Unrepentant and Unremorseful

[Keith Spriggs]

I must confess that I am an Unrepentant and Unremorseful junk accumulator. Sometimes when I am going thru stuff that hasn't surfaced in 20 years I get a pleasant surprise. Evidently at some time I had been to a rummage sale and bought this. Note the warning label on the end. It is readable, but just barely. It might have been used a couple of times. Note what I paid for it. It could have been less because I would normally offer about half what they are asking. I guess along with my other two traits I could also say "tight"

[Bill Gruby]

HEY-HEY-HEY Keith;

  10 cents huh------One of them babies sold on E**Y for $71.00. Yup you ain't seein things I said $71.00


  "Billy G"   

[Andrew Borgogna]

The handle that law suits made go away.  We use to rap copper wire around the handle to keep from getting shocked.  Don't really know why it work, but it did.
Andy

[Shultzie]

HEY GANG!
IF ANY ONE HAS SOME PHOTOS TO SHARE OF SOME OF THE OLD HANDLE CONCEPTS....DIG THEM UP AND POST THEM!  Those early U-REELY DAYS...ETC.

(Does anyone have a photo of the old CLEAR PLASTIC THIMBLEDROME U REEL that was made for a short period of time...sadly the plastic was of such poor quality in those days...those handles were always blowin apart...(even in flight! EEEK! I lost an old SuperDupa' Zilch with one of those handles waaaaaaaay back when I was a kiddie and sniffin old Testors glue and those first tubes of AMBROID that contained such harmful chemicals....that had to be changed quickly (without notice) to keep from poisioning us kiddies, when we used to use our teeth to remove the Ambriod from our gooped up fingers. My buddy next door...almost lost one of his fingers..from Ambriod...that entered his bloodstream...through an exacto cut on his middle index finger...
(I CAN STILL SEE HIM, USING THAT BANDAGED INDEX FINGER in Ms. Hawkins early morning social studies class..when Bobby got caught flipping me off with that finger.) Since I started the fickle finger thang' first....MS HAWKINS, rightly sent us both to the principles office for a short stay until class was dismissed.
(maybe that is why I am still such an exiled badboy?) When will I ever (neva) learn?

[Shultzie]

I must confess that I am an Unrepentant and Unremorseful junk accumulator. Sometimes when I am going thru stuff that hasn't surfaced in 20 years I get a pleasant surprise. Evidently at some time I had been to a rummage sale and bought this. Note the warning label on the end. It is readable, but just barely. It might have been used a couple of times. Note what I paid for it. It could have been less because I would normally offer about half what they are asking. I guess along with my other two traits I could also say "tight"

KEITH! U HANG ON...STAY AS UNREPENTANT AS YOU ARE GOOD BUD IN BALSA~~~

 "REPENT NOT UNTO UTTERS.....AS THEY WOULD NOT REPENT UNTO YOU!"
(gads Sparky...I just can't help myself with this Biblical off shoots?) I hope this isn't considered too political in nature?

[Windwalker]

HEY GANG!
IF ANY ONE HAS SOME PHOTOS TO SHARE OF SOME OF THE OLD HANDLE CONCEPTS....DIG THEM UP AND POST THEM!  Those early U-REELY DAYS...ETC.

(Does anyone have a photo of the old CLEAR PLASTIC THIMBLEDROME U REEL that was made for a short period of time...sadly the plastic was of such poor quality in those days...those handles were always blowin apart

Shultzie: I don't have a photo of one of those Thimbledrome reels, but I have the next best thing.. I have a working unit.. My daughter used it when she was flying 1/2 A models back in the '70s.. Hasn't been used for years, but it's in "near new" condition..

Before any of you guys ask --- Nope.. Just like all the rest of my flying gear, I ain't interested in getting rid of it..

Nick 

[Shultzie]

Shultzie: I don't have a photo of one of those Thimbledrome reels, but I have the next best thing.. I have a working unit.. My daughter used it when she was flying 1/2 A models back in the '70s.. Hasn't been used for years, but it's in "near new" condition..

Before any of you guys ask --- Nope.. Just like all the rest of my flying gear, I ain't interested in getting rid of it..

Nick 

NICK!  WOW!YOU ARE BUSTIN' MY CHOPS...YOU REALLY HAVE ONE OF THOSE OLD THIMBLEEE'S?  QUICK! GET A SHOT OF THAT HANDLE and post it for me just for the memories.

[De Hill]

There were two types of Thimbledrome Handle/Reels. One was for 1/2a airplanes, had string lines, and was fully adjustable; the best 1/2a reel ever made.

The other was for large airplanes and had stranded steel cables.

[Russell Shaffer]

I left my Hot Rock at a socker field a couple of weeks ago.  Didn't miss it for a while, but it was gone when I went to look. 

[Bob Disharoon]

Ive got a mint u reely on ebay right now..another guy has a hot rock and a large ezjust ..brand new..its up to 50 bucks with FOUR days left..gonna follow this one!

[Bob Disharoon]

heres another

[Shultzie]

THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS...WOW! REEEEAALLY BRINGS BACK THE MEMORIES! GREAT PHOTOS ALSO!

[Dwayne]

Here's my old Hot Rock, been glued back together more than once...lol, don't use it any more. 

[Keith Spriggs]

Here's my old Hot Rock, been glued back together more than once...lol, don't use it any more. 

I would rather see one that was wore out than to see a mint condition one. I imagine it took hours of fun to get it in that condition.

I guess now you should call it a "Cold Rock"

[Mark Scarborough]

I have an old hotrock from the days gone by, flying in the 70s,, weird thing, it somewhere along the line got hot or somehting and now has a 15 degree bend in the middle of the handle??? it didnt fit real well back then, now its impossible, did I throw it away,, sigh nope, actually it was in my flight box all year last year!,,

[James Lee]

If you want handles.....   De Hill has probably the best collection of handles around.  Maybe he will share some pictures?
Later   
Jim

[Bob Disharoon]

Is that the "DEE" of Ringmaster fame?

[Clancy Arnold]

Here are pictures of both sides of my Thimble Drome handle / reel.  I have had it since I was a teenager. The line spacing is about 4 1/2 inches.

The clear side lets you see the fine adjustment available on each line. 

The easiest way to reel in your lines was to buckle your belt through the handle and procede to turn the two cranks in opposite directions at the same time and at the same rate. 

Clancy

[Bob Disharoon]

Nice handle. Clancy..I wonder who was in charge of R and D at the handle company!..sounds like it was a "handfull" to reel it in

[Clancy Arnold]

Bob
It is best to be ambidextrous.  It is like walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Clancy

[George]

Bob
It is best to be ambidextrous.  It is like walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Clancy

A guy told me one time that he'd give his right arm to be ambidextrous... 

George

[Bob Disharoon]

I gotta remember That one!!..but youll have to send it to me every other day

[Shultzie]

Thanks Clansey for the great photos! Beautiful detail. Brings back so many good memories...except for the time I accidently stepped on my buddies Thimble-handle and had to give him mine. That is when I moved on to HOT ROCKS

[George]

Just to keep a handle on things:

Here are the ones I have. Hope they bring back some pleasant memories.

- First two pics are the infamous U-Reely by Jim Walker. I found it cumbersome and only used it a few times. One of those times was to run it out like Jim Walker did. That's when I learned (the hard way) that both lines must be the same length. Bought it used back in the fifties.
- Next pic shows a Firebaby handle and, I think, a Testors.
- Next, various Cox handles.
- This is one of the adjustable Cox (Thimble Drome) handles.
- This pic shows the other side. You would pull or lift the clip to adjust line length.
- I THINK this is a Wen Mac handle, not sure.
- Next we have the famous E-Z-JUST. This is the larger one. My "HOT ROCK" is out in the garage. 
- On the left is an adjustable Sullivan handle from the fifties. Right is (I think) still their current one. I have not used this one.
- The last pic is a Tom Morris handle. It's the only one I will use on anything larger than a .15.
All of these were bought new except some of the 1/2A handles and the U-Reely.

George

[don Burke]

I remember using one of the TDrome braided line handles until the lines cut through the plastic.  The outside case wore through from the lines being reeled out and in.  Then I went to EZ-just and separate reels, been there ever since. 

[Dwayne]

Just to keep a handle on things:

Here are the ones I have. Hope they bring back some pleasant memories.

- First two pics are the infamous U-Reely by Jim Walker. I found it cumbersome and only used it a few times. One of those times was to run it out like Jim Walker did. That's when I learned (the hard way) that both lines must be the same length. Bought it used back in the fifties.
- Next pic shows a Firebaby handle and, I think, a Testors.
- Next, various Cox handles.
- This is one of the adjustable Cox (Thimble Drome) handles.
- This pic shows the other side. You would pull or lift the clip to adjust line length.
- I THINK this is a Wen Mac handle, not sure.
- Next we have the famous E-Z-JUST. This is the larger one. My "HOT ROCK" is out in the garage. 
- On the left is an adjustable Sullivan handle from the fifties. Right is (I think) still their current one. I have not used this one.
- The last pic is a Tom Morris handle. It's the only one I will use on anything larger than a .15.
All of these were bought new except some of the 1/2A handles and the U-Reely.

George

Wow I've actualy used almost eveyone of these, brings back memories
Thanks

[Keith Spriggs]

Just to keep a handle on things:

Here are the ones I have. Hope they bring back some pleasant memories.



George

Very Nice collection.  Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.
Keith

[Marvin Denny]

Is that the "DEE" of Ringmaster fame?

  No That Is De of VSC  OT Ignition fame.  De Hill
  I obtained a like new WOODEN  Ez-Just Hot Rock  in a batch of junk off E-Bay some time back and gave it to De for his collection.

  Bigiron

[George]

Marvin,

I'm guessing that the wooden E-Z-JUST pre-dates the red plastic ones. I've never seen or used one. They were plastic when I statred flying. I've heard of wooden replicas that guys made after the E-Z-JUST ones were no longer available.

My old E-Z-JUST "Hot Rock"  is not currently usable. Last time I dug it out, I noticed the exit holes around the wire had been hogged out by use. The holes are about 1/4" or so, and some areas of plastic under the wire are well worn...and this is mostly with .15 size planes. I can imagine how fast they wear out with constant use on larger planes. I will rebuild/reinforce it to a usable condition for nostalgia's sake because I've had it since the fifties...but I'll limit it for use with .15 and under. We're talking fifty year old plastic.

On the other hand, my larger one is used very little. I find it a bit "fast" due to line spacing for my purposes.

George

[Phil Coopy]

Nice collection...I'm still using one of those 1/2A Thimble Drome reelys....loaded it with Spider Wire fishing line...works great.

Phil

[Bill Little]

Doug Dalkhe is the guy who comes to mind as "The Handle King".

[Bob Disharoon]

question about the TD handle..can it handle wire, and , if so, how much length?..thanx, BOB

[Clancy Arnold]

Marvin
The best way to use a "Large" E-Z-JUST handle is with a 4 inch bellcrank.  The line spacing ratio is about the same as a regular Hot Rock handle and a 3 inch bellcrank.

See, they were just way ahead of their time.

I will post more handle pictures when I get the time.

Clancy

[Shultzie]

Marvin
The best way to use a "Large" E-Z-JUST handle is with a 4 inch bellcrank.  The line spacing ratio is about the same as a regular Hot Rock handle and a 3 inch bellcrank.

See, they were just way ahead of their time.

I will post more handle pictures when I get the time.

Clancy

A really great look down HANDLES N HOT-ROCK HISTORY...
One handle that I had used with great success...was a gift from Bob Hunt with his hi-density-black foamish looking' black adjustable handle with the lock n' adjustable knob on the bottom that could allow one to adjust the lines during flight!  The longer "arms" on the handle great advantage was way it appeared to really smooth out those level-laps...however they seemed to give me some strange lookin' and rather alarming squares.

After a few months of flying I noted that a small stress crack was forming just above that beautifully turned fitting that the up line slid through.....so I had little choice to take a zona saw and carefully cut both control arm legs on the handle shorter and re-expoxied them back into the handle again.
This seemed to give back that old muscle memory thag again  and that handle served me so well for a very long time.
(BAD END TO STORY!!!!) My son and I went out flying just before a thunderstorm...started dumping rain on our old flying site at Aerospace parking lot. We quickly wrapped up things, and headed home.
The next morning before work...I thought I would open my tool box and dry out the contents!

GADS! I HAD LEFT BOB HUNTS BEAUTIFUL GIFT HANDLE and my .015 68'ft. lines laying on the parking lot!
I made a quick B line to the back parking lot that same morning...not only late to work at the windtunnel....THAT BEAUTIFUL HANDLE AND MY BRAND NEW SET OF 68 LINES WERE NO LONGER BY THAT LIGHT POLE..and the lot was filled with cars.
I spent half the morning...checking with security...posting a reward note on that light pole...and at the time clocks.
SADLY....I NEVER SAW THAT HANDLE AGAIN...and had to go buy and refit new lines and worse yet...had to resort going  back to using my old modified 3" hot rock with the modified opened spacing  (thanks to Al Rabe, who showed me a great way to extend the life of a hot-rock.)

It may be my imagination..but I think the later "Grey Hot rock handles were made out of a harder and longer lasting plastic material...that resisted the "oval-sawing" however the end the sawing effect of the Hot Rock main cables quite well.

Who gives a ripp...now that only a few of the ol fart die hards who hord'd a bunch of those old handles before they disappeared in the trashbins forever.

Again...Thanks for posting all those handles for a look back down memory lane.

[Clancy Arnold]

Don
As I promissed, here are some more photos of handles.
First photo is of my Sullivan and an unknown handle modified  for U/Tronics Control.

George showed a Sullivan adjustable handle that I have one of, it is marked "INSTA-JUST NO. 2".  The box on top is the control box for my Profile scale Dewoitine D-520.  The three controls are for throttle, flaps and retractable lower antenna.

The second handle is unusual in that it has three position that each end can be adjusted to and also three choices for line attachment points top and bottom of the handle.  I have had it for over 25 years and have no idea who made it.  One thing nice about it is that the flying lines are insulated from each other so it works well for my U/Tronics Controls.

[Leo Mehl]

Ive got one of those E-Z Just Hnadles I would sell for 50 bucks. First com first buy, I have my scratch pad by the telephone because I will probably be swampted with calls. This one I even put brass inserts in where cable exits. First class,Right? Such a deal. As four giving your right arm to be amidexterous. Does that mean you knickname will be Lefty? If you think I am a Bullshiter, your right!

[Shultzie]

Ive got one of those E-Z Just Hnadles I would sell for 50 bucks. First com first buy, I have my scratch pad by the telephone because I will probably be swampted with calls. This one I even put brass inserts in where cable exits. First class,Right? Such a deal. As four giving your right arm to be amidexterous. Does that mean you knickname will be Lefty? If you yhink I am a Bullshiter, your right!

LEO...LEO!! I JUST LV IT WHEN YOU TALK DIRTY! 

[Clancy Arnold]

The wooden handle is special to me.  I used it to control the electronics in my CL Scale P-38 and the late C-7A Caribou that I flew at the NATS in past years.

I have also attached photos of a control box that could be mounted on top of a handle for 4 channels of U/Tronics Control.  I wanted to see how small a box I could mount my electronics in.  It measures 4.1 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches.

[George]

Now almost everyone knows that the difference between a Fairy Tale and a Sea Story is that a Fairy tale starts out, "Once Upon a Time", and a Sea Story starts out,"Now this ain't no s***". 

Now this ain't...When I was digging out handles to take the pictures above, when I dug out the U-REELY I found my TNC tach that I had "misplaced" for several years. I had looked high and low for that tach, and that is not a place I would have normally stored it. It must have fallen into that box somehow. Anyhow, that made my day. New 9V. battery and it's ready to go!

Nothing to do with handles, just thought I'd share, as Leo mentioned, some bull. 

George

[Leo Mehl]

Hey Shultzie. I can do better if I have a few Budwizers in me. Lets party. Oh bill-G that includes you.

[Tom Perry]

Our own Ray Stone of minnesotamodeler fame has some unique control handles for sale on his site.

See them here:

http://www.freewebs.com/minnesotamodeler/accessories.htm

heres the picture:

[Bob Disharoon]

That red reel/handle looks interesting..very comfy and would if in your back pocket..Im just a sport flyer..sure you pros wouldnt even consider it..has anyone taken it for a test drive?..thanx, Hoosier Daddy

[Bob Disharoon]

found these on Ebay..is the tan one wood or plastic..Never seen one like that..thanx, Hoosier Daddy

[George]

question about the TD handle..can it handle wire, and , if so, how much length?..thanx, BOB

Bob,

I wouldn't recommend it. The spacing holes would have to be radiused so the wire wouldn't kink, and the small reel would probably cause the wire to be very curley when you let it out. Most folks want a larger reel.

My GUESS is that you could (with .008's) but probably wouldn't be happy with it. I've only used Dacron in mine.

George

[Bob Disharoon]

Thanx foe the info..Ill stick with my Hot Rock......Hoosier

[bruce malm]

I have my old hot rocks and some newer style handles. Once I get where I get through the pattern  a few more times and get comfortable with one of my planes and at least think it is trimmed properly, I will start using the new styles and probably have a set for each plane.
But like most of you the holes on my Hotrocks were pretty well worn. I used a short piece of the inner part of ny-rod used in RC and cut it and slid it over the cable. The I filled the gaps with JB weld to close up the space. I couldn't believe how much the exits had elongated. I also bought some new cable kits from Brodak and replaced those if the were questionable. I have about 10 or so of the handles and a couple are almost new.
I bought some off E-bay, maybe I should sell some.


Bruce

[Shultzie]

Hey Shultzie. I can do better if I have a few Budwizers in me. Lets party. Oh bill-G that includes you.

So many brewwws...so many choices. My choice is pretty sad...when it come to satisfin' the taste of beernobs'
My choice is of course....an AQUIRED SYNDROME THANG'.

My granddaddy drank nuttin' Schlitz Beer. Strange that my last name is Shultz...pretty close huh?
(Bruce Malm knew this in the good ol' days and all the Tacoma buds started  callin' me " SCHLITZIE" and as a kiddy I would sneak a sip from my grandpappy Schlitz bottle. He and his coon huntin' buds...took pictures of me...holding that Schlitz bottle to my young innocent choppers. GADS WAS GRANDMOTHER MADDERN' N' OLD WET HEN! when she found out.
Grandmother Mary...was truly a beautiful soul...however she was a real PRAYER WARRIOR AND WORKED LONG AND HEAVY HOURS and thusly' too her working in the FIELD OF SOULS, VERY VERY SERIOUSLY...GLEANING  HER BEST FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US! 
Opps off on another tanget...but yes!
When I moved to Seattle into a tiny apt. near Boeing Field...my landlordy was a Brewmaster until he fell out of grace and ended up working on the Rainier Brewerys delivery docks..as a day laborer' but he always professed that to him.....IF ANY MAN REALLY EVER WANTED TO "MAN-UP!" ONLY RAAAAAAAINIERRRRRR BEEEEEEEEER! was the only true choice.

Hummmm? Where did I go and grow wrong...

[Bob Disharoon]

you didnt go wrong, cause MY grandmother was also named Mary and she was a saint and I did all the mind bending schlitz stuff you did and I made it because my parents lived with her..That saved me..I think. Hoosier D.

[john e. holliday]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the old Darwin Handle.  It was an all metal D shaped handle what was adjustable.  I put one on the bay as a feeler.  The rest are staying in the dungeoun.  DOC Holliday

[Clancy Arnold]

Doc
Picture please of the Darwin handle.

Clancy