This is not really a question, just blowing off steam.

I went looking to buy a 'block and tackle', just simple pulley blocks and handy human-scale rope for general lifting and dragging things up the ramp onto my pickup.

There were all sorts of alternatives in the way of chain blocks, ratchet and wire rope devices, engine hoists etc etc. But nowhere could I find a plain pulley block except at the marine shop where I finally bought the snazziest looking block and tackle I have ever seen but what a price!

Don't they make ordinary tools and implements any more?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 23, 2001

Answers

John- We buy those things all the time. Usually we get them from Grainger. Also, theatrical supply companies carry them because we use them a lot in theater productions.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), June 23, 2001.

I had the same problem several years back and found what I needed at a marine shop. All brass and stainless steel so salt water wouldn't corrode it. Hardware stores only sell mass produced junk these days. It's supply and demand. No demand, no supply. Very little true craftsmanship left any more. Everything is automatic.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), June 24, 2001.

Elizabeth,

Great idea about the theatre supply house.

John,

Along with Grainger, I've found some handy things in the Northern Equipment catalog. It has a lot of automotive related supplies in it. One thing I bought a while back I've found incredibly handy is a big 'J' hook like tow trucks use to hook onto a car's undercarriage.

Personally, I went with a 12v electric winch for my needs. Onto the bottom of that I bolted a plate with a keyhole opening that fits over a trailer ball. With that and one pulley hooked at the bulkhead I can move just about anything. The winch came with a cable to hard wire power from the battery so it's easy to plug in when you need it and take off when you don't. I also got a power cable with a couple alligator clips to hook to a battery so I can use the winch away from my truck bumper if I want.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), June 24, 2001.

marine supply stores are a great source of rope and pulleys. A good set of pulleys for block and tackle aren't cheap nowadays.

-- nobody (nothing@nowhere.no), June 24, 2001.

"Northern" produces junk- I bought a block and tackle, a cable come along, and 2 barrel pumps, once. Everything I bought fell apart (literally) within a week. The $30 barrel pumps didnt even pump 5 minutes without springing leaks. Stick with the marine places- its well worth the price! Auctions are another good source of old "broken in" tools that last for decades because they are the real thing!

-- Kevin in NC (vantravlrs@aol.com), June 30, 2001.