Whilst in London he would frequent the Caledonian Road, Portobello, and Bermondsey markets, making friendships with those who shared his interests, such as Canon Francis Galpin, who encouraged Bate to turn his scientific education to the study of musical instruments. Bate used his carpentry skills to make and restore instruments in his collection and after learning metalworking techniques, made reproductions of draw-trumpets used by David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London.
While residing in London, he frequented the Caledonian Road, Portobello, and Bermondsey markets to meet people with similar interests, including Canon Francis Galpin, who prompted Bate to apply his scientific knowledge to musical instrument studies. Bate leveraged his carpentry abilities to build and repair instruments within his collection and after acquiring metalworking skills, he crafted replicas of draw-trumpets used by David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London.