Old Pond publishing days

VAT reductions on Old Pond DVDs and CDs

Following the Government's announcement that the rate of UK VAT was to be be reduced from 17.5% to 15% on 1st December, we (Old Pond Publishing) had three main courses of action open to us.

First, we could carry on as though nothing had happened and that the price of £15.95 (inc. VAT) that we recommended for most of our DVDs was the market price. In this case the VAT reduction would increase our margin, in line with one of the Chancellor's pronouncements that, whatever way businesses decided to act, he was 'putting revenue into the market'.

Second, we could act on the principle that a market price consists of two elements: a return to the business and a return to the Exchequer, the latter being the VAT element. In this case we would maintain the price excluding VAT and reduce the recommended retail price by the reduction in VAT return.

The third option was to accept that there were that two elements to the market price but also recognise that a strict adherence to the VAT reduction was going to lead to some 'unnatural' end prices. In the case of a £15.95 DVD this would be £15.62. So the third option was to re-price, for instance to £15.49.

In the end we have gone for Option 2. If the Chancellor keeps to his word we will have thirteen months of awkward pricing followed by a return to the market-based pricing we have enjoyed for the last ten years. We have reduced our main DVD price to £15.62 including VAT.

Will the Government keep its word in thirteen months time?

Peterborough and Newark dates in 2009?

This year, once again, we ran stands at the two national autumn tractor shows one week and forty miles apart from each other. Newark shaded it for us. One of the best shows we've known.

The managements of the events have announced that their autumn shows in 2009 will run over the same weekend. We understand now that commonsense is going to prevail and the clash of dates will be avoided. But how? We're intrigued to find out....

More - see Blog 1 March 2009

Demolition Giants - third filming session

Steven Vale’s goal to capture some of the world’s heaviest and tallest demolition rigs in action is nearing completion following several days of successful filming in England.

With a great deal of help and support from Kocurek’s Stephen Codd and Ron Callan, this time he took director Jonathan Theobald and cameraman Roger Wiltshire to Birmingham to catch the biggest machine in action at its second job site.

The massive machine belongs to Coleman & Co, and is based on a brand new Liebherr R984C hydraulic excavator that was converted following several thousand hours of work by Liebherr and Kocurek. The result is a 200 tonnes+ monster that rips down everything in its path. 

Fitted with a three-stage telescopic boom that is capable of reaching to heights of 65m, at the top the jaws of the Verachtert tool makes light work of crushing even the thickest reinforced concrete. 

From Birmingham the team travelled to Barking in East London to see another of Kocurek’s telescopic creations – a modified Hitachi EX1200. 

One of only three in existence, the film crew was able to take a close look at one of two belonging to 777 Demolition. 

Currently helping to tear down a number of older office and residential buildings, guide Leon McNeish provides them with some stunning vantage points to see this 160 tonnes giant from all its best angles.

 The 9-storey block of flats stands no chance against a machine that is capable of operating at a height of 55m.

With kind permission from managing director David Kocurek and great co-operation from his staff the film crew was able to take a peek at some of the manufacturing processes of the Ipswich-based demolition rig specialist.

The visit coincided with the final tests of a brand new demolition rig to India. Based on a Volvo EC460B, it might only reach to 26m but is believed to be the very first high-reach machine in the country. 

Filming is nearly finished. With just one main demolition giant still to capture, the team plans to release the DVD in spring 2009.

Steven (who took the photographs and prepared the text for this blog entry) has been careful to get footage of the operators at work. Here are two of them: Chris Hinett in the Hitachi 777 and Bill Robinson in the Liebherr.

 

New books and DVDs in stock at Old Pond

Four new titles have recently come into stock at Old Pond Publishing:

JCB's Backhoe Loaders - workhorse for the world, Tim Starkey-Smith (DVD), see blog 27 October.

The Moon and the Sledgehammer, directed by Philip Trevelyan (DVD), see blog 20 October.

Peter and Pauline at Hollyhock Farm, RAE Linney (hardback book), see blog 17 August.

Britains Farm Model Balers and Combines, David Pullen (hardback book), see blog 27 October.