[SEL] Aussie Translators?

[Peter Scales]

Not an Aussie, but us Poms'd call a pipe wrench a Stilson (after the brand
name).  We might even call it a pipe wrench.  Open, ring and box spanners
are all spanners.  Sockets are a special case of box spanner but never
referred to as spanners, always sockets (or possibly socket wrenches) or
socket sets.  An adjustable spanner is exactly that, but sometimes it might
be a King Dick.  Oxy-acetylene cutting gear is usually known as "the gas
axe".  I have heard a propane torch referred to as "the blue spanner".  A
2lb hammer would be a "Birmingham screwdriver".  A 14lb hammer is a
micro-adjuster.  A chain-hoist can be a "come-along".  

On a (un)related note, engineering apprentices in factories here were often
sent to the stores to draw such tools as a sky-hook, a can of spotted paint,
a box of holes, or, the perennial favourite, a long stand (or long weight).


Apprentice:  "I've come for a long stand."
Storeman:    "Over there out of the way then."
...
(time passes)

     Pete
-- 
Peter Scales  


> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com 
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of 
> Rob Skinner
> Sent: 19 November 2005 18:45
> To: sel at lists.stationary-engine.com
> Subject: [SEL] Aussie Translators?
> 
> Are there any bilingual Aussies who speak both Aussie and 
> American who can help
> with translation?
>  
> We Yanks have wrenchs.  Just about everything for turning 
> fasteners externally
> is called a wrench.
>  
> If I understand correctly, the Poms have spanners.  The 
> spanners are supposed to
> work just about the same as our wrenches.  
>  
> This morning I was looking an an Aussie auction on ebay for 
> some "shifters."
> The shifters were of the "monkey wrench" sort, with smooth 
> parallel jaws similar
> to a pipe wrench.  In Oz, are all spanners and wrenches 
> called shifters?  Or
> just adjustable wrenches?  Would a Crescent wrench be called 
> a shifter?  How
> about a box end or open end wrench?  
>  
> Just trying to understand the finer nuances of the 
> language... don't want to
> cause any international incidents over imprecise communication.  
>  
> Rob
>  
>  
> 
> =-=-=-=-=-=
> Rob Skinner
> La Habra, California
> mailto:rskinner at rustyiron.com
> http://www.rustyiron.com 
> 
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> _______________________________________________
> SEL mailing list
> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>