Jumping to conclusions

[Jim Murphy]

Stopped in a big box office supply store to pick up a compass (the kind that draws circles, not a north finding gizmo). The one I selected had a nice large label: Precision Engineered in Germany

Great, I thought. Not made in USA, but then we hardly make anything these days, especially if it sells for under $10. At least it wasn't made in China. So I purchase said compass, bring it home, take it out of its plastic jailcell and...it sure is stiff. Looking at where the threads meet the arms, I see in bold print: ITALY.

Yes, I was scammed. They didn't say it was made in Germany. Pretty crafty, or shady, depending on how you see it.

I allowed myself to be misled and taken by a ruthless product marketer. I am suffering the opprobrium that follows when a charlatan has bested me. Yet I have learned from this artifice, and shall recall the "Trick me once, trick me twice" sage advice oft offered by the wise ones.

[Bas]

Jim, I feel your pain. In fact, I am going to go out this weekend and find you a better compass. Not because you got scammed. Or because you're such a nice guy. No, it's for using the word opprobrium in a North Carolina Woodworker post.

In the interest of full disclosure - I do need a compass myself. Plus, this is a fairly benign way to satisfy my idiopathic impulses. A tool for less than $10! Deal!

[Jim Murphy]

It really hurt me to have to buy that compass. "Back in the day" we had compasses, lead holders and pointers, templates of every persuasion, protractors, scales, rulers, graph paper... all that stuff. Today I went on a search mission at the office, looking for what I told the guys were "buggy whips." I found some miscellaneous Leroy templates, one Leroy "thing", and two timely templates. The computer has really taken over, and I must admit, it is a welcome change.

But the computer just can't draw a 2" radius circle on a board, can it?

[sapwood]

Originally Posted by fernhollowman

. . . .
But the computer just can't draw a 2" radius circle on a board, can it?

Jim, you can if the printer feed rollers are properly adjusted

Roger

[NCPete]

jeez, opprobrium and idiopathy in one thread????? I think that exceeds the allowed syllable count!

[McRabbet]

Originally Posted by fernhollowman

<gratuitous snip> I am suffering the opprobrium that follows when a charlatan has bested me. Yet I have learned from this artifice, and shall recall the "Trick me once, trick me twice" sage advice oft offered by the wise ones.

		Eschew obfuscation

[PeteM]

Basic-Bow Combination Compass with Beam Bar

6" pencil compass/divider designed with a fiberglass ringhead and pivot design for smooth, firm adjustment
Accurate center wheel adjusts quickly and easily for circles up to 10"
Equipped with beam bar extension for circles up to 20"in diameter
Built-in spindle stop prevents overextension
Split leg design accepts interchangeable pen, pencil and divider parts
Slip handle for spare ruling pen
Extra lead, needle point and bolt
Matte nickel finish resists stains and tarnishing
$24

[cskipper]

Originally Posted by PeteM

Basic-Bow Combination Compass with Beam Bar


6" pencil compass/divider designed with a fiberglass ringhead and pivot design for smooth, firm adjustment

Accurate center wheel adjusts quickly and easily for circles up to 10"
Equipped with beam bar extension for circles up to 20"in diameter
Built-in spindle stop prevents overextension
Split leg design accepts interchangeable pen, pencil and divider parts
Slip handle for spare ruling pen
Extra lead, needle point and bolt
Matte nickel finish resists stains and tarnishing
$24

Nice. But, where was it made?

[jeff...]

Originally Posted by fernhollowman

It really hurt me to have to buy that compass. "Back in the day" we had compasses, lead holders and pointers, templates of every persuasion, protractors, scales, rulers, graph paper... all that stuff. Today I went on a search mission at the office, looking for what I told the guys were "buggy whips." I found some miscellaneous Leroy templates, one Leroy "thing", and two timely templates. The computer has really taken over, and I must admit, it is a welcome change.

But the computer just can't draw a 2" radius circle on a board, can it?

Jim you forgot to mention the abacus

[mcoston2]

Opprobrium
Charlatan
Idiopathy
Artifice
Eschew Obfuscation
Don't anybody speak Southerneese anymore
I think I need a asprin.

[jerrye]

caveat emptor

[Bas]

Originally Posted by mcoston2

Don't anybody speak Southerneese anymore
I think I need a asprin.

You mean acetylsalicylic acid?

[Glennbear]

The flow of language around here is getting far too copious for my dominion of comprehension. I do wish you would make a concerted effort to elucidate more explicity and succinctly.

[Glennbear]

Originally Posted by fernhollowman

It really hurt me to have to buy that compass. "Back in the day" we had compasses, lead holders and pointers, templates of every persuasion, protractors, scales, rulers, graph paper... all that stuff. Today I went on a search mission at the office, looking for what I told the guys were "buggy whips." I found some miscellaneous Leroy templates, one Leroy "thing", and two timely templates. The computer has really taken over, and I must admit, it is a welcome change.

But the computer just can't draw a 2" radius circle on a board, can it?

I can relate to your frustration, I am guessing these are the kind of buggy whips you were hunting for:

Circa 1969 Middlesex County College Bookstore Technical Drawing class required insturments.

Charvoz made in W.Germany, I have hoarded these along with french curves, t square, triangles and drawing board for all these years. I will be the first to admit I am a compulsive "saver"

[zimman20]

Originally Posted by cskipper

Nice. But, where was it made?

Still waiting.....?