Issue 4727 of Model Engineer Magazine **20 PAGE FREE PREVIEW**

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Vol.231No.47276–19October2023

488SMOKERINGS

News,viewsandcommentontheworldof modelengineering.

489THEFIRSTYEAROF MODEL ENGINEER

RogerBackhouselooksathowandwhyour magazinewasfounded.

497COUNTRYHOUSE WORKSHOP

ModelEngineer’sfirstforayintocolour,one hundredyearsago.

498PERCIVALMARSHALL

RonFitzgeraldexaminesthelifestoryofour founderandfirsteditor.

504POSTBAG Readers’letters.

506BOOKREVIEW

RogerBackhousereadsAnthonyDawson’s bookonStephenson’slocomotive Planet

507AMODELENGINEER’SCLOCK JimClarkusesmodernmethodstomakea skeletonclockinspiredbyJohnWilding.

511RECYCLINGA3½ INCH GAUGESOUTHERNSCHOOLS LOCOMOTIVE

RobertHobbsturnsaboxofbitsintothe Southern’s‘V’Classlocomotive Winchester

514LITTLELEC2023REPORT

ArthurGreenwatchesthelittlelocomotive efficiencycompetitionatSwansea.

517THETWISTDRILLBIT

NeilRainelooksintothesubtletiesofa commontool’sdesign.

520LNERB1LOCOMOTIVE

DougHewsonpresentsatruetoscalefive-inch gaugemodelofThompson’sB1.

522JOINTFAILUREINSILVER SOLDEREDSTAINLESSSTEEL GrahamAstburyfindsoutwhysilversoldered jointsinstainlesssteelarepronetofalling apart.

525NEWSFROMCARDIFF

MikeDenmanreportsonthelatest developmentsattheCardiffMES.

526RADIALVALVEGEARSAGAIN DuncanWebsterexploresthesubtletiesofvalve gearoperation.

528AFIVE-INCHGAUGE0-4-0 PADARNRAILWAYTENDER LOCOMOTIVE

Luker presents FireQueen,aWelshslatequarry locomotive.

532CLUBNEWS

GeoffTheasbycompilesthelatestfrommodel engineeringclubsaroundtheworld.

535CLUBDIARY FutureEvents.

http://www.facebook.com/modelengineersworkshop

http://twitter.com/

TheadvertisersonthesepageswillallbeatthisyearsMidlands ModelEngineeringExhibition.The2023exhibitionwillseethereturnofthe lectureswhichwillbepresentedby ModelEngineerandModelEngineers’Workshop. Thereisafullrangeoftalksfromleadingmagazinecontributorsasbelow.

Thursday12thOctober

1.00pm RogerFroud-AdevelopmentinSteamInjector design

2.15pm NeilWyatt-3DPrintingforModelEngineers

Friday13thOctober

11.15am StewHart-Designingandbuildingmodelstationary engines

1.00pm RogerBackhouse-TheremarkableJimCrebbinand hisexperimentallocomotives

2.15pmDuncanWebster-Adummiesguidetosteamengine valvegear

Saturday14thOctober

11.15am BobReeve-Whymetalsbehavethewaytheydo

1.00pm ChrisGabel-Powdercoatinginthehomeworkshop

2.15pm MarkNoel-HeartheEarth:howtodesignandbuild aseismometer

Sunday15thOctober

11.15am RogerFroud-WhyaCNCmillingmachineisso useful

2.00pm PresentationofAwards

TheSocietyofModelandExperimentalEngineers willalsobehavingasuper-sizedstandfeaturing modelsandtoolsfromacrossitshistory.Therewill alsobelivedemonstrationsof3DprintingbyMEW EditorNeilWyattdaily.Asalways,nearlyfortyofthe leadingmodelengineeringspecialisttradesuppliers willbepresentalongwithhundredsoffascinating modelsincompetitionanddisplayclassesandon nearlythirtyclubandsocietydisplaystandsand outsidesteamers.

125Years

Inthisissueweincludetwo specialfeaturestocelebrate 125yearsof ModelEngineer PercivalMarshallfounded themagazineatthestart of1898and,onpage498, RonFitzgeraldbeginshis lifestory.Onpage489 RogerBackhouselooks atthebeginningsofthe magazineandexamines itsbroadscopeinthe earlyyears.

Skills

Concernisoftenexpressed thatwe,asacountry,arelosing theengineeringskillsvitalfor oureconomicsuccess(see Postbag,page504).Itturnsout thatthisisnotanewconcern. RonFitzgeraldtellsusthat partofPercivalMarshall’s motivationinstartingthis magazinein1898was a growingconcerninBritain thatashamefulneglectof adequateengineeringtraining forengineerswasdestroying itscompetitiveadvantage.Ron goesontopointoutthatthe Germanswerefaraheadofthe UKinthetrainingofengineers. ThiswastruealsoinFranceof course–IsambardKingdom Brunelreceivedanacademic traininginengineeringatthe ÉcolePolytechniqueinParis duringtheearlyyearsofthe nineteenthcentury,atthattime theworld’sonlyuniversityof scienceandengineering.This distinguishedhimfromthe majorityofhiscolleaguesin theUKwhohadnotreceived thesamekindoftraining. Rongoesontomentionthe foundingoftheFinsbury TechnicalCollege,setupto providehighquality–and comprehensive–technical education,combining academiclearningwithartisan engineeringskills.It’sworth mentioningthat,ataboutthe sametime,thebeginningsof anengineeringdepartment weredevelopingatCambridge University.Thiswouldresult intheestablishmentofthe mechanicalsciences‘tripos’ (i.e.courseofstudy)inthe 1880s.OxfordandImperial Collegefollowedsoon afterwards.

Idon’tthinkweshouldbe toogloomy.Itseemstome thattheimageofengineering –andengineers–is‘onthe up’and,withtherateatwhich excitingnewtechnologiesare beingdeveloped,itisthese daysperceivedasarather interestingcareertopursue. Fearsthatengineering’s demiseintheUKisimminent maybeallayedbythefactthat theUK’smanufacturingoutput hasrecentlyovertakenthatof France.So,notallgloomand doomthen.

BradfordCup

Thisyear’sBradfordCupwas awardedtoSteveGoodbody forhisserieson TheEating ofElephants.Asforlastyear, itwasfeltthattheNational RailwayMuseuminYorkwould beanappropriatevenuefor theawardceremony.Our photographshowsthecup beinghandedtoSteveby AdrianShuttleworth,president oftheBradfordSocietyof ModelEngineers.

AutumnShows

Asthesummerdrawstoa close,andthemistsrollin,the numberofshowsandrallies getslessandless.Itismyduty, then,tohighlightsomeofthe showsstilltocome.

IfyouliveintheWest Countryyoumaybeinterested

intheSouthDevonGarden RailwayGroup’sshowon October28th.Thiswilltake placeattheMatfordCentre inExeterEX28FDandtickets cost£10,orfreeifyouare under15yearsold.The showcoversthegardenrail gaugesfrom0gaugeupto gauge3.Aproportionofthe showproceedswillgotothe DevonAirAmbulance.Further detailsareavailableatwww. exetergardenrailwayshow.com

Forthoseclingingtothe easternmostedgeofthe countrythereisofcourse LOWMEX,theLowestoftModel EngineeringExhibition,heldthis year,aslastyear,attheEast CoastCollegeinLowestoft NR322NB.Thisshow, organisedbytheHalesworth MES,goesfromstrengthto strengthandtakesplaceon October28thand29th.More detailsareavailableatwww. lowmex.co.uk

HaddenhamSteamRally

Youreditorenjoyedafineday outattheHaddenhamSteam Rallyacoupleofweeksago. Therewastheusualcollection ofmachinerylinedupfor inspection–tractionengines (ofvaryingsizes),tractors, motorbikesandclassiccars. Therewerealsosomefine fairgroundorgansandafunfair. Thislatterprovidedtheperfect opportunitytogetagoodview ofthetractionengineparade, asyoucanseefromthe photograph.

DIANE CARNEY Assistant Editor

MARTIN EVANS Editor

SteveGoodbody(left)receives theBradfordCupfromAdrian Shuttleworth(right),presidentofthe BradfordSocietyofModelEngineers (photo:JocelynFung).

AfineviewofthetractionengineparadeattheHaddenhamSteamRally.

ExeterGardenRailShow

LOWMEX

TheFirstYearof ModelEngineer

ModelEngineer isa remarkablesurvivor. Surprisinglyfew magazinesfoundedinthe19th centuryarestillpublishedinthe 21st,survivingwhensuchlarge circulationpublicationsas Punch, TheIllustratedLondon News, DailySketch,JohnBull and Titbits havefolded. FounderPercivalMarshall musthaverealisedthe rightformulaforsuccess. Remarkably,ithascontinued asanichepublication,still includingvariationsonthe sametypeofarticlespublished inthe rstissues.Anemphasis onmakingengineeringitems inhomeworkshopsandadvice toreadersremains.Eventoday articlesintheearliestissues couldstillbeuseful,though ofcoursenewmethodsand materialshavecomeintouse. Itbeganasamonthly costingjust2pence(photo1). ModelEngineer andAmateur Electrician soonspawnedlarge exhibitionsandencouragedthe formationofmodelengineering societies.Thoughthe pioneeringEdinburghSociety ofModelEngineerswas

foundedin1894,severalother societiesarealmostasold asthemagazineand ourish today.Forexample,theSociety ofModelandExperimental Engineersalsocelebrates125 yearsin2023.

Althoughmanypeoplemade engineeringmodelsbefore ModelEngineer emerged, thenewmagazinegavea focusfortheirpreviouslone activities.Itcanbesaidtohave createdahobby.Probablythe onlycomparisoniswithIan Allanandhisbooksofengine numbersthatdevelopedthe trainspottingcrazeoftheearly 1950s.Manyofthosespotters remained rmrailenthusiasts.

PercivalMarshall

TheideacamefromPercival Marshallwhowasjust27 yearsoldwhenhestartedthe magazine.Hehadconsiderable engineeringexperienceand wasanAssociateofthe InstitutionofMechanical Engineers.Strangely,heisnot knowntohaveevermadea model!However,hisbrother Alfredwasanexperienced modelmakerandlaterajudge

at ModelEngineer exhibitions. Alfredalsocontributedarticles aboutmakingamodeldynamo toearlyissuesandwasone ofthebandwhoanswered correspondents’queries.

PercivalMarshallwas borninLondonin1870.After attendingFinsburyTechnical Collegewherehestudied scienceandengineeringhe wenttoclassesatBirkbeck Institute,ManchesterTechnical SchoolandVictoriaUniversity. Hegainedexperienceasan apprentice,improver, tterand machinistandwasreportedto havespenttimeasalathehand inaFrenchfactory.

Hetookanearlyroleinthe JuniorInstitutionofEngineers joiningthecommitteeatjust sixteenyearsold.Whilsta careerinengineeringwould haveseemedappropriatehe showedalikingfortechnical writing.Thissoonledtoarole aseditorofaphotographic magazinewhereheconceived theideaofapublicationaimed atmodelengineers.

Laterhehelpedfoundthe BritishAssociationofTrade andTechnicalJournals

Roger Backhouse looksback atthebeginningsofour magazine.

Earlymastheadforthe ModelEngineerandAmateurElectrician

andremainedinvolvedin representingmagazine publishing,becomingalongtermmemberofthePressClub. Outsidepublishinghewas akeengolfer, shermanand agoodshot,oncewinninga silvercupatBisley.Healso enjoyedBridgeandcrosswords andwasaFreemason.

PercivalandAlfredwere fromafamilylinkedtothe publishinghouseofHorace MarshallandSonandwould havebeenawareofagrowing numberofpeopleenjoying modelengineering.Firmslike MartinandCo.ofWestHam, StevensModelDockyard andothercompaniesalready

suppliedcastingsandmetals tomodelmakers(photo2). Despitewarningsthatmodel engineeringwasdyingout(how oftenhaveweheardthat?)and thatamagazinewouldbelucky tosell vehundredcopies,the rstissuessoldoutandwere reprintedlater.

PercivalMarshallwasquite clearabouthisaimsinstarting TheModelEngineerand AmateurElectrician. Inissue1 inJanuary1898hesaid‘there isatpresentnojournalinthis countrywhichisexclusively devotedtomechanicsand electricityfromtheamateur’s pointofview,andthearmyof workerswhosetasteslieinthis directionhasgrownsolarge thatthereisadistinctwantfor apublicationwhichshallmake theirinterestsitsespecialcare’. Headdedthatthemagazine wouldbeessentiallypractical incharacterandthecontents wouldbesoarrangedthat ‘allamateurmechanics…will ndsomethingofinterestand assistanceineverynumber’.

Aftercloseinvolvement with ModelEngineer for manyyearshediedin1948, rememberedforhisquietwit andcommitmenttothecause ofmodelengineeringover ftyyears.

Developingthemagazine

Fromthe rstissue Model Engineer wasconceivedasa journalofrecordwithvolumes, issuesnumberedandanindex. Partlyasaresultmanycopies survivedtobeboundtogether preservingthecontent,

thoughusuallylosingthe advertisementsthatnowadd furtherinteresttooldvolumes. Unfortunately,the rstissues usedaverysmallfont,probably only8points,makingitdif cult toread.

Aswascommonpractice atthetime,contributorswere oftenidenti edeitherby pseudonymsorinitials.For example‘Zodiac’contributedan articleaboutmakinganelectric cyclelampand‘A.W.M’articles aboutmakingmodeldynamos andmotors.(Thiswas Percival’sbrotherAlfredwho hadconsiderableexperienceof electricalengineering.)

Gatheringarticlesforanew magazineisn’talwayseasy anditwasprobablyPercival Marshallwhohitontheidea ofholdingcompetitions.He invitedreaderstosubmit articlesandofferedgenerous prizesof£2-2s(twoguineas -around£400–£500nowso worthhaving)foreachwinning entryononeofthesetopics: 1Mymodelengineandhow Imadeit.

2AWimshurstmachine, howtomakeanduseittoincludeacompleteset ofworkingdrawingsand describeexperimentsthat maybecarriedoutwith themachine.

3Thelatheasamilling machine.

Healsooffered10/6das theprizeforthebestshort articledescribingsomeuseful workshop ttingorappliance tobeofgeneralinterestto readers.

Entrantshadtoworkfortheir reward.Themaximumlength forcompetitionswas2,500 words,allhadtobewritten clearlyanddrawingsmadein Indianinkonwhitecardboard showingallnecessary dimensionsinplain gures. Forthe rstcompetition entrantswereexpectedto provideaphotographofthe nishedmodel.Thisinitiative workedandentriescamein withthewinnerspublished laterin1898.

Thecompetitiontobuild amodelenginewaswon bynineteen-yearoldFrank P.SpicerofPrestwich,near

FirmslikeW.MartinandCo.ofWestHamwerealreadysupplyingcastingsfora modelengineer’smarket.

FrankSpicer’senginewasintendedtopoweramodelboat.Itweighed11/4lbsabouthalfakilo.

FrankP.Spicer- rstwinnerofa Model Engineercompetition

Manchester(photo3),andhis articleappearedinMay1898. Hemadeasinglecylinder singleactingsteamengine designedtopoweramodel boathe’dbuiltwithhisbrother. Thephotograph(photo4) showsawell-mademodel andtheengineeringdrawings, presumablyFrank’sown,are excellent(photo5).Hestated thathemadehisowncastings inbrassandaluminium.

Frankhadambitionsto becomeamechanicalengineer butinformationfromthe1911 censusfoundonAncestry.com suggeststhathebecamean electricalcontractorandwas thenlivinginHarrow.

PercivalMarshallintended that ModelEngineer would helpaspiringengineersby offeringaqueriesandreplies sectionfromthesecondissue. Heputtogetherapanelof experts,includinghisbrother Alfred,whowouldreplyto correspondentsontechnical mattersandthissoonbecame animportantpartofthe magazine,attractingawide rangeofqueries.Helater addedtotheexperts,notingin NovemberthatMessrsA.&S. BarkerofLeytonwouldadvise onoilandgasengines gratis toreadersandAlfredP.Hillof Shef eldcouldadviseongas engines,machineandhand tools,modelsetc‘foroutof pocketexpenses’.

Notalltheenquirerswere wellinformed.Oneenquirer

TheBritannialathewasmadein Colchesterandclearlyhadamarket amonghomeengineers.Treadlelathes werethennearuniversalinhome workshops.

mentionedintheOctoberissue thathadmadethe‘A.W.M’ dynamoinbrassandhad ‘polishedupthemagnets’.He wonderedwhyitwouldn’twork asamotorwithsixpintcells!

Workshopmethods

Informationaboutworkshop methodsappearedinallearly issues.The rstissuehadan articleaboutmakingscrew carrierstoavoiddamaginga screwthreadwhencarryingout operationsonthenon-threaded end.Thatarticleby‘Atlas’has suggestionsthatcouldstillbe usefultoday(photo6).

IntheAprilissueC.R.

Watkinsonwroteabouta simpleandeffectivelathe

chuckthatcouldbe xedto afaceplate.Presumablyhe wasfromthe rmofMessrs WatkinsonandCo.ofCarlton Hill,Leedswhoofferedthe necessaryforgingsforjust 2/9dpostfree.

Several rmsadvertised lathesclearlyaimedatthe homemachinistmarket.The ‘Pittler’lathewasone,whichan articleintheNovemberissue claimedwasbetterdescribed asauniversalmillingmachine. TheBritannialathemade inColchesteralsofeatured (photo7).

Thesamemagazine reprintedinformationfroman articlein AmericanMachinist of asuggestionforanamateur’s benchlathe.InMayreaders offereddetailsofsimpleand inexpensivelathesthey’dbuilt themselves,withtheeditor

notingthatthesubject‘isone ofnolittleinterest’.

Usingalatheasamilling machinewasoneofthe rst ModelEngineer competitions andanarticlewonR.Borlase Matthewsaprizeoftwo guineas.Inawellthought througharticlehegaveseveral examplesofhowthelathe couldbeusedformilling.

LionelVaricasgaveadesign foramodelbrassfoundry ‘asasortofcompanionto themodelworkshop’.His planmadeingenioususe ofakitchenrangeandgave detailsofmouldboxesand makingmouldswithsand butheadvisedagainstusing plasterofParisas‘itisamost treacherousmaterial’(photo8).

Readersreportedmaking theirownpatternsforcastings makingdueallowancefor

FrankSpicerclearlyhadgooddrawingskills-thisissomeofhisdesignworkfor theengine.

Lathescrewcarriersillustratedinthe rstissuehelpedavoiddamagetothreadspotentiallyusefuleventoday.

Castingbrassathomewasconsideredfeasibleforthehomeengineer.Thisfurnace designappearedinMay1898.

shrinkage.Iftheycouldn’t followtheadviceoncreatinga homefoundrymanytownsthen hadlocalfoundrieswhocould castitemsformodelmakers.

Telegraphy,electricity, radioandothernew technologies

Tosettheearly ModelEngineer interestinelectricalmatters incontext,nearly ftyyears hadpassedsinceCookeand Wheatstoneappliedfortheir telegraphpatentsandtheGreat WesternRailway rstinstalled theelectrictelegraphbetween SloughandPaddington.Using batterieswascommonplace andthereareseveralreferences todifferenttypesinVolume 1withadviceonmakinga ‘useful’bichromatebattery featuredinthe rstissueand aDaniellcellfeaturedinthe Novemberissue.Recharging a‘carporous’Leclanchécell featuredinSeptember.Alas, myChambersdictionarygives noindicationofwhat carporous meansbutthesewerewetcells withcarbonandzincterminals andanammoniumchloride electrolyte.

Domesticelectricitywas sometimesinstalledthough stilluncommonandused almostsolelyforlighting. ApartfromLordArmstrong’s pioneeringhydro-electric

powerplantathisCragside homenolessthanthePrime Minister,LordSalisbury,had electriclightinstalledathis homeofHat eldHouse.Aman wholikedtobewellabreast ofscienti cdevelopments, hewastheguestspeaker atthe rstannualdinnerof theInstitutionofElectrical Engineersin1889.

ColonelR.E.B.Crompton hadestablishedoneofthe rstpublicelectriclight undertakings,theKensington CourtElectricCompany, whilstSebastiandeFerranti createdDeptfordpowerstation tosupplyLondonnorthof theThamesduring188890.Fewotherplaceshad suchwidespreadprovision.

However,manyfactoriesand somehomeshadsmaller installations.Forexample,a systemusingaParsonsturbine togenerateelectricitypowered theOrmesbyIronWorksin 1888.

Soelectricpowerwas relativelynewand,ifreaders willexcusetheexpression, generatedgreatinterest (photos9and10).Asthefull title TheModelEngineerand AmateurElectrician implied, severalpagesineachissue weredevotedtoelectricity andelectricappliancessuch asconstructionofmodel dynamosandmotors.‘A.W.M’ contributedaseriesonmaking amodeldynamo.

Laterarticlesfeatureda schemeforanewinduction coil,improvingonRuhmkorff’s coil,andadesignforabattery poweredelectriclight.Maybe

notrevolutionary,butthis wasatimewhengaslighting stilldominatedthedomestic market.Advertisersin Model Engineer werealreadyoffering electricalequipment,for instanceAcmeofferedamodel dynamofor15shillings.

Radioalsocreatedinterest. GuglielmoMarconihad attractedthesupportofthe highlyconservativeWilliam Preece,EngineerinChiefofthe BritishPostOf ce,andwas workingtodevelopareceiving instrument(alsoknownasa cohererorBranlytube),able toselectradiotransmissions fromapotentialrangeofradio signals.In1897Marconimade successfultransmissions acrosstheBristolChannel, provingthepotentialofthe newmedium.So,inissue 1of ModelEngineer Leslie MillerAIEEofferedadviceon

Advertisementfor‘Crypto’dynamosandmotors.Curioustoreadthatthesecould beobtainedthroughleadingopticians.

AMr.Burmhammadethismodeldynamotohisowndesign,althoughsimilarto thosemadebyMessrsLaurence,ScottandCo.ofNorwich,oneofseveralwriters interestedinelectricalengineering.

AdvertisementforaAmericangramophone,alltherageinthe latenineteenthcentury.

Promotionalpictureforanewreceiver forwirelesstelegraphymadebyMiller andWoodsofGray’sInnRoad,London.

howtomakeacohereranda transmitterthoughwarningthat theMarconipatentmightbe infringed(photo11).

Therelativelynew gramophoneattractedinterest withafeatureon‘talking machines’intheAugustissue. Thiswasofcoursemechanical soundreproductionanda horngramophonefeatured inseveraladvertisementsfor theAmericanTalkingMachine Company(photo12).

In1897aPolishinventor, JanSzcepanik,appliedfora

Britishpatentforapparatus toreproducepicturesata distancebymeansofelectricity. Imagescouldbeeitherstillor movingandhis‘telectroscope’ attractedmuchinterest. Naturally, ModelEngineer readerswereinterestedin suchdevelopmentsandthe magazinereportedon Picture transmittingbyelectricity in Aprilbutquotedtheopinionof Dr.SilvanusThompsonthatat thepresenttimeitwas‘sheer nonsense’.

IntheMayissueMrC.A. Leesuggestedwaysinwhich itmightbeachieved,though headmitteditwouldbevery dif cultandhehadnotbuilt theapparatusproposed.

Alas,neithertheplansofJan SzcepaniknorMr.Leewere everrealisedbutbothshowed atypicallyVictoriancon dence thatsuchadevicecouldbe madeaswaslatertobeproved byJohnLogieBaird.(Thiswas notthe rsttimedevelopments havefailedtoliveuptothe initialpublicitythinkofElon Musk’s Hyperloop forarecent example.)

Anotherinventionwasa photo-theodoliteintroduced

bytheinstrumentmaking rm Casella.Thatwasreported togivetruephotographic perspectivesandwasequipped withamechanismrecording theinformationnecessaryfor interpretingthepicture.Perhaps thisanticipatedtherecordingof informationinadigitalcamera byahundredyears.

Photographyattracted someattentionincludinga ‘selfassemblydarkroom’ withadvertsforphotographic equipment.Thismayhave re ectedPercivalMarshall’s previouseditorshipofa photographicmagazine (photo13).

Submarineswerethenin theirinfancy.InJuly Model Engineer reportedonthe Hollandsubmarinetorpedo boatthathadrecentlymade arunofamileandhalfunder waterwitha ve-mancrew. Itusedagasolineengineand batteries.Thatsubmarine wasdesignedbyJohnPhilip Holland,anIrishRepublican whowantedtouseitagainst thehatedEnglish.Ironically theRoyalNavyusedthe designandlaunchedtheir rst submarine,theHolland1,in

1901.Itfounderedonroute tothescrapyardin1913but wasraisedin1981andisnow onshowattheRoyalNavy SubmarineMuseuminGosport. Perhapssurprisinglyaircraft andaviationarethesubject ofjustonearticleandthatin theMayissue.Thearticleis takenfromCassell’sSaturday JournalandquotesCaptain Baden-Powell,Secretaryof theAeronauticalSociety, sayingthathesawnoreason whyaerialnavigationshould notshortlybecomean accomplishedfact.Hewas correct.AlbertoSantos-Dumont madethe rstproperdirigible ightlaterin1899andthe Wrightbrothersmadetheir rst heavierthanair ightin1903.

Steampower

Amongmodelengineerssteam enginesandtheirboilersremain aspopularatopicaswhen ModelEngineer started.The rsttwoissuescontainedan interviewwithDr.Bradbury–Winterabouthislocomotive Como, (photo14)stilla magni centexampleofmodel engineeringskill,andincludeda photographofhisworkshop.

The‘EverReady’portabledarkroom featured-perhapsinclusionresulted fromPercivalMarshall’searlier editorshipofaphotographicmagazine.

Como -stilloneofthe nestmodellocomotives.BuiltbyDr.BradburyWinterofBrighton.

EnginemadefromLipton’scans. PercivalMarshalpersuadedLipton’s tobuythisengine.Suchanengine presagedthevoguefortincantraction enginesinthe1950s.

W.J.Tennantwrote severalarticlesaboutsteam locomotivesandmodel constructionbutmostofhis discursivewritingsabout constructionassumedreaders hadsomepriorengineering knowledgeandskills.Yethis articlesaboutslidevalves wereveryclearandremain informativetoday.Stepbystep instructionsdidnotfeature untilLBSCstartedhislong runningseriesinthe1920s.

SupplierslikeBertrand

GarsideofWarringtonmade ttingsformodelsteam locomotivesandboilers includingapressuregauge forjust6shillingssothere wasclearlyamarket.In MarchMartinandCo.ofEast Hamofferedcastingsand drawingsforamarinetype tripleexpansionengine.It doesn’tsoundlikeaprojectfor anewcomerbutthemagazine describedthecastingsas cleanandsound‘andwill presentlittledif culty…toany amateurofaverageskilland intelligence’(photo15).

E.L.Pearcedescribed makingabrasssixinch diametermodelverticalboiler. Itreadslikeatechnically feasibleprojectthoughbrass wouldnotnowbepermittedas aboilermaterial.

Severalreaderssentin detailsandphotographsof modelsthey’dmade.Thomas Bowkersentaphotographof anattractivehorizontalengine model.Thedesignderived fromaJosephClaytonengine

whichthemakerwasableto measure.

Anotherreader,whocould notsendaphotograph,sent histincanenginemadeusing tinsfromLiptonproducts. Thisimpressedtheeditorwho persuadedLipton’stobuythe engineasacurio.AnAmerican magazinedescribeditas ‘oneofthesevenwondersof theworld’-stretchingapoint perhapsbutneverthelessthe modelwasagoodexample

ofwhatcouldbeachieved withlimitedresources.It presagedthetincantraction engineswhichenjoyedaburst ofpopularityinthe1950’s (photo16).

Modelrailways

Inthe rstyeartherewere surprisinglyfewreferences tomodelrailwaysalthough adesignforamodelwagon appearedinthe rstissue.One featuredinSeptemberwas theReverendHarryLauncelet Warneford’s‘Chicagoto JerichoRailway’athisWindsor (England)home.Thearticle isderivedfrominformation inan1895 Strand magazine. Withlivesteamlocomotives, itfeatured100feetoftrack builtto2⅝ inchgauge, severalbridgesofdifferent typesandatunnel‘coveredin nasturtiums’(photo17).Itwas fullysignalled,evenhaving afogsignalman’shutwhere asmallchargeofpowder couldbeignitedtowarn ofaredsignal!The Strand magazineaddsthat‘hisskill asanamateurengineerisonly equalledbyhissuccessasa composerofmusic’.Itwould beinterestingtoknowwhathe composed.

RatingsurveyorLeonard Jonesdescribedhismodel locomotivesandhowthey werebuiltintheOctoberand Novemberissues.Hehadbuilt a2⅞ inchtrackrunninground hisworkshopwallswithelectric locomotivesandaningenious electricbrake(photo18). Ifnotexactlyamodelrailway, theArthurHeywood15inch gaugerailwayfortheDuke ofWestminsteratEatonHall featuredintheOctoberissue. Thathadopenedin1896 (photo19).

Gaspower

Thoughnowlargelyforgotten, gasenginesrunningontown gaswereoncecommon.Some inmoreremoteareascouldbe fuelledfromsmallproducer gasunits. ModelEngineer offeredadesignby‘Atlas‘for asmall ⅙ bhpgasenginewith acarefullydrawndoublepage generalarrangementdrawing intheNovemberissue.

BuiltbyaclergymantheChicagotoJerichoRailwayboastedthis necantilever bridgeandevenaworkingfogsignal.

RatingsurveyorLeonardJonesbuiltthiselectricindoorrailwayof2⅞ inchgaugein hisworkshop.Achurchmodelhebuiltisjustvisible.

TheDukeofWestminster’sEatonHallRailwaywas15inchgaugetoservethe estate.DesignedbySirArthurHeywood.

W.MartinandCo.soldcastingsforthis netripleexpansionmarineengine.

Wimshurstmachinedrawings.This designand nishedmachinewonEdgell Brownaprizeoftwoguineasinanearly

TheJulyissuenoteda ⅛ bhpgasengineproducedby ButlerBrothersofDerbywith tubeignitionandworkingon theOttocycle.Castingsand forgingscouldbeobtained forjust15sandthecomplete engineboughtfor£3-10s.

Another rmmakinggas engineswasMessrsA.&S. BarkerofLeytonwhoseworks

wasvisitedbytheeditor.Their ‘B’enginescouldbeadapted torunonoilorgasanda numberhadbeensentabroad toRussiawithoneabouttogo totheWestIndies.The rm’s cataloguewouldbesentpost freetoanyenquirermentioning ModelEngineer.

Othersusedacetylenegas. TheAugustandSeptember issuesreportonahomemadeacetylenegasgenerator usedforlighting.Manyearly cyclelampswerepowered byacetylenegasandevenin theearly1950stheformer NorthEasternlocomotiveshed atKirkbyStephenwaslitby acetylene.

Thesefractionalhorsepower gasengineswerelargely superseded, rstbyoilengines andthenbyelectricmotorsas powermainsspreadacross townsandthecountryside (photo20).

Motortransport

InAugust ModelEngineer reportedonanewmotorcycle poweredbyacetylenegas madebyRalphLucas.Hewas almostcertainlytheengineerof Blackheath,southeastLondon, whoin1901madeavalveless twostrokeenginedcarwhich hedrovewithsomesuccess aroundBlackheath.Thathad averticaltwinenginewitha commoncombustionchamber andtransversecrankshafts.

Evenwhenautomotive experimentationwas ubiquitousitwasunusual, withthetwostrokepetrol enginehousedbeneaththe

driver’sseat.(By1907Lucas feltcon dentenoughto formValvelessCarsLtd.and displayedatthe1907Olympia motorshowonthestandof Crawshay--Williamswhomade carsin1904-06.)

TheSeptemberissue reportedthatSelfPropelled Traf cAssociationprizes hadbeenawardedtothe LancashireSteamMotor CompanyofLeyland, presumablyforasteamlorry.

Modelboats

Therearefewreferencesto modelboatsinthe rstyear butmanymorearticlessoon followed.InAugust‘J.M.W’of Newryaskedforcomments onhisproposeddesignfora steampoweredmodelwarship (photo21).Othersaskedfor adviceonmakingboatengines. InSeptember‘H.R.’reported he’djustmadeamodeltorpedo boatdestroyer4feet4inches longandpoweredbycrosshead enginesthatcouldberuneither athighpressureorexpansively. Heofferedtoshowthemodel to‘J.M.W’orwriteaboutitin ModelEngineer givingmore detailforreaders.InNovember ‘Stator’wroteaboutmaking deck ttingsforsuchamodel.

CharlesPriceofCroydon sentaphotographofa10inch highmodelmarineengine.It washighlydetailedandwas reportedtoworkwell,eventhe reversinggear.Yetthewhole enginewashandcarvedfrom woodusingonlyapenknife andbradawl,aremarkablefeat. Hasitperhapssurvived?

Severalshipmodelsfeatured atthe‘MuseumofModels’ runbyMessrsJohnBateman andCompanyinHighHolborn (photo22).Thisbusiness incorporatedtheModel Dockyard.TheAprilissue commentedonsomeofthe models,includingoneofthe Americanriversteamer Cape Charles. Thatfeaturedwalking beamsteamengines,feathering paddlewheelsandarailway trainonboard.Again,what happenedtothesemodels?

Otherdevices

InAugust ModelEngineer announcedthatanAmerican rmhadbuiltthe‘largest in uence(i.e.Wimshurst) machineevermade’witheight plateglassdiscseach60inches indiameterand ⅜ inchthick. Wimshurstqueriestookup partoftheQueriesandReplies section,suggestingthatquitea fewreaderswereinterestedin buildingsuchadevice.

Thecompetitiontodesign andbuildaWimshurstmachine waswonbyEdgellBrown whoreportedintheJuly issue(photo23).Heincluded drawingsinhisarticleand recommendedmakingalarger machinewithglassplates ratherthanebonite.Eventoday hisadvicelookshelpfulto anyonethinkingofmakingsuch amachinethoughitwouldbe unwisetofollowhissuggestion ofusingittolightanX-Ray (orRöntgen)tube.However, interestinX-Rayswaskeenat thetime.PercivalMarshalllater publishedaguidetoX-Rays

The‘Godiva’enginecouldrunoneithercoalgasoroilfuel.

Bateman’smuseumofmodelsinHigh Holbornincludedlocomotiveandship models.Somecouldbeseenworking.

competition.

Proposedwarshipdesign.Therewasinterestinbuildingmotortorpedoboat destroyers.

andtheyweredemonstratedat a‘Conversazione’heldbythe newlyformedSocietyofModel Engineersin1899.

Clocks

Althougharticlesabout clockmakingwerecommonin laterissuesofthemagazine therewasjustoneinthe rstyearandthaton‘Howto convertanoldvergewatch movementintoaclock’.The articleby‘C.M.R.’intheJanuary issueclearlyanticipatesthat readersattemptingthiswill haveconsiderableexpertisein clocksandwatches.

Modelsfrom ModelEngineer

Probablythe rstmodelto bebuilt,atleastinpart,from a ModelEngineer articlewas amodelelectriccar(i.e. tramcar)builtbyG.H.Rooke whichappearedintheJune issue(photo24).Headapted adesignforamodelgoods wagonthatappearedinissue No.1andusedtheunderframe design,addinganelectric motorandsuperstructure.It ranonrailsmadefrombrass rodandhada‘thirdrail’type pickupunderneath.Howmany modelsfollowedfrom Model Engineer designs?Theremust bemanythousands.

ShapingthehobbySocietyofModel Engineers

InJunetheideaofamodel locomotiveclubwas rst suggestedbyacorrespondent,

followingtheearlierpattern ofmodelyachtclubs.By Septemberthishadmatured intoaplanforamodel engineeringclub.Ameeting todiscusswascalledatno.6 FarringdonAvenue,the Model Engineer of ce.

InNovemberthemagazine couldannouncethatthe meetinghadbeenheldanda societyformed,tobecalled the SocietyofModelEngineers PercivalMarshallwasthe chairmanandJimCrebbinvice chairman.Itwasclearearlyon thiswasnottoberestrictedto locomotivemattersandin1910 itbecamethe SocietyofModel andExperimentalEngineers which ourishedandisalso celebrating125yearsin2023.

Whenthesocietyopenedits ownpremisesinsouthLondon inOctober1950itwas ttingly namedMarshallHouse,after themanwhohadfacilitatedits formationandwasoneofthe rstcommitteemembers.

InDecemberMr.Bryantof theIsleofWightsuggesteda modelengineeringexhibition withprizesforthebest exhibits.Thiswaseventually carriedthoughin1907and the ModelEngineer Exhibition becameanannualand popularevent.

Circulation,overseas salesandspin-offs

InMarchPercivalMarshall hadalreadyreportedthat subscriptionshadcomein fromthecontinentandfrom America.InMayhereported

subscriptionsfromOntario, Schiedam(Holland),Port Elizabeth,Aden,Sydneyand Kostromo(Russia)giving ModelEngineer nearworld-wide sales.(In1939JimCrebbin,an early ModelEngineer subscriber andSMEEmember,visited Argentinaandwasastonished to nd ModelEngineer onsale atastationbookstall!)

Althoughsales gures werenevergiventheeditor waspleasedtoannouncein Decemberthatcirculationhad doubledinthelastsixmonths. Whatmighthaveseemeda riskyventurenowlookedstable.

From1900(Volume3) Model Engineer becameafortnightly andin1903(Volume8)a weekly,whichitremaineduntil the1950s.Itwasimpressive growthforamagazinewhich someexpectedtosellno morethan500copies!Later PercivalMarshallwastoboast thatitnowsoldinthetensof thousands.

ModelEngineer’s success meantPercivalMarshall couldbranchoutintobook publishing.Hislater Practical lessonsinmetalturningand screwcutting isfullofpractical adviceandstillreadable thoughlargelysupersededby laterbooks.Healsopublished ausefulguidetoX-Rays implyingsuchmachinesmight beconstructedathome!

Themestoday

Rustpreventionremainsan issueformodelengineers today.Earlyproposalsincluded

theuseofcopalvarnish whichsoundsapossibilitybut Dr.Bradbury-Wintersuggested inMarchusingsulphuricacid ‘whichshouldbepure,not diluted’addingthathe‘knewof nodisadvantagestoitsuse’. Nevertheless,itdoesn’tsound likeonetotryathome!

Onenotableomissionis engineeringnostalgia.There isareferencetoaNewcomen enginenearBirmingham butotherwisefewmentions ofhistoricmachines.Many enginesthatwouldnowbe regardedasimportantrelics werethenindailyuse.Steam andgaspowerwereverymuch stillcontemporarytechnology eventhoughelectricitywas makinganimpact.

Overalltheimpressionfrom ModelEngineer’s rstyear isofenthusiasticreaders, mostwithsomeknowledgeof engineering,keentousethe engineeringtechnologyofthe time.Newtechnologieslike X-Raysandradioattracted muchattentionwithreaders willingtotrymakingthem work(photo25).Evenmore important,theywerewilling tojoinnewsocietiesand tohelpeachotherthrough correspondence,something thatremainstrueeventoday. PercivalMarshallandhisteam lefta nelegacy.

Thanksto

MikeTilby(EditorSMEE Journal)forinformationfrom Ancestry aboutFrankSpicer.

G.H.Rookebuiltthismodelelectrictramcarusingthirdrailcurrentsupply.He addedthesuperstructuretoawagondesigninthe rstissue.Thismaybethe rst modeltobebuilt,atleastinpart,onplanspublishedin ModelEngineer AdvertforapocketgalvanometerfromtheNorthLondonElectricalStores.

‘TheSunstolethroughthecasementold,Andtouchedeachtreasuredtoolwithgold.’ Acolouredillustrationfrom ModelEngineer January4th1923.

PercivalMarshall PART1

printinhisveinsandfrom hisearlyteenshewasdrawn tojournalism.Beforehehad leftschoolhehadlearned shorthandandreadavidly abouttheworkofreporters, editorsandauthors(ref1).His enthusiasmforwritingwas notexclusiveforatthesame timehedevelopedaprofound interestinengineering.This apparently rstshoweditself whenafellowschoolboy: …tookapieceofmetaloutof hispocketandshowedittome withgreatpride.“Whatisit?” Iasked.“It’sacastingforthe cylinderofthemodelengine Iammaking.”Iexaminedit withmuchinterest,forinthose daysIdidnotevenknowthata steamenginehadsuchapart asacylinder,norhadItheleast notionhowanengineworked. ButIremembermyfeelings ofadmirationforthisother boywhonotonlyunderstood thesemysteriesbutwas actuallyengagedinthebuilding ofanengineinhishome workshop… (ref2)

For125yearsthe Model Engineer hasbeenthe cementthathasheldthe craftofmodelengineering together.With TheAutocar, foundedin1895andthe RailwayMagazine, started inJuly1897,itsharesthe distinctionofbeingamongst thiscountry’slongestsurviving printedperiodicalsfor enthusiasts.FromJanuary 1898,itwas rstpublished monthly,followedby fortnightly,thenweeklyfrom January1903upuntil1962, whenitrevertedtoafortnightly circulation.The Model Engineer hasnevermissed anappearancethroughout thiscentury-and-a-quarter, notwithstandingthetwice destructionofitspremises bybombsduringtheSecond WorldWar.

PercivalMarshall(photo1), thearchitectofthisremarkable achievement,wasbornon thelastdayof1870,the youngestsonofAlfredJohn MarshallandhiswifeMary Ann(néeJones).Hehadtwin brothers,AlfredWilliamand Malcolmandtwosisters. Thefamilylivedat5Clifton Villas,LambethinSouth London.AlfredMarshallwas apublisherwhoseyounger brother,HoraceBrook Marshall,hadestablished the rstdistributionagency tospecialiseinsupplying booksandpublicationsto railwaystations.Bythetime thatPercivalwasborn,the businessofHoraceBrook MarshallandSonhadbecome thelargestofitskindin Britain.PercivalMarshallcan justi ablybesaidtohavehad

Theengineeringaspect ofMarshall’sinterestswas initiallytotakeprecedence overjournalism.At14hewon aMitchellScholarshipvalued at£30perannumwhichgave himentryintotheFinsbury TechnicalCollege.The signi canceofthisturn inhiscareerisworthexploring morefully.

Inthe nalquarterofthe nineteenth-centurytherewas agrowingconcerninBritain thatashamefulneglectof adequateengineeringtraining forengineerswasdestroying itscompetitiveadvantage. Germany,Britain’smost formidablerivalhad,since 1820,developedastructured anduniversallyaccessible systemoftechnological trainingwhichextendedfrom rstyearsthroughtothemost advancedlevelinitstechnical

RonFitzgerald looksat thelifeofourfounder and rsteditor.

PercivalMarshallin1904.

highschools,polytechnics anduniversities.AsBritain attemptedtoconfrontthe challengeofincreasingly science-basedtechnologies, itfounditselfrelyingheavily uponGermantrainedchemists, electricalandmechanical engineers.AstheManchester chemistHenryRoscoewas toldbyaGermanchemist “WhileyouinEnglandhavebeen perfectingyourmachineswein Germanyhavebeenperfecting ourmen”.Moreover,these Germantechnologistswere nomeretheoreticians;the educationalsystemfromwhich theyemergedplacedanequal valueuponcultivatingartisan engineeringskills.

FinsburyTechnicalCollege wasthe rsteffectiveresponse tothegrowingpanicover Britain’sfailuretoprovidehigh qualityengineeringeducation. Theoriginsofthecollegedate from1877when,throughthe combinedactionoftheCity Corporationandseveralof theleadingLiveryCompanies, theconsiderable nancial resourcesofthelatterwere directedintoestablishingthe CityandGuildsofLondon Institutewhichaimedto promotetheimprovement intechnicaleducationin Londonandtheprovinces.In 1876theInstituteundertook responsibilityfortheSocietyof ArtsExaminationsintechnical subjectsandthreeyears lateradoptedthepioneering classesintechnicaleducation whichhadbeendeveloping inthebasementofCowper StreetSchool,Finsbury.These beganasaseriesofevening lecturesforworkingmen;the subjectsincludedchemistry, physics,drawing,design, mechanics,mathematics, geology,metallurgy,steam andtelegraphy.Theteachers howeverwerepaidonlyfrom thefeesandsomeacted gratuitously.

UndertheCityandGuilds Institutethebasementof CowperStreetSchoolbecame the rstformalestablishment inBritaintoofferrigorous technologicaleducationfor workingmen.Thenewly appointedDirector,SirPhilip

Magnus,reorganisedthe curriculumintoaformal departmentalstructure: physicsincludingmechanics, workandthermodynamics taughtbyProfessorAyrton andchemistryunderProfessor Armstrong.Thedemandwas overwhelmingand,inMarch 1882,aseparatedepartment ofmechanicswassplitoff fromthePhysicsDepartment. ProfessorJohnPerrywas appointedhead.Atthesame timeithadalsobecome clearthattheCowperStreet premiseswereinadequateand, in1880,groundwaspurchased inTabernacleStreetonthe edgeoftheCowperStreet sitewithaviewtobuildingan extension.Atthebeginning of1884theCityandGuildsof LondonTechnicalCollegeat Finsbury,universallyknownas theFinsburyTechnicalCollege, wasopened.

Thecollegeaimedto attractbright,enthusiastic, workingmenandfrom1884, dayclasseswereinstituted inadditiontothecontinuing eveninglectureprogramme. Theseweremorerigorous andextendedovertwoyears. Provisionwasmadetoadmit apprenticesandworkmenwho couldgiveupaportionoftheir daybutwhowereunableto takethewholedaycourse.The entranceexaminationforthe daycourserequiredthatthe successfulcandidateshould havecompetenceinalgebra, geometryandtrigonometryand abouthalfofthecandidates, itwaslaterreported,could handlecalculus.

Alleminentintheir elds, theseniorstaffproduceda numberofclassictextbooks whichformedthebasisof teachingforthenextthirty years.SilvanusP.Thompson, principalofthecollegefrom 1885,initiatedthe Finsbury TechnicalManuals,published bySponwhichsoldwidely andhis ElementaryLessonsin ElectricityandMagnetism was essentialreadingforanyone interestedinthenewscience ofelectricity.JohnPerry’s book: TheSteamEngineand GasandOilEngines.ABookfor theuseofstudentswhohave

timetomakeexperimentsand calculations becamethe rst standardcollegetextonthe subject.Clearly,anystudent whocompletedaFinsbury TechnicalCollegecourseto asatisfactorylevelhada rst classtheoreticalandpractical trainingbehindhim.

ThatMarshallshouldchoose toentertheengineering professionbywayofthis academicpathdistinguished himfromthevastmajority ofaspiringengineers.The alternativewouldhavebeen acraftapprenticeshipwith anestablishedengineering concern,whichmightcultivate tradeskillsbutconsigned thedisciplinedacquisition oftheoreticalknowledgeto individualprivatestudyinthe leisuretimethatremained aftercompletinga fty- ve hourweek.TwoyearsoffulltimestudyatFinsburygave equalprioritytotheoretical knowledgeandtheacquisition ofmanualskills.Marshall enteredthecollegeat fteen yearsofageandleftat16½ withaFirstClassHonours DiplomaandasaCityand GuildsofLondonInstitute MedallistinMetalWorking Tools.(Marshallretaineda profoundaffectionforthe collegeinlaterlife,bitterly condemningitsclosurein 1925.Healsofrequently expressedhisdeeprespectfor ProfessorJohnPerry.)

Marshall’stransition fromstudenttoengineering journeymanfollowed. Thejourneymanwasthe recognisedprobationary stageafterapprenticeship andentailedasuccession ofrelativelyshortperiods ofemploymentintendedto broadenexperiencebyavariety ofwork.LabourExchanges werenotintroduceduntil1909; priortothat,thesearchfor employmentwasaquestionof personalcontactsorindefault ofsuchconnections,tramping fromfactorytofactoryand enquiringatthedoor.Hewas to ndthelargelyhidebound engineeringindustryindifferent tohisquali cationsregarding themandasnosubstitutefora formalapprenticeship:

…Istartedoutverybravely callingonalloftheengineering rmsintheLondonareathat Icould nd.Atsomeplaces agatekeeperwouldputhis headoutandpointtoanotice ‘NoHandsWanted’andbang thedoor.AtothersIwastold thatIcouldnotbeinterviewed withoutanappointment andwhenIwroteforan appointmentIwastoldthat therewasnopointingivingme aninterviewastherewereno places…Hereandtheresome kindlyprincipalormanager wouldaskmeinandtalktome. Itistruethattheydidnot nd meaplaceintheworksbutI wascheeredthatthesebusy menhadtakenthetroubleto givemeafewminutesoftheir timeandsomesympathetic andhelpfuladvice.Atone ( rm) producinghighspeed engines,electricalandpumping plant,Isucceededingetting aninterviewwithoneofthe directors.Helistenedtomy storyandaftersomedepressing commentsonapprentices generallyhesaidthathewould givemeastartbutthatIwould havetoworkforthe rstyear fornothing.IrepliedthatIwas notpreparedtodothat.The directorrepliedthatIcouldtake itorleaveit.

Hecontinues:

Igot(ajob)quite unexpectedlythroughan oldschoolfellowwhose fatherhadputsomemoney intoa rmmakingsewing machines.Thisconcernwas atthestageofconstructing automaticmachinetoolsforthe productionofsewingmachines inquantity.Myschoolfellow wangledmeajob.Igot8/-per week….theworksmanagertold meverysoonafterIstarted “Whileyouarelearningyou cannotbeearning”.Ilearned quitealotwhilstIwasinthat smallshop.Iwaseverybody’s matehelpinga tterhere,a millwrightthereorasmithor aturnerwhowantedanextra hand.Iacquiredthepainful experienceofusingahammer andacoldchisel.Ilearned howtosetajobuponadrilling machinesothatthehole wouldcomeoutattheright placeatthebottomend,the

TheHoePrintingPressinits

secretsofaligningshaftingand countershafts.Ibecamequite competentathardeningand temperingachiseloraturning tool.Ialsoacquiredtheskill ofpushingafourteeninch le foracoupleofdaysonend withoutbecomingtoopainfully blistered. (ref3)

Havingattainedthismodest competence,hereceiveda surpriseletter:

Oneofthe rmsthathad notedmynameandaddress wrotetometosaytheyhada vacancy.Iwenttoseethem andfoundtheyhadjusttaken alargefactorywhichtheywere equippingwithnewmachinery throughout.Theyofferedto takemeasanunindentured apprenticeandputmeona brandnewWhitworthlathe justoutofitspackingcase. IhadreadallaboutJoseph Whitworth,hissurfaceplates, hismillionthmeasuring machinehisscrewthreadsand hismachinetools.Ofcourse Iacceptedthejob.Istarteda weeklaterandnotonlydidI getmynewlathebutImetJim Airey.

The rmthathemovedto wasRichardHoe&Co.In1833 theAmerican,RichardMarsh Hoe,hadtakenovertheprinting pressmanufacturing rm startedbyhisfather.Nineyears laterheinventedtherotary steampoweredpressthat placedthetypeonarotating cylinderratherthana atbed. In1870Hoegreatlyimproved theperformanceofthepress byadaptingittoafeedfroma

drumofpaper,arrangingthe presstoprintbothsidesofthe sheet,slittingtheindividual sheetsandfoldingthem. TheHoe‘LightningPress’ revolutionisedtheproduction ofnewsprint.Marshall maintainsthatwhenaleading newspaperorderedoneof Hoe’smachinestheyinsisted thatitbebuiltinBritainand Whitworthundertookthework butby1880Hoehaddecided toestablishamanufacturing plantinLondon.

Marshalllaterexpanded uponhisreferencetoHoe’s workmanJimAirey:

Heworkedthenextlatheto mineinmyearlyapprenticeship daysandtaughtmemany thingsthatmakeforgood turning.Hewasoneoftheold schoolofmechanicswhocould turnhishandtoalmostanyjob inanengineeringshopfrom thesmith’sforgetothe tter’s benchoranykindofmachine tool.Iknewhimasanartistat thelathe.Hetookanimmense prideinhiswork;everyjobthat cameoutofhislathehadtobe right.Ioftenusedtoseehim discussingaparticularjobwith theforeman.Theywouldlook itover,measureituptalkabout itand nallyJimwoulddoit. Theforemanknewhismanand beyondadvancingsuggestions, neverimposedhisownideas. Heusedtowatchmeatwork andgivemeahinteverynow andagain.Ifhewaspleased withanyjobIdidIfeltIwas reallymakingprogress;butifhe wasn’tpleasedIwastoldabout

it‘goodandhard’.IfIshyly askedhimafewquestions abouthisownjobhewould alwaystellmewhatIwanted toknow.Heseemedgreatly concernedthatIbecameagood craftsmanperhapsnotsomuch forhisownsakeasthathe couldnottolerateslovenlywork ortheclumsyorincompetent handlingofagoodlathe.My admirationofhisworkwitha slightadmixtureoffearofhis causticcriticismhadmuchto dowithmyownshopprogress andIhavealwaysbeengrateful toJimAirey.

HowlongMarshallworked forHoeisunknownbuthe subsequentlymovedtoW. H.Allen’sworks,atthattime locatedinBelvedereRoad, southoftheThames,in LambethadjacenttoMessrs., PeterBrotherhood.Both rms wereshortlytomigrateout ofLondonbuttheyshareda reputationfor rstclasswork throughgoodmanagement andtop-qualityshop oor engineers.Thenextmove broughtabreakfromthe Londonengineeringscenefor hemovedtothesouthcoast toworkinasmallengineering shop.Hereheparticipatedin his rstandonlystrikewhich arosefromanintendedchange inthehoursthatmadeup his55-hourworkingweek.A diplomaticownerresolved theissueandafteramorning ofsun-bathingonthebeach theworkforcereturnedtoits labours.

Again,Marshall’sstaywas

relativelybriefandforthenext coupleofyearshewentnorth, rstlytotheCoventryworks ofHerbertandHubbard.The rmhadbeenfoundedin1888 tomakesteamenginesbutin 1889AlfredHerberttookout alicenceonaFrenchpatent tomaketubesforthecycle industry.Thesubstantial pro tthataccruedfromthis lineofbusinessgenerated the nancetoenterinto machinetoolmanufacturing, concentratinguponsupplying specialisedmachinetoolsto theburgeoningcyclemaking industry.Thecompany adoptedtheAmericanmodel ofstreamlinedproductionand theirmachines,particularly the rm’sturretlathe(also knownasacapstanlathefrom theactuatingwheel),were consideredequalinqualityto theAmericanversions.Overthe nexthalfcenturyAlfredHerbert andCompanywastogrow intothelargestmachinetool makerinBritainandamongst thebiggestintheworld.The companycannothavebeen morethantwoorthreeyears oldwhenMarshalljoinedit:

…asa tter.My rstjobwas to lethesquareendsforthe handlesonabatchofslide restscrews.Amillingmachine wouldhavemadeshortwork ofthejobnow-a-daysbutin mytimeitwasa tter’sjob. Theshanksofthescrews wereintheroundjustasthey camefromthelatheandIhad tosquaretheendsto tthe handles.Thehandleswere malleablecastingswithcored holeforthesquareshankto t.Theholes,roughlysquare inshape,hadtobecleaned outwithadriftandthen nally touchedupwith le.Itwasa simpleenoughjobbutImention itbecauseitwillshowmore modernreadershowworkshop methodshavechanged.

Hisobservationofa particularincidentatthis timeprovedtobematterfor subsequentre ection:

…Iwasworkingintheshops …Wewereverybusyandwere workingovertime.Oneevening thelatheoppositeminewas vacant.Presentlyoneofthe partnersinthe rmcameinto

nalform.