The Draftmans Tools

[marlunn]

I have been helping clear out my wifes parents house as its being sold post her parents passing away. Her father was Dutch and part of the dutch resistance in WWII on capture he was a 'resident' in Buchenwald until the end of the war, later he married a DDR resident and they 'departed' the DDR to make a life in the west, he was a engineer and involved in setting up refineries and chemical plants, later with children they ceased travelling around europe and settled in the UK where I later met and married their eldest daughter. These were some of his tools, the image is a 'quick' shot to show them I may have to spend a bit of time cleaning them and then doing a good studio shot of them later

[Shadowman]

Nicely composed.

[IzzieK]

You certainly did a good job with the cleaning of these tools. If you did not say so, I would have thought he left these in pristine condition. Excellent illustration.

[george013]

I have been helping clear out my wifes parents house as its being sold post her parents passing away. Her father was Dutch and part of the dutch resistance in WWII on capture he was a 'resident' in Buchenwald until the end of the war, later he married a DDR resident and they 'departed' the DDR to make a life in the west, he was a engineer and involved in setting up refineries and chemical plants, later with children they ceased travelling around europe and settled in the UK where I later met and married their eldest daughter. These were some of his tools, the image is a 'quick' shot to show them I may have to spend a bit of time cleaning them and then doing a good studio shot of them later

Remembers me of my school time. Well conserved. I only don't know the tool at the upper left. What's that?

I had to refresh my knowledge of Buchenwald. If you don't mind I want to add some links. I think your father in law would have liked it. It was a special concentration camp with a strong resistance in the camp itself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchen...m_Nazi_Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchenwald_Resistance

George

[Mike Buckley]

Such a great find! Once you get around to making your ideal photo of the tools, I recommend not cleaning them, as that condition might be especially interesting. Once you've made the best shot you can make of them in their current state, you can clean them up and make other photos. You can then decide which style you prefer.

[John 2]

That's well captured and a beautiful drafting set. I hope you're going to keep and treasure them for posterity in this age of CAD.

[Tronhard]

I still have the draughting sets that I used when I was studying technical drawing and engineering, and then used through my career. Such precision instruments rank alongside theodolites and telescopes IMHO.

I agree with Mike's idea of taking a shot of them as they are, but in future always keep them clean out of respect for your father-in-law: no draughter I knew would let their gear get dirty. I found out that, outside medical professionals, draughters would wash there hands and arms more frequently than anyone other occupation. This washing not only cleaned the ink etc. off one, but reduced the deposit of our own body oils on the vellum, canvas, paper or Mylar drawing surfaces. Such deposits would stop the ink from forming a clean, crisp line.

[marlunn]

Thanks all, they are stored away in their box and will stay as is for the moment, I have no idea as to the top left tool George, sorry. Its a shot i need to think about Mike and how to fo them justice, I would like to incorporate some Tech drawings in the image so looking to a tabletop creation at soem point, my lighting skills are not up to it at the moment.

We visited Buchenwald in 1988 just prior to the wall coming down, as I was a serving member of the Royal Air Force at the time working on the Tornado aircraft it was an interesting experience getting permission to go to the DDR. At the time of actually planning the trip I was in the Falklands working on the Chinook helicopters so it was complicated to arrange to say the least for us. The trip was for a family wedding in Weimar as that is where my wifes mothers family were from. The visit to the camp was difficult for all the family but it helped lay a few ghosts to rest. My father in law was an 'active' prisoner by all accounts george !

The set will be kept safe and I think will be cleaned up later as you say Trev, no craftsman leaves dirty tools.

[Tronhard]

Hi Mark:

Although this is not an instrument that I have used, I think it is a device similar to French Curve templates, used to generate non-arithmetic curves, such as trapezoidal (spiral-like) curves - for example, you see them on highway access-ramps as the curve of the ramp tightens as you go around it.

I have no idea as to the top left tool George, sorry.

[Donald]

Beautiful set of instruments, very well photographed.

Like some others, some of the instruments take me back to school days. However this is the set of a true professional. Wonderful to see and admire.

[Mike Buckley]

I would like to incorporate some Tech drawings in the image

That idea could make an excellent scene. Other ideas include the same concept you've already displayed in the thread, a similarly tight crop of the tools though also displaying the box's open lid, images of one tool at a time against a black background, using black plexiglass to add a reflection of the subject, macro shots that display details of only part of a tool, etc., etc.

Your thread gave me the idea to send an email to a good friend today asking if he still has his drafting tools from the early days of his career.

[Tronhard]

Actually, upon reflection, one of the things that strikes me is the apparently immaculate condition of the box that contains the instruments. It is not uncommon for the lining to be stained with water or ink, or to have pilling and other wear marks as instruments are taken in and out. I wonder if he removed the instruments he needed for the day...

[marlunn]

Thanks Trev, interesting, the set is from E O Richter & co - Kopernikus XII - http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/page51.html

Thanks Donald, appreciated

I look forward to some images Mike - you have the skill with studio that I lack to show them off to their best

[John 2]

............................ I have no idea as to the top left tool George, sorry. ...................

Mark, the site linked in your last post shows the tool as a separate entity and calls it a Dotted Line Tool. Presumably it allowed the line length and spacing to be set accurately and consistently? The tornado formed a significant part of my working life also, having worked for the company that built it in the UK. The same sort of travel restrictions, permissions and even pre travel briefings applied prior to visiting any Eastern Bloc country.

[marlunn]

Cheers John, they were fun - I quite enjoyed working the Tonka toy line at Marham. Looks like I may have to have a play and see what I can do with the tools - a image is coming together on my head for this

[JBW]

not sure about cleaning. Might it not wash away his essence?

[Tronhard]

If you are thinking DNA, I think his essence will remain within the box and it's shaped padding. If you are thinking general appearance, IMHO the best thing would be to keep it as he would have, whatever that was.

not sure about cleaning. Might it not wash away his essence?