Oldham tools sought... · AditNow Community

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

12 years ago

On the scrounge :)

I'm trying to track down a few tools for Oldham lamps and was wondering if anybody had any that were no longer needed that they wanted to sell?

The hardest to track down are the triangular keys for removing the triangular headed screws securing the bezel on the lamp head; and the larger similar tool for removing the similar triangular headed screw securing the battery top.

Oldham sold the last of these tools in 2003.

(the bezel screw was replaced with regular hexagon allen screws on later G types and all D types; and the battery top screw varies from the triangular type to the notched type that requires the H shaped nut spinner, and a standard flat screwhead type)

:flowers:

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

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RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

I've managed to loosen the triangular ones with a small pair of pliers before. Not ideal and a bit faffy but it works so long as it isn't fastened ridiculously tight or seized I suppose.

When I was looking a few years ago couldn't get a tool anywhere.

Tried caving supplies?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

12 years ago

"RJV" wrote:
I've managed to loosen the triangular ones with a small pair of pliers before. Not ideal and a bit faffy but it works so long as it isn't fastened ridiculously tight or seized I suppose.

OK for the ones on the battery tops, but the bezel one cannot be removed that way without damaging the plastic around it :(

"RJV" wrote:
Tried caving supplies?

They don't list it, but I'll give them a try.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

I made my own, with difficulty. You need a short length of steel tubing which you need to shape to a triangle with a small hammer, and then finish off by driving in one of the triangle screws.
Better still. Get one of the screws as a pattern and match it to a baby socket, then grind down the outer circumference of the socket to go into the lamp. This will shift a tight one.
Beware of trying pointed pliers in the lamp, you will crack it!

Later lamps use an allen key.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

I've never seen the fitting in question or its size, but is there not some sort of generic triangular screwdriver that would fit ?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

12 years ago

"christwigg" wrote:
I've never seen the fitting in question or its size, but is there not some sort of generic triangular screwdriver that would fit ?

I doubt it, the tool fits around the head of the screw - think tiny triangular nut head.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

Ah, like those ones you get on outdoor gas meters ?
But probably smaller.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

I had, but have subsequently lost/had stolen, a 60-piece kit of all sorts of odd shaped security bits, which included the ones that you need. I got it from Screwfix of all places. Worth a look in case they still do it. They were in a red blown-plastic case about 6" x 4". I could open lamp columns, BT cabinettes and all manner of "tamper proof" things :devil:

Yma O Hyd....

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

What size is the triagular nut ?

I'm sure i've got a key that used to open the bog roll dispenser at work that might fit.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

12 years ago

#10

"christwigg" wrote:
Ah, like those ones you get on outdoor gas meters ?
But probably smaller.

That's exactly the sort of thing. But with each side of the triangular head of the screw being about 3mm across...

Looking on the web at various specialist tool outlets.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Boy Engineer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#11

"christwigg" wrote:

I'm sure i've got a key that used to open the bog roll dispenser at work that might fit.

On ours you just pull it out at the bottom (so to speak). Rest room security in the North East must be really tight. Can't imagine the dilemma if you forget the key. 😮

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#12

There must be something similar for the headsets still around, my New Wisdom has a triangular screw for its bezel lock. Not so sure about the battery one though, but as ever with old Oldham stuff, have you asked Phil Brown at Caving Supplies?

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#13

"Boy Engineer" wrote:

On ours you just pull it out at the bottom (so to speak). Rest room security in the North East must be really tight. Can't imagine the dilemma if you forget the key. :o

:lol:

We may be tight, but it wasnt quite that bad !

It was what the cleaners used to load up the next 3 or 4 full rolls which then dropped down into place.

Not a key to actually dispense the bum wipe :lol:

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

12 years ago

#14

"AR" wrote:
There must be something similar for the headsets still around, my New Wisdom has a triangular screw for its bezel lock. Not so sure about the battery one though, but as ever with old Oldham stuff, have you asked Phil Brown at Caving Supplies?

Yup, and he doesn't have any either!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#15

As said above it will be in a "security bit" set from a tool shop.

Light fittings in schools out outside etc use these kind of screws along with allen keys with holes inside etc

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#16

"christwigg" wrote:

It was what the cleaners used to load up the next 3 or 4 full rolls which then dropped down into place.

Not a key to actually dispense the bum wipe :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :surrender:

Yma O Hyd....

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#17

As the screw heads are trianguler is it possible a small hex or bi-hex socket will fit?

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#18

I use one as I said it does work, but they too 'fat' to go in and need the cirumference taking down. You could do quite a neat job on one of those small lathes.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#19

"royfellows" wrote:
I use one as I said it does work

Missed that bit! :flowers:

remoteneeded
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

#20

"J25GTi" wrote:
As said above it will be in a "security bit" set from a tool shop.

I don't think it will be. I've got a large security bit set and it doesn't have the one you need. The one that Screwfix sells doesn't either. A quick Google turned up lots of different sets but none had the right one.

I've had some success with this technique: Take a ball point pen, heat up the end of the outer with a lighter, then jam it in the hole where the screw or bolt is that you want to remove. The plastic will set thus forming the right size tool for you. OK so it's plastic and breaks easily, but if there's a recessed hole it will support the plastic and stop it breaking.