Summary
In this interview from Fieldays 2023 Chris talks to Vic about ABMAN. A small plastic multi use tool that helps you open bungs in containers and lids from buckets.
This simple but handy idea has been in development for almost 10 years.
They’ve come to Fieldays to gauge interest in it.
Photos
Show Transcript
** This transcript was generated by an AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you have questions about any of the information found here, please reach out to us.
Chris [00:00:21]:
All right. And here I am at fielddays stall with Abman. Abman. And I am with Vic. How you going, Vic?
Vic [00:00:30]:
Good, thanks. For us yet? Yeah, no cold. Chilly this morning.
Chris [00:00:33]:
Yeah, it is still pretty chilly. And we got the rain pouring down. Inside. It’s actually a sunny day, but inside we’ve got condensation just dripping off this tent. So we’re sort of huddled in the corner out of the way. So you have this amazing doo. Hickey. I’m going to call it a doohickey. Where did this idea come from?
Vic [00:00:55]:
So this idea was my father, Peter Baker, and my younger brother Andy. They sort of came up with the idea together probably nearly ten years ago now. So dad, he works at the local swimming pool, volunteers at local swimming pool. And he was always opening the chlorine barrels, and it was a battle. He could never figure out how to open them. He could figure out but it was always using a tool that wasn’t really fit for purpose. And Andy had a school project and it was solve a problem. So together they came up with a wee tool to help open barrels. And what we’ve got today is different from the first admin that was produced, that’s had a bit of work over the years.
Chris [00:01:42]:
And how do you come up with the name?
Vic [00:01:46]:
Obviously, the looks like a bit of a man. This is audio, so people can’t see.
Chris [00:01:50]:
Him, but we’ll have some photos.
Vic [00:01:52]:
Yeah. Okay. There you go. Yeah, so he looks like a man. So that’s where that part comes from. And then the AB is sort of or the AB is brothers initials, Andy Baker. And then also the strength sort of in the center of the that’s where his strength comes from. In his ABS, I guess. Yeah.
Chris [00:02:09]:
Cool. So ten years ago, pretty much, you started doing this. So what made you want to productize it?
Vic [00:02:17]:
I think it’s sort of I don’t know, it’s just an interesting process to go through, I guess. Obviously, dad sees the tool as something that’s useful. He obviously uses it nearly every day at the swimming pool and something that could be useful to people and I guess a gap and just really an interesting process to go through.
Chris [00:02:41]:
Yeah, no, it’s a very cool project and I love what you’re doing here. So, just so people know, we’re not selling anything at the moment. The admin isn’t for sale yet.
Vic [00:02:51]:
Yeah, that’s correct. It’s not for sale yet. And being part of the prototype here at the Field Days, we’re not actually allowed to sell it. So yeah, we’re not really at that stage yet. We’re just at the stage of giving it away and trying to get people to start using it and give us some feedback, basically.
Chris [00:03:06]:
Yeah. Giving away, but they are asking for a donation to the Will to Live Charitable Trust, which is really cool. So we’ll get this out while Field Days are still going. If you’re in Field Days and you’ve listened to this, head down to Innovation tent. Look out for admin. Come see Vic and your friend. What was your friend, sir?
Vic [00:03:25]:
Mickey. Yeah. Mum.
Chris [00:03:28]:
Your friend mum. Vic and Nicky. Yeah. It looks really very useful and I love the way you’ve got three evolutions of them. Was the original metal?
Vic [00:03:42]:
Yeah, the original is made of metal. Yes, it’s steel. So that Andy actually welded that together in his classes at John McGlashen at high school. So that was the original. And Pete still uses that one in the swimming pool now. He’s still sort of so he’s used to it.
Chris [00:03:58]:
Yeah, that’s his tool. Oh, cool. And then you’ve got a 3D printed one that you were looking to create. And then where did you get this made and how did you go through that process of getting the productized one made?
Vic [00:04:14]:
Yeah, so this one is made from a company in Mosgill. The mold was made with them and then we’ve got 1000, I think was the first number that were made and kind of just trying to get them out and see if there’s going to be further interest.
Chris [00:04:38]:
Did you have to go through a few iterations to get strong enough or are you still testing that?
Vic [00:04:46]:
Yeah, still testing it, yeah. Because that is probably a concern that especially the initial time someone goes to open the barrel, they’re quite tight and there is a bit of flex in the admin when he gets that because sometimes you have to use a spanner or something to put a bit of leverage on him. And so we have tried to break them and we haven’t been able to, but it’s not out of the question.
Chris [00:05:09]:
Of course, that makes sense, where you’ve got the hole for the donut, so you can put something into lever. That makes more sense to me now. Yeah, it’s wonderfully light. It is really good.
Vic [00:05:21]:
Yes. The idea, yet lightweight and cheap is sort of the idea like cheap to produce and multipurpose.
Chris [00:05:31]:
Have you got a website or anything like that?
Vic [00:05:33]:
No, we don’t really. We’re sort of very in the early stages. I guess that’s part of being here at Field Days is just to see what sort of response we get from people.
Chris [00:05:48]:
No, that’s cool. Probably people can just Google and find something if they’re listening to this much later on and changing the subject just a little bit. Do you listen to podcast?
Vic [00:06:02]:
I do, yes.
Chris [00:06:04]:
Have you got some recommendations?
Vic [00:06:05]:
Oh, I love Andy Frasella.
Chris [00:06:09]:
Okay. I don’t even know who that is or what that’s about. So what is that about?
Vic [00:06:14]:
So he’s a very successful businessman in America and he’s just got a lot of strong political social views which are sometimes a bit out the left, but he’s just really motivational and sort of a different take on today’s society of oh, you’re doing great, you’re doing great, and he’s more get into it, get it done, sort of really just nice.
Chris [00:06:42]:
I might have to check that out. That sounds good, that sounds good. Any other recommendations you listen to?
Vic [00:06:48]:
Think beef and lamb. They do lots of really good educational good.
Chris [00:06:54]:
I’m laughing because I’m a vegetarian.
Vic [00:06:56]:
Okay. What about Chris and Sam?
Chris [00:07:00]:
Well, you’re going to start listening to us now? Yeah, we’ve got 434 episodes, weekly episodes. We’ll be doing this for however many weeks that is. Okay, cool. Well, thanks very much for that, Vic. And yeah, if you’re listening to this and Field Day still on, come down, have a have a look at the admin and say hello to Vic and Nicki. Cheers.
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