Your website is fantastic. Your videos are as well. Thank you for all the work on giving us info on these cool Workmates. I own four of them . Two H frames and two newer ones. I just found a Type E and really want that one. Thanks again.
I bought a 79-009 a year or two ago, but I haven't used it yet. Its size seems promising, almost as large as a 79-001, but lighter weight, so easier to carry around.
Thanks so much. It has been a lot of work, but I've been very happy with the details I've been able to uncover and document about the history of the Workmate.
I gave my father a 79001 type 1 for Christmas in 1974. He passed many years ago but I still have it. I've had to rebuild the surface but I still use it all the time. In fact I have 2 more that I have picked up a garage sales and refurbished them. Thank you very much for sharing and I enjoy your website very much.
One minor correction-At about 7:40 in this video, I misspoke, referring to "the UK model WM25", which I had just mentioned correctly less than a minute earlier as the WM525.
I have a Black and Decker, Standard Workmate. The number on it is 78-001. I can’t get it to level. I heard on your video for one type of 79-001 where you say that feet were added on three legs and the forth was a leveling foot. I need a handle knob and a few dogs for it. Happy to hear more about my workmate.
On the 79-001 Type E, 1, 2, 3, and 5, all eight feet were adjustable for leveling. This flexibility was gradually eliminated until on the 79-001 Type 8 all eight feet were non-adjustable. My video called "Workmate 79 001 & 79-004 Type Identification guide" will help you figure out which Type you have. Then you can find which of my other videos covers that Type in detail. Or, as an alternative, my website has far more info about all of the early Workmates.
Living in a rented property a few years back, I discovered one of the old UK made blue framed workmates stuffed inbetween the shed and the fence at the back of the garden. No idea how long it had been left there exposed to the elements but it was seized stiff. I dragged it out and spent an afternoon cleaning and oiling it, after which it was in perfect working order again - in fact I was amazed at how solid and robust it was, and that the wooden top seemed to be completely unaffected. Meanwhile on my cheap modern day equivalent, more or less every part has broken or started to fail to the point where it's becoming unusable already...
What a great find! I have no direct experience with any Workmates newer than about 1984, but I have often heard from owners that the quality doesn't match up to the older ones.
@@H-frame There was a first model, as you show at ~1:40, for sale on UK E-bay recently, original retail price of £18 in the paperwork with it offered for sale, collection only, for a starting bid of £105, it didn't sell, the original timber jaws showed years of use but still good, unlike the particle board used on modern versions. I've had a number down the years, but a recent buy of an early steel H version, from our local 'mens-shed' has rekindled my interest as retirement approaches, the slightly newer version I picked up after had a very badly blown particle board jaw and an only slightly better plywood one, so some fresh 3/4" plywood has been used to replace them, and by adjusting the jaws positioning on the frame and runners the max opening has been improved by ~ 7/8", with the 3 x wider to the rear rear jaw giving a useful table space and the overall width plus 4" to give more room for clamps on the sides.
@@neiljohnuk @neiljohnuk The Workmate you're referring to is the original design made and sold by Ron Hickman's company Mate Tools before he sold the manufacturing rights to Black & Decker. You can read all about it at this page on my website: h-frame.weebly.com/mate-tools-workmate.html I also have the original brochure and owner's manual for that model from Mate Tools, earlier than the one you see in the eBay listing, on my Documents page: h-frame.weebly.com/documents.html
How much do you think they type 2 is worth in good condition? I'm sure it depends on the specific condition. I got one yesterday from a yard sale for basically nothing. If I could get a decent price for it I'd sell it.
I'm sorry you're not interested in it for your own use, but it will be good if you get it to someone who wants it. There is is no consistent market for Workmates to help much on price. You'll just have to check prices in your own area.
Your website is fantastic. Your videos are as well. Thank you for all the work on giving us info on these cool Workmates. I own four of them . Two H frames and two newer ones.
I just found a Type E and really want that one. Thanks again.
Thanks for your research. I recently inherited a 79-009 and it’s a great tool.
I bought a 79-009 a year or two ago, but I haven't used it yet. Its size seems promising, almost as large as a 79-001, but lighter weight, so easier to carry around.
This was more interesting than I expected.
Thanks so much. It has been a lot of work, but I've been very happy with the details I've been able to uncover and document about the history of the Workmate.
I gave my father a 79001 type 1 for Christmas in 1974. He passed many years ago but I still have it. I've had to rebuild the surface but I still use it all the time. In fact I have 2 more that I have picked up a garage sales and refurbished them. Thank you very much for sharing and I enjoy your website very much.
I love the fact that new owners are still buying the old ones and refurbishing them to continue their use!
One minor correction-At about 7:40 in this video, I misspoke, referring to "the UK model WM25", which I had just mentioned correctly less than a minute earlier as the WM525.
I have a Black and Decker, Standard Workmate. The number on it is 78-001. I can’t get it to level. I heard on your video for one type of 79-001 where you say that feet were added on three legs and the forth was a leveling foot. I need a handle knob and a few dogs for it. Happy to hear more about my workmate.
On the 79-001 Type E, 1, 2, 3, and 5, all eight feet were adjustable for leveling. This flexibility was gradually eliminated until on the 79-001 Type 8 all eight feet were non-adjustable. My video called "Workmate 79 001 & 79-004 Type Identification guide" will help you figure out which Type you have. Then you can find which of my other videos covers that Type in detail. Or, as an alternative, my website has far more info about all of the early Workmates.
I got an old one yesterday…£30… needs new foot clips, but im on the case!!!🍺💪💪👍
Living in a rented property a few years back, I discovered one of the old UK made blue framed workmates stuffed inbetween the shed and the fence at the back of the garden. No idea how long it had been left there exposed to the elements but it was seized stiff. I dragged it out and spent an afternoon cleaning and oiling it, after which it was in perfect working order again - in fact I was amazed at how solid and robust it was, and that the wooden top seemed to be completely unaffected. Meanwhile on my cheap modern day equivalent, more or less every part has broken or started to fail to the point where it's becoming unusable already...
What a great find! I have no direct experience with any Workmates newer than about 1984, but I have often heard from owners that the quality doesn't match up to the older ones.
@@H-frame There was a first model, as you show at ~1:40, for sale on UK E-bay recently, original retail price of £18 in the paperwork with it offered for sale, collection only, for a starting bid of £105, it didn't sell, the original timber jaws showed years of use but still good, unlike the particle board used on modern versions.
I've had a number down the years, but a recent buy of an early steel H version, from our local 'mens-shed' has rekindled my interest as retirement approaches, the slightly newer version I picked up after had a very badly blown particle board jaw and an only slightly better plywood one, so some fresh 3/4" plywood has been used to replace them, and by adjusting the jaws positioning on the frame and runners the max opening has been improved by ~ 7/8", with the 3 x wider to the rear rear jaw giving a useful table space and the overall width plus 4" to give more room for clamps on the sides.
@@neiljohnuk @neiljohnuk The Workmate you're referring to is the original design made and sold by Ron Hickman's company Mate Tools before he sold the manufacturing rights to Black & Decker. You can read all about it at this page on my website:
h-frame.weebly.com/mate-tools-workmate.html
I also have the original brochure and owner's manual for that model from Mate Tools, earlier than the one you see in the eBay listing, on my Documents page:
h-frame.weebly.com/documents.html
@@arpie2081 think this is why they use the old version as seats in tanks. 👀
How much do you think they type 2 is worth in good condition? I'm sure it depends on the specific condition. I got one yesterday from a yard sale for basically nothing. If I could get a decent price for it I'd sell it.
I'm sorry you're not interested in it for your own use, but it will be good if you get it to someone who wants it. There is is no consistent market for Workmates to help much on price. You'll just have to check prices in your own area.
@@H-frame thanks, I think I'll just keep it. I'll definitely get some use out of it. I was just curious if I could make a good profit.