Peculiar needle file

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

I recently came across this needle file in my collection which I think that I inherited from my father in the 1980s. I have not seen anything like it elsewhere and wondered what the collective view of members on it's origin might be. The handle portion is 1.5mm square 80mm long and has relatively sharp edges not at all comfortable to hold, the business end is a very fine cut but only 0.3mm thick. As it is so thin and quite flexible I would be afraid to use it for fear of it breaking. With the aid of a x10 magnifier I can just about make out the name 'Bedford' stamped on the handle, I seem to vaguely recall this name as a file manufacturer when I was an apprentice back in the 60s but age does strange things to my memory, so not sure.

Phil

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

Phil…….. Looks like a magneto file of old. Their use was a subject on the forum a while ago…………jf

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Distributor contact point file, to clean up the arcing damage on points in the distributor.

​George.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Phil,

Does it have a maker's name or logo ?

It looks like there may be something in the plain area 'twixt handle and file

… but there is insufficient resolution for me to read it.

MichaelG.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Does it have a maker's name or logo ?

Original post:

With the aid of a x10 magnifier I can just about make out the name 'Bedford' stamped on the handle, I

So, I s'pose it was made by BedfordTools of Sheffield?

 

Edited By not done it yet on 20/12/2017 13:45:45

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Michael, as I mentioned in the original post, the handle is stamped with the name 'Bedford', the marking you refer to is just staining. John/George, interesting what you say about it being a contact file, although I would hesitate to use it in such circumstances as it is so fragile.

Phil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Philip Rowe on 20/12/2017 13:52:51:

Michael, as I mentioned in the original post, the handle is stamped with the name 'Bedford', the marking you refer to is just staining.

.

Sorry, Phil

My error

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by not done it yet on 20/12/2017 13:43:58:

Does it have a maker's name or logo ?

Original post:

With the aid of a x10 magnifier I can just about make out the name 'Bedford' stamped on the handle, I

So, I s'pose it was made by BedfordTools of Sheffield?

.

… Or it might possibly have been supplied with a Bedford vehicle; or belonged to a Mr. Bedford.

If you had kindly quoted me more fully, you would have included the following observation:

"It looks like there may be something in the plain area 'twixt handle and file"

[ which Phil has now discredited ]

MichaelG.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

or belonged to a Mr. Bedford

Yeah, right! If you think that…..

[speelwerkParticipant @speelwerk]

Until a few years ago the thinnest Vallorbe had was 0.33 mm, although not with this type of handle. I used them for work on very narrow spaced music box combs. Now use slitting discs which go even thinner. They have a single straigth cut, were expensive and indeed break very quick. Niko.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by not done it yet on 20/12/2017 14:13:45:

or belonged to a Mr. Bedford

Yeah, right! If you think that…..

.

What an extraordinarily narrow mind you must have.

MichaelG.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Looks like a magneto file used on aircraft piston engines, length is so that it can reach into the magneto if buried in the engine ancillaries.

Dave W

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

What an extraordinarily narrow mind you must have.

Are you real? JS would be jumping all over you for such a crass posting.

It would be just the thing Mr Bedford would neatlly mark on his property – even though the handle is rather small for easy engraving? . The handle portion is 1.5mm square

Furthermore, it could well be raised, not stamped or engraved, but I haven't looked and somehow I doubt you have either.

I think someone needs to grow up – and it's not me. The advice of 'stop digging' when you are in a hole, comes to mind.

My advice ? Nah not worth it….

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Posted by not done it yet on 20/12/2017 15:06:14:

What an extraordinarily narrow mind you must have.

Are you real? JS would be jumping all over you for such a crass posting.

It would be just the thing Mr Bedford would neatlly mark on his property – even though the handle is rather small for easy engraving? . The handle portion is 1.5mm square

Furthermore, it could well be raised, not stamped or engraved, but I haven't looked and somehow I doubt you have either.

I think someone needs to grow up – and it's not me. The advice of 'stop digging' when you are in a hole, comes to mind.

My advice ? Nah not worth it….

I've got my name on allen keys down to 1mm.

Jim

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Gentlemen

We've got enough going on regarding the 'listing of potential helpers' thread, let's not have another bunfight on this one.

Life is too short.

Seasons greetings to all

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by not done it yet on 20/12/2017 15:06:14:

What an extraordinarily narrow mind you must have.

Are you real? JS would be jumping all over you for such a crass posting.

It would be just the thing Mr Bedford would neatlly mark on his property – even though the handle is rather small for easy engraving? . The handle portion is 1.5mm square

Furthermore, it could well be raised, not stamped or engraved, but I haven't looked and somehow I doubt you have either.

I think someone needs to grow up – and it's not me. The advice of 'stop digging' when you are in a hole, comes to mind.

My advice ? Nah not worth it….

.

Please feel free to add me to your 'Ignore member' list

I'm sure we would both be much happier.

MichaelG.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 20/12/2017 15:15:35:

Gentlemen

We've got enough going on regarding the 'listing of potential helpers' thread, let's not have another bunfight on this one.

Life is too short.

Seasons greetings to all

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

It's a 'Bedford' file, famously used by Bedford Council for filing paperwork by enlarging the gaps between existing documents, so they could cram even more bureaucracy into a each filing cabinet.

I can't believe you didn't know that.

Neil

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 20/12/2017 15:31:40:

It's a 'Bedford' file, famously used by Bedford Council for filing paperwork by enlarging the gaps between existing documents, so they could cram even more bureaucracy into a each filing cabinet.

I can't believe you didn't know that.

Neil

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Gentlemen, thank you all for your in depth descriptions as to the probable/possible original uses for this type of file, I have learnt a quite a lot today – notably nothing is quite as it seems.

Seasonal greetings to you all and I hope that Santa brings all that you wish for, although in my case whatever I bring for myself as no one close to me ever has any idea of what I want.

Phil

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi All,

We get a lot of these small needle files and Bedford is a common make at the upper end of the quality tree after Grobet, Vallorbe, Stubs and a Portugese make that I cannot remember at the moment.

They are often very flexible but never seem to break even when pushed hard.

All very good news from a selling point of view, they fly away when listed.

Cheers and Season's Greetings to all, with many thanks to all the members here who have been kind enough to help me out over the last year.

Martin

[dcostaParticipant @dcosta]

Hi Martin,

The Portuguese maker is Tomé Feteira and the files, as much as I know, are usually sold as "Tomé Feteira hand files".
In UK I know they are sold at least by ArcEurotrade.

Dias Costa

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Spot on! Obrigado!

Martin

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Bedford were a decent Sheffield toolmaker, they made a variety of tools spanners cold chisels and files at least, I still use the Bedford spanners I bought as an apprentice abut 45 years ago.

Mike

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