MADE TO LAST

Following on from what gadgets do you buy my fovourite is a 1940s stirrup pump,these were supplied to house holders for fighting small incendary fires WW2.The suction leg fits in a bucket of water foot on stirrup pull the handle up and push down for a fine spray that reaches 5 metres.The only thing replaced in 70 years is the hose and a spray nozzle fitted.No leather washers to wear out the suction chamber has a brass ball instead if it fails to pump add a little grease to ball and away it goes again.How many modern sprays will last this long or do such a good job.Using the paths either side of my plot I can spray all my plot ideal for spraying potatoes against blight,and washing black fly off the beans.Its the most borrowed tool on our allotment site

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Comment by Colin Robinson on September 28, 2012 at 22:05: All my favourite tools are old ones, some belonged to my grandad. I get the impression that a lot of modern tools are designed by people who've never actually used one.

Comment by Sue Gollop on September 28, 2012 at 22:21: My favourite is my ancient jalo hand plough-allotment thieves never pinch it, always going instead for fancy mechanical gadgets. Little do they realise the value of these old jaloes and their attachments. Always in demand from fellow gardeners whether for ridging up potatoes, making lovely furrows or simply for turning over the ground