I can't send you a winder box as someone has cleaned me out. give it a week or so, then give AL (Millard 1399) a call, he may be able to help you if you require one. We are very pleased with the winder now that it is finally installed, no more out in the dark & rain, turning the Antenna pole by hand then getting all sorts of abuse from inside when you go past the best reception position because the Bride was a bit slow to bellow.  ;D cheers kieijim |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2009 2:47:32 GMT 10
Hi Kiwijim,
Many thanks Mate
I,m sure I have a winder,or something that will work the same laying around,if not I will take your good advice,and contact Al.
I know the frustation of asking the Bride,"How is it now",and the "Helpful"replies..............An exersize in frustation,and anger management if ever there was one.
I have another helpful tip,for you,and all our members.
Its a Method of Improving your accuracy,when backing,and placing the tow ball,under the Hitch,on the Van.
Just Ask the Bride to Guide you,IE Left hand Down,Right hand Down Etc.
I can Guarantee,your Accuracy,doing it by yourself, will improve,Tremendously
The last time the Bride "Helped" me,almost ended a 35 year Marriage.
Please dont take me wrong, I Adore Kathy,
But there are some things,where, you do better apart,and it's much safer for her.
Cheers for now.
John
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2009 13:36:33 GMT 10
Truly a thing of beauty |
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Post by millard1399 on May 17, 2009 20:42:34 GMT 10
Hey kiwijim, are you sending me some of the hex rod as well?? (...grovel...grovel  ) Such a great idea should be copied over here on the East coast I reckon! I was thinking that if you went somewhere where the TV reception was lousy, you could tape a couple of thawed chickens to the aerial and point a gas heater at them. Couple of hours later and the Millard rotisserie would have dinner ready! Orrrrrr...you could tie some swings to the aerial and give the kids in the Park a bit of a merry-go-round! ;D Crikey, kiwijim, I think you should enter this invention on the ABC Inventors program. The possibilities are endless...!! ;D ;D ;D cheers, Al. |
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;D