Peter Burton's daily log, covering Peter's personal interests, e.g. jazz, travel and general grumpiness plus (occasionally) the business of Isomatic and its associate companies.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Concert at the South Bank
Yesterday we went to a concert at
The Royal Festival Hall by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The main pieces were Haydn's Trumpet Concerto and music from Swan Lake.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Burford Bridge Hotel
Yesterday we went for a drive through the beautiful Surrey countryside, stopping for Coffee at
The Burford Bridge Hotel. It is good to visit a hotel that, despite ownership changes, retains its level of service and its NAME. I blacklist hotels and pubs that change names; if we all did the same this abhorrent practice would cease. Then we could arrnge to meet people at chosen locations or even arrange for them to stay there; impossible if you are afraid to say the name for fear that it has changed !
Saturday, May 29, 2004
All-in-one print, copy, fax and scan
I finally bit the bullet and ordered a machine that will print, copy, fax and scan. After much soul-searching I chose the HP OfficeJet 5510 because it has:
flatbed
true A4 size glass
Mac OS 9 and X interface software
small footprint
only two cartridges
attractive price from
Viking Direct.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Complaint regarding RMK
RMK continued to place the same advertisement claiming to supply the only
phase converter that is any good. Having telephoned RMK twice, once politely and then going for the harder approach, we have submitted an official complaint to the Compliance Manager at the publication concerned. I will report the outcome in due course.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Small refrigerator
Yesterday we bought a small refrigerator for our workshop/warehouse so the staff can keep the milk and sandwiches fresh. Of the choice of 3 types in Currys, all at 100 ponds, we chose the LG.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Digital camera
After much soul searching we bought a digital camera for the
3 phase converter business. We choese the Nikon Coolpix 3100 on the basis of its top ranking review in the
MacUser web site.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Jazz at Epsom Playhouse
Last night we saw Bob Dwyer's Hot Seven at the Epsom jazz club. Clarinet played in the style of Johnny Dodds, great drummer and the bass sax made a refreshing change.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Transformer samples
I now have a sample box of
small transformers to show to customers.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Kew Gardens
Yesterday we visited Kew Gardens for the first time in many years. How expensive it has become ! 8.50 GBP entrance fee, 3 GBP car parking, 16.50 GBP for lunch.................. I can remember when the entrance fee was increased from one penny to 3p (0.03 GBP) !
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Compliment from Chris Coffin
Chris approves of our technique for dealing with calls while on the road. The office telephone is diverted to the mobile, held by Selina in the passenger seat with me driving. She answers the call "Selina Burton speaking" and if it is important she asks the caller to wait and asks me to stop at the nearest convenient place to take the call. Chris said how smoothly it worked when he called and we were driving through Bracknell at the time.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Help from Chris Coffin
In exchange for forwarding a prospect that resulted in a contract, I took advantage of some free consultancy from
Chris Coffin. One of his comments triggered my brain so that I now understand some aspects of
3 phase converters that had baffled me for some time.
Friday, May 14, 2004
From desert to - 20
Yesterday was spent preparing quotations for difficult applications, one for hazardous atmospheres in a desert location and the other for - 20 degrees C.
We must be prepared to tackle anything in this busines !
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Coil winding order
At last, the
Coil Winding order for which we have waited for years has arrived. Yesterday was a good day for orders in general.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Yet more transport problems
Yesterday I witnessed the delivery of a batch of
3 phase converters that had been transported from our factory by road. Many of the packing cases had been badly damaged and one had clearly suffered an attack by fork lift truck. A prong had penetrated into the converter.
Complaints to the transport company, the DHL-Danzas-Securicor-Omega conglomerate, were met with the typical response that we are just unlucky. I do not believe that nobody else suffers as we do. Is there a good transport company in this world ?
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Phase converter competition
Yesterday we analysed the competition in the UK Phase Converter market. No competitor has the advanges of our
3 phase converters
Monday, May 10, 2004
West Ham are in the play-offs
The football team that I have supported since childhood, West Ham United, drew with Wigan yesterday to achieve a place in the play-offs for promotion back to the premier division. This result also pushed Wigan out, allowing fellow Londoners Crystal Palace into the play-offs.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Digital Cameras
We need to buy a digital camera for the business. The Nikon Coolpix 3100 looks to be the best value for money with a 5.5 rating (maximum 6) from MacUser magazine and web site. However, my son Adam has just bought the more expensive Sony DSC-V1 because he maintains that the cheaper Coolpix has insufficient resolution for him.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
J & P Transformer Book
I have just received my loan copy of the J & P Transformer book from the IEE library. This is the modern version of the Johnson & Philips transformer book.
Fast service from the IEE !
Friday, May 07, 2004
RMK promises changes
RMK has promised to changed the phrase :
standard converters
to
static converters
and to remove the claim that the RMK Trident converter is the ONLY one with such performance.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
RMK false advertisement
RMK is making false claims for its trident converter. The Isomatic D series
Phase converters will match or exceed the RMK performance and do not use electromechanical contactors so have a longer time to failure.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Jazz at Epsom
Last night we saw
Allen Beechey's Bright Stars of Jazz at
The Epsom Playhouse Tuesday jazz club. Another great evening !
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
The IEE Library
I looked for the Johnson & Philips transformer book in the public library on Saturday but it is not held anywhere in this county (Surrey). However, the library at the
Institution of Electrical Engineers has a reference copy and a loan copy, which I have reserved. My subscription is good value this year !
Monday, May 03, 2004
Royal Festival Hall
The flamenco was great ! We have now booked for the Philharmonia orchestra on 30 May; Haydn Trumpet Concerto.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Flamenco at the RFH
Tonight we have booked seats for a flamenco performance at
the Royal Festival Hall by Paco Peña and his company.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Transformer book
Today I plan to look for the Johnson and Phillips transformer book in the public library. I believe the latest edition is called the J & P Transformer book by Martin Heathcote.
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