Morris Minor Owners Club

After many years I'd used up my pile of inherited washers and so I went out to buy some. What a shock! Its cheaper to collect penny and tupenny coins and then drill holes in them. BUT those post about 1991 are only plated steel and not rustproof like the earlier coins. So collect the pre-91 coins for use as rustproof washers now - 'cos they're getting rare. Regards, MikeN.

Thanks Mike. It always interests me when I have a penny or twopenny piece from 1978 which still proclaims 'New Pence'. 30 years old and still legal tender and in circulation.

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:Thanks Mike. It always interests me when I have a penny or twopenny piece from 1978 which still proclaims 'New Pence'. 30 years old and still legal tender and in circulation.

They'd been out for 7 years by then too. Hardly new!

You can get zinc coated steel penny washers from Toolstation and the like (Ebay) for not too much money.

Much better to use these than old coins- the different metal used will set up a galvanic reaction and cause your wing and inner wing to rust, zinc coated washers will protect the car.

chrisryder wrote:

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:Thanks Mike. It always interests me when I have a penny or twopenny piece from 1978 which still proclaims 'New Pence'. 30 years old and still legal tender and in circulation.

They'd been out for 7 years by then too. Hardly new!

I was wondering who'd be the first to spot that one...

Yeh John you're right re galvanic action, but that said, they'll still be useful in certain places. Tool Station, etc of course do have them in boxes but they're with many other sizes which you may not want, and its a pain to pay £8.92 for 1000 assorted sizes washers (as my TS catalogue) when you may only need two - and you need them now! And small packets from Wickes, Halfords,etc are extortionate.

Incidently, if you want a good book on galvanic action and other forms of destruction, get "Rust and Rot" by R.M.E. Diamant (first pubbed in 1972 by Angus and Robertson). It deals with the real world inc cars, boats and houses and describes in detail want you can do control preserve them. (Diamant was a lecturer in chemistry at Salford University.) There's a copy on Amazon for 99p!

Regards, MikeN.

Dont forget its illegal to deface coins of the realm ( any age ), pity as still have a pile of ship hapneys and robin farthings that could work wonders as copper washers.

Yes, I've wondered about that. But at my age a spell in the Tower would come as a interesting career move! (Even it was the last!)
Do you think I could plead insanity and get royal pardon? MikeN.

Galvanic action happens when any metals of different values are in contact, but I don't think you need worry unless your great great great grandchildren are going to inherit the car. Having said that I try to avoid it.

whyperion wrote:Dont forget its illegal to deface coins of the realm ( any age ), pity as still have a pile of ship hapneys and robin farthings that could work wonders as copper washers.

I don't think it's illegal any more. At Southend Pier there is or used to be a machine that for a pound and a penny would roll the penny into an elongated oval.

Copper is getting more and more valuable - certainly more valuable than the face value of the 1p and 2p coins hence the change to cheaper steel. Or more accurately copper isn't really getting more valuable but our currency is inflating. Back in 1946 our florins and shillings (10 new pence and 5 new pence) were 50% silver but were debased to cupro-nickel in 1947 for the same reason.

The squashed pennys are not quite defaced , just a bit resized , though coin forums seem to think it could be technically illegal.

as was putting pennys or hapennies on tram rails on the last day of tram operation through the 1950s.

I believe the rule about defacing coins was repealed.

In the UK, the Coinage Offenses Act 1936 prohibited the defacement of any current coins. This was repealed in its entirety by the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, thus removing the prohibition on coin defacement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elongated_coin

From wikipedia - take it as you will

Matt, as you are the almighty ruler, did you gIve the order to repeal the act? Indeed do you have your own personal coinage

wish I could have afforded 1/2d and 1d in the fifties

we had to make do with well chewed bubble gum and lolly pop sticks ,other peoples lolly pop sticks at that

other peoples lolly sticks

stag36587 wrote:Matt, as you are the almighty ruler, did you gIve the order to repeal the act? Indeed do you have your own personal coinage

Get minting Matt!

why not use euros who cares about them

Hmmm.
Euros seem expensive but the smaller denominations might be worth looking at. I'll run a magnet over them and see! MikeN.