Mystery Label

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I bought a rather nice ‘elevating table’ [for want of a better term] today

Approx. 300mm square

Baseplate 25mm thick

Top-plate 15mm thick

… with a substantial feed-screw at each corner, two extra bearing posts, and smaller post at the centre.

The four feed-screws are synchronised by a timing-belt, and all driven by one knob.

It has the look of being from ThorLabs, or Ealing Optical … but here’s the label

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Does anyone, perchance, recognise the firm in question from that fragmentary evidence ?

Thanks in eager anticipation.

MichaelG.

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First clue: http://www.geopunk.co.uk/phone-area-codes/01256-basingstoke

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 19:39:13

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

That confirms what the letters OKE are, remaining from the address. How about a picture of the whole table, that might jog some memories. I worked in Basingstoke my last 15 years before retiring, but that bit of the name rings no bells.

Edited By old mart on 12/01/2023 19:50:35

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Yep. Time and Precision a UK manufacturer of precision linear stages and similar devices for laboratory and lighter duty specialist devices.

As I recall matters they were active from around late 1970s' (ish) to early 2000s' (ish).

Their stages were rather longer travel than the typical Ealing, Micro Controle, Melles Griot, Newport et al ones usally found in optics labs.

Range from 6" to maybe 3 ft when I used to buy them. A bit on the narrow side. Simple carved from billet design with plain dovetail sliders. Stainless steel feedscrew and simple engraved hand wheels for calibration rather than the common micrometer head pusher. Optional direct drive stepper motors able to interface with low end unipolar drives for roll your own systems or a turnkey set up to plug into a BBC B computer.

Made a fair number of specials and low production devices based on their standard parts.

Always seemed a bit under-funded. Everything had the look of tool room rather than production parts.

I believe they started out making calibrators and timing references. Hence the name.

may have some data somewhaer but won't be looking until I've fought off the flu'.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 12/01/2023 19:57:42

Edited By Clive Foster on 12/01/2023 20:13:16

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by old mart on 12/01/2023 19:48:27:

[…]

How about a picture of the whole table, that might jog some memories. […]

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I should have known I wouldn’t get away with just asking a simple question:

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… on edge, on the wet-room floor

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Twiddle the knob and all four jack-screws go up & down in synch.

It’s a bit grubby, and has a couple of scrapes, but basically it’s very nice !

 

MichaelG.

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Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:11:46

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Clive Foster on 12/01/2023 19:57:08:

Yep. Time and Precision a UK manufacturer of precision linear stages and similar devices for laboratory and lighter duty specialist devices.

As I recall matters they were active from around late 1970s' (ish) to early 2000s' (ish).

[…]

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Many thanks, Clive

MichaelG.

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Get Well Soon … he said, not entirely altruistically 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:03:56

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Looks like it only has about 1 1/2" movement, what do you intend to do with it?

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I do photomacrography

… so positioning and/or focusing

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:14:59

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Clive …

They didn’t by any chance morph into this outfit did they ?

**LINK**

Elevator Tables

MichaelG.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

If there is a way of fitting a knob with scale markings, it would be useful for focus stacking.

The link to LG Motion shows a startup in 2004, and a Telford road address. Telford road is about 200 yards long, and my old firm was at the far end, but I don't recognise that name.

Edited By old mart on 12/01/2023 20:28:16

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by old mart on 12/01/2023 20:19:55:

If there is a way of fitting a knob with scale markings, it would be useful for focus stacking.

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So you knew already [?]

In the fullness of time it will no doubt be doing its share of producing frames for Zerene Stacker

… along with many of my other bits & pieces that are in the queue for stepper motors.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:26:11

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Yes definitely Time and Precision in Basingstoke, going by the phone code it is quite old, label shows 0256 code, Basingstoke is 01256 and has been for many years, if you can find out when the code changed you could possibly date it. The company was owned by two brothers, cannot remember their names, the unislide was the core of the business with a bit of sub con work for other companies in the area, biggest the factory ever got was about a 4000 sq foot unit with about 15 – 20 employees. Company is long, long gone.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Baz on 12/01/2023 20:26:10:

Yes definitely Time and Precision in Basingstoke, going by the phone code it is quite old, label shows 0256 code, Basingstoke is 01256 and has been for many years, if you can find out when the code changed you could possibly date it. The company was owned by two brothers, cannot remember their names, the unislide was the core of the business with a bit of sub con work for other companies in the area, biggest the factory ever got was about a 4000 sq foot unit with about 15 – 20 employees. Company is long, long gone.

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Thanks for the confirmation, and extra info. Baz

[ the bit about 0256 is covered in my first link ]

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Looks like we’re sorted … Thank you, Gentlemen

It’s old and I’m unlikely to get any spares or instructions … But it’s a simple and effective device, in good working order; so unless I do something daft, it will probably see me out.

An excellent result !!

MichaelG.

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UPDATE

Just looked on Companies House:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00759390

Filing history tab shows  ‘Restoration by order of the Court’

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:42:36

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:17:55:

Clive …

They didn’t by any chance morph into this outfit did they ?

**LINK**

Elevator Tables

MichaelG.

Very probably. The catalogue components and general style look awfully familiar. The UniSlide branding was used by Time and Precision.

LG Motion is given for contact details on a 2003 press announcement that Time and Precision were to distribute Schneeberger Linear Products in the UK,

**LINK**

https://www.dpaonthenet.net/article/3707/Time-And-Precision-To-Supply-Schneeberger-Linear-Products-In-Uk–.aspx

Highly suggestive of corporate shake-ups or of the original owners selling out around then.

Clive

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Please also see my UPDATE, Clive … which crossed with your latest post.

MichaelG.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

If there is a number on that toothed belt, make a note of it, thats the only part which might fail.

 By the way, the company is 2/3 of the way down Telford road on the right, I had to check on Google earth.

Edited By old mart on 12/01/2023 21:02:27

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Fit a stepper for that stacking photograhy? Should be easy with that drive arrangement.

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 12/01/2023 20:24:20:

[…]

In the fullness of time it will no doubt be doing its share of producing frames for Zerene Stacker

… along with many of my other bits & pieces that are in the queue for stepper motors.

MichaelG.

.

Neil ^^^

[Author]

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