Power Tool Donations

June 11, 2012 - Many thanks to my friends at the The Traditional Tool Group (TTTG), last night at their bi-monthly meeting they donated the drills shown below to my project.

May 21, 2012 - Many thanks to Bernice Melville for the donation of her fathers' power tools.

William (Bill) Jack Richter (1910-2007) born in Sydney.

Bill’s life spanned two centuries that saw the introduction of electricity as a widespread household commodity, commercial airlines, use of various types of radios and recording devices and the development of computers – things now regarded as ‘everyday’. He also lived through two World Wars and the Great Depression and the austerity that went with those times.

After completing high school he gained an apprentice ship as a fitter and turner at Eveleigh Railway Workshops and undertook his trade course at ‘Sydney Tech’ gaining his trade ticket in 1931. Like many others, he was ‘put-off’ when he turned 21 (having to be then paid adult wages) and thrown to his own resources. It was during this period that he learned his considerable carpentry skills from his father.

When the depression eased he gained work at ACI Glass (the ‘glassworks’) where he stayed for 7 years after which he went into the Water Board Annexe as part of the war effort. This facility was used by the then Federal Government because it housed the only 100 ft lathe required to produce and maintain war equipment. After the war he transferred to the mainstream Water Board firstly working in the materials testing laboratory in Crown St and later becoming an inspector of materials. Later still he was appointed Inspector in Charge Sydney Treatment Works (maintenance) where he stayed until he retired in 1970

Away from work he was a regular ‘Mr Fixit’. As well as maintaining his own home and anything mechanical he would do the same for others. The boot of his car was full of tools – hand tools and power tools (some of which he modified to his own purposes) all ready to use whenever he was visiting or staying with family or friends in case something needed ‘fixing’! For example, in his ‘retirement’, with the help of his then son-in-law, he constructed a copper box gutter which was hauled onto the roof between two terrace houses and set into place. That was over 30 years ago and it has never leaked a drop! He was ‘as one’ with his power tools.