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Was painting the hallway at home yesterday and looked out the window and saw my mate gliding down the street in his 1972 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.
Later, when I was cleaning the paint brushes I was using, one of my kids asked me why I was taking such pains to clean brushes when they can be bought 3 for a quid in most discount shops.
"Not ones like these, son" I replied, "these are Purdys, they're the Rolls-Royce of paintbrushes"
Which got me musing......
Which items do you use in your life that are considered the quality standard by which all other similar items are judged?
I’ve a few things, but these days there’s always some clever dick pointing out why the thing you hold in such regard is the shittest thing EVAH, Including RR’s
So I don’t bother mentioning it.
Singletrackworld forum; it's the Rolls-Royce of privacy valuers.
My homemade chicken and leek pie.
Leatherman Wave - RR of multi-tools
Wera - RR of screwdrivers
Anusol - RR of haemorrhoid treatments
iPad. #goodasdracs
Butter - it's the Rolls Royce of condiments
Bentley - it's the Rolls R... oh.
This paint brush? Why yes, yes it is.
Also..
Purdey > Purdy
(Alas, mine aren't Purdey!)
These!
The Rolls Royce of R&B groups
Mercedes - it's the German Rolls-Royce.
And of course Lexus is the Japanese Mercedes. (Well this was the only way I could think to shoehorn that one in)
My Silky saw - the rolls royce of sharp pointy finger removers.
Good Grips pizza slicer - it's a cut above.
Also..
Purdey > Purdy
(Alas, mine aren’t Purdey!)
Purdy..
Purdey....
Surely Rolls Royce are the German Rolls Royce.
And Bentley are the other German Rolls Royce.
Nope, Rolls-Royce is British.
Pook is the Rolls-Royce Head of Content and Channels.
The Chevrolet El Camino, it's the Cadillac of Cars.
Purdey
Purdey
Yeah, I knew that's what he was getting at.
I'd rather decorate my hallway with either of my two options though.
This paint brush? Why yes, yes it is.
The Rolls-Royce of catchphrases.
My two Sunova surfboards.
I’ve a few things, but these days there’s always some clever dick pointing out why the thing you hold in such regard is the shittest thing EVAH, Including RR’s
So I don’t bother mentioning it.
It's for this reason I'm not going to mention my snap-on tools 😉
Only listing what I actually use and own:
Norbar, the Rolls Royce of torque wrenches.
Global, the Rolls Royce of kitchen knives (slightly flashy and ostentatious but ultimately, really good).
When I worked in the nuclear industry I remember somebody saying "A 'Rolls Royce Job' doesn't mean the same in this industry". RR make the reactors for nuclear subs.
Global, the Rolls Royce of kitchen knives.
No.
The Rolls Royce of R&B groups
Wilcomatic are the Rose Royce of Car Washes.
In my shed I’ve an original 1950s Avo Meter. My grandad used it when working on Radar sets for Marconi. I reckon it’s the Rolls Royce of multimeters. Still works beautifully.
Mercedes – it’s the German Rolls-Royce.
Are Rolls Royces that prone to rust?
Screwtite are the Rolls Royce of Screws and everyone who buys Spax is wrong.
Fendt tractors are the RR of tractors. I don't have one though.
Snap On tools?
Global, the Rolls Royce of kitchen knives
Another no.
The Hasselblad film cameras I used to use many years ago come to mind.
As above Leatherman multi tools and my Rohloff hub are things I own that I think you could put in the same category
Based on reputation and being widely heard of I'd go for:
Amtico flooring
Miele appliances
Dualit toasters
More obscurely:
PHD down clothing
Goral casual shoes
My 1972 Orange 100W guitar head
Knipex steel fixers nips. They have a multitude of uses but they are by far and away the best out there at their specified job.
Are Rolls Royces that prone to rust?
I have no idea. Look, I just wanted to shoehorn in the Alan Partridge (probably mis-) quote below it. I'm sorry.
Wilcomatic are the Rose Royce of Car Washes.
steel fixers nips
Is that like Housemaid's Knee? But yes - Knipex generally - although I only have/need one of their tools.
`Knipex the RR of adjustable wrench/plier things
Singletrackworld forum; it’s the Rolls-Royce of privacy valuers.
That made me chuckle!
I cant believe someone mentions Dualit toasters! Unless of course you are looking for the sloooooooooooowest toast in the world.
But maybe an original Myford metal lathe.
Felco Swiss Cable cutters.
Original Record vice.
are considered the quality standard by which all other similar items are judged?
It's far too personal a physical trait to mention on a public forum.
😎
My stop
cock
Mercedes – it’s the German Rolls-Royce.
Are Rolls Royces that prone to rust?
Yes, yes they are. One of the worst.
Yes, yes they are. One of the worst.
Oh - well its a shame they don't make vans then otherwise I could have been driving rollers all these years!
My dads mate has been a motor trader all his life and has a bit of a thing for rollers. He owned the last roller to come off the production line in Hull. Silver with a handpainted pink stripe on it, sold it to the middle east for export for a fortune. He always laughs at how badly thrown together they were..tales of odd sized screws and lumps of scrap wood inside door panels to hold them all together....still loves em though
Oh and Niwaki Japanese secateurs are the rolls royce, Felco's are junk in comparison..
I honestly don't know. I used to have a number of nice things, but I either sold them when I left Canada, or they've been destroyed by my kids.
I have a substantial library, though, which contains some books that I consider to be exquisite - either because of their content, or their antiquity, or both.
What I feel really bad about is the fact that my dad really appreciated fine things like good tools, and my brother and I cleared them all out "for him" when we helped them move house in the late 90s. We hadn't asked permission, and while he was a very forgiving man, I am pretty sure it really hurt him.
Disappointed, thought the OP was going to be a variation on the "give me a sentence with the word 'contagious' in it" joke
Duchy raspberry jam is the RR of jam⭐️.
Barbour jackets, I’ve got a 15 year old that’s still going strong.
Spiewak jackets (as above)
Marks n sparks jeans and wool jumpers
Clark’s shoes.
Swiss Army knives.
Shimano anything, (SRAM IS SHOITE from experience)
My Purdie’s survived 3 houses decorated multiple time over 18 years until they became ‘not fit for purpose’. On the advice of the Leyland paints bird I know, I bought some of their budget numbers and they are just as good (so far) as the purdies
Christy - towels
Fairy, liquids.
I have a few..
Snapon ratchets= so damn smooth
Fisher space pen(bullet)= old but so smooth and reliable
Dango wallets= built like tanks...
Leatherman signal=..cant seem to break it...and it's just the right tools..
They all top three class in there own right..making them the rr of there category..
If the definition is something which lasts forever, holds its value, has limited functionality, I nominate the Leica M2. Mine is from 1959, ex reporter's camera so fairly battered, still use it regularly. Absolute pleasure to use, even just winding it on is satisfying compared to my other shooter, an 80s Olympus, which in comparison feels like it's been greased with abrasive hand cleaner.
Paired with the collapsible Elmar 50mm f/2.8 from the same year, my digital camera barely gets used.
Sunbeam bicycles started the quality fashion and predated RR, so maybe RR are the Sunbeam of horseless carriages...
Funnily enough I've wondered a few times if there was a web-site to go and search for premium brands for different areas (premium based on quality rather than price). I'm fed up of deciding I want something, going to Amazon and getting confronted with 3000 variations of Chinese tat with fake reviews. I really don't mind paying 5x as much for something built to last rather than made out of plastic flimsier than the packaging it came in.
From the Viz:
RM.
Cletus
Member
Leatherman Wave – RR of multi-tools
Wera – RR of screwdrivers
Anusol – RR of haemorrhoid treatments
agreed with all that, plus Nipex for crunchy tightening things and wire stripping.
Also, RR whilst BMW owned and the Powertrains are BMW (though refined in the UK), the chassis are fully built in the UK. Mini is similar, but a lot of the powertrains are built in the UK as well!
Bahco. The Rolls Royce of adjustable spanners (shifters I should say)
Which items do you use in your life that are considered the quality standard by which all other similar items are judged?
The key words being "quality standard" and "similar items" rather than antiquated status symbols:-
iMac, iPhone, iPad
Naim Audio
Pioneer Kuro plasma TV (although obsolete today)
Goretex
Hulsta furniture
Miele appliances
Dualit Toaster
Nespresso coffee machine (as far as capsule coffee machines go)
Dyson cordless vac (even though the plastic feels like Airfix quality)
Omega Speedmaster "moon watch" (definitely THE benchmark for watches worn on the moon!)
DOXA Sub 300 diving watch
Michelin tyres
Bilstein dampers
Royal Canin dog food (not that I actually eat it myself)
Porsche 911 (but could also be classed as an antiquated status symbol)
Tesla (tricky one this as build quality is a bit iffy, but they are certainly the benchmark EVs)
Dyson are the Rolls-Royce of Hoovers 😀
Being a working class boy from the arse end of nowhere, I can afford nothing that is described as Rolls Royce.
But I'm a hop and a skip on a ferry from the Rolls Royce of mountain ridge walks.
Purdey she was the teenage boys favourite posh totty, only reason to watch the new avengers, she could fight and ride a motorbike and was fit
My Sennheiser headphones.
About the only "nice thing" I own these days, everything is destroyed by the kids or mrsm.
Ripeur 2 safety gloves - the Rolls Royce of gloves for handling hawthorn, blackthorn, bramble, barbed wire and all manner of sharp pointy stabby stuff
Garmin - the RR of software glitches.
Charmin - the RR of bog roll.
Hmm, possibly my oboe (HowarthXL) or my ATC speakers, though users of other types would undoubtedly disagree.
No mention of Nottinghams finest - Brough Superior motorcycles?
When it comes to shelves
For what they are, bent and painted steel, aluminium extruded lengths of mounting rails etc.. the price is mental. We have it in three different rooms in the house, and about to put some up in a fourth.
When you pay for it you think ‘what am I doing?’ Then when it arrives you think ‘I’m glad I paid that much’.
The best thing is actually having someone design it, and you can phone them up and talk about. I was worried about the flatness of the wall for my first installation, after I emailed, someone rang me, and we sorted the problem by speaking to each other! Amazing!
Oh well, designed by Dieter Rams. Take my money.
I swither on these, but...
Macadamia nuts are the Rolls-Royce of nuts, and butter beans (good ones, cooked to creamy perfection in something flavoursome) are the Rolls-Royce of pulses.
I'd definitely give a different answer this time next week.
Fender Telecaster. The first plank guitar and still a reference.
Wera – RR of screwdrivers
Anusol – RR of haemorrhoid treatments
Together, the RR of pile-drivers.
Fisher space pen(bullet)= old but so smooth and reliable
Good shout, that. Good customer service too, I have one that must be 20 years old now, it went faulty in that the outer casing came away from the barrel and basically fell apart when you took the cap off. Sent it back to Fischer and they actually went to the bother of repairing it. A replacement would have been good, but if it had sentimental value to me then that would have been really awesome.
General Electric Aviation Engines.
😀
Hilti , the RR of power tools
🙂
Del Monte, Kellogs, Mcvities and Cadbury. Many try to copy and come close but not close enough. Almost forgot Lurpak
Crackerjack nut crackers.
Ashley Iles chisels
Magee tweed
Ah just remembered - chisels reminded me.
Mrs. SOM's Lie-Nielsen No.1 bench plane. Like this one.
English bone china tea sets.
My dubarry boots are years old and 'cos hubby looks after them for me, they'll go on for many more.
Blowing my own trumpet here, but my curtains (I'm a professional soft furnisher) seem to last for years. Some customers have them still 20 years on.
Not always a good thing though if one is trying to earn a living.
I've managed to make some decent curtains and blinds in my time out of some pretty cheap awful fabrics. Customers were happy and that's all that matters.
why is that plane face down and not on it's side !!!
Later, when I was cleaning the paint brushes I was using, one of my kids asked me why I was taking such pains to clean brushes when they can be bought 3 for a quid in most discount shops.“Not ones like these, son” I replied, “these are Purdys, they’re the Rolls-Royce of paintbrushes”
so you didn't point out what a terrible attitude that is - to just throw stuff away and replace because it is cheap?
Finance guy on LBC said his daughters liked Primark because you could wear their stuff a couple of times and then throw it away.
Apparently it is now common to throw stuff out once you've been seen in it on social media 3 times.
And that's 'throw it away' and not 'take it to the charity shop'
A study of 2,000 people found that one in 10 would throw away an item after being pictured online with it three times. The survey also revealed one in five throw their clothes in the bin rather than give them to charity.
https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/fast-fashion-clothing-throw-away-social-media-a3956231.html
this is the 'young' for whom climate change is suppossedly a big issue...
so you didn’t point out what a terrible attitude that is – to just throw stuff away and replace because it is cheap?
Of course I did.
I'm the Rolls-Royce of parents.