Is it economic or practical to mess about with replacement vials nowadays? Why not just get a new level for a few £'s?.
Hi Woody, nice to meet you and thank you for your advice. I agree with you absolutely.
In fact I have bought a new pocket level for less than it would have cost to buy a single bubble sorry (vial- must keep up with the times) even if I could have obtained one.
However, I must explain that my old pocket level is an original Rabone, is made of polished hardwood (not composition material) and it has a brass facia and end plates.
It looks like mahogany but is probably deep stained boxwood.
The level was issued to me when I was signed up to serve an indentured apprenticeship nearly 60 years ago (58 to be precise).
In fact my deed of apprenticeship is nearly as large as the deed to my house.
I have used the level continuously all of those years (even when I was “off the tools”) so it does have some nostalgic connotation.
Daft I know but there it is.
Incidentally, my son told me the other day that I was too old to be laying bricks.
The link you gave me I had already tried but this is one of the suppliers which stipulated a £50 minimum order. Thank you anyway for your trouble.
I am seriously considering swapping the bubble (sorry again, vial) from my new level to my old level as it is approximately the right size.
Because, even though the aluminium levels are “factory set” (or so I was assured), they do loose there accuracy in a couple of years. This may be due to the aluminium body warping or the plastic bubble (it has always been called a bubble hasn’t it!!) having been compressed or otherwise distorted during its “factory setting”.
But more importantly, the reasonably priced aluminium “factory set” levels can not be adjusted or reset so are throw away jobs.
Or perhaps in this modern world we live in a “course of pig” or two just doesn’t matter any more.
Thank you for your interest,
Cheers and regards,
Tony.
