Member postings for Keith Halton

I need to move a Super 7 and am trying to disconnect the lathe from the table it is mounted on. I've removed the four coach screws that hold the bed down but the lathe is still attached to the table by the on/off switch. See two photos below. So far, I haven't worked out the best way to separate lathe and table. It looks like there is a short (1" or so) length of conduit firmly holding the lathe and table together. Any suggestions on how to get them apart?

OOps, for crankshaft, read connecting rod!

Thanks, Jason, for the observation about the single crank web and also the drawings, which are both a close match for the engine. Maybe it will be worth doing some more work on it in due course. The drawing answered one question in my mind, which was the diameter of the big end bearing in the crankshaft, versus the diameter of the hole in the crank web. Obvious, really, now that I've seen the drawing. Keith.

Thanks, Jeff, I had a look at Ray Hasbrouck engines this evening. I didn't find any pics of an identical engine but I agree, it has a lot of similarities. I found one picture of an incomplete engine on eBay which is very similar to the engine Hugh started to build. I suspect Hugh hadn't finished making the parts for the crank axle, as (a) there's only one crank web on each unit (b) the crankshaft is too short to connect anything to it.

I''m very grateful for the information you've both given me, as I now know a bit more about it, but I don't think it's worth prolonging the discussion as I don't plan to do any work on the engine, there are more pressing jobs as I am moving a Super 7, milling machine and drill press from my late father's workshop to my newly built workshop. I think I'll put these bits back in their box to slumber for a few more years.... and I've got a complete ST Victoria engine (a real beauty) that another departed friend built, which I would dearly like to run, so I might be back with questions about that in due course. Keith.

Ah! Perhaps I should have thought of that. Thanks Jason, I'll have a look at it again tomorrow. Keith.

This is the first time I've posted to this forum. I'm a retired telecoms engineer, mainly interested in railway modelling and hoping that someone here can shed any light on some engineering models that have been in my possession for many years.

Below (hopefully!) are three pictures of a pair of steam engines, built in the 1950s by Hugh Paxton. Hugh was a was a Ship's Engineer by profession and a talented model engineer as well. He worked on compound steam ships and as far as I know, these two cylinders and valves were for a model boat project, but sadly Hugh died in his '30s before he had completed this project. He had many talents, and carved the originals for the Merit 4mm farm sheep - now they are small!

Back to the steam engine. The cylinder units each measure about 95 x 40 x 40mm.I am puzzled by the design as I can't see how the connecting rods transmit any motion to the crank shaft (see second picture).

I would welcome any suggestions about the origin of the models (are they from any form of kit?), their purpose, and how they are supposed to work.

Thanks, Keith.