Member postings for Andy Boothman

Bob,

Yes, it is the same firm, and yes LBSC did write several articles with good things to say about Carson's models through into the 40's & 50's. The catalogue scan mentioned above is of the copy owned by LBSC and has several of his notes in it. Some of Jim Crebbin's articles over a similar period also give us some insightful snippets of information. This was all relating to the locomotive models.

Other than ME reports of Carsons lists / catalogues in the period 1905-1912 mentioning stationary engines, I'm yet to see any other mention of them (although I have not yet been through all of the ME articles that mention Carson beyond the 1920s).

Back to aluminium castings - there was an foundry established very close to Carson's Birmingham premises - **LINK** - so there was local expertise in its use.

Thanks, ega.

You've prompted yet another 'rabbit hole' to go down for my researches into James Carson, around his use of ali. Another similar one is the materials he used for his flash steam boilers, one of which has recently been recommissioned and found to be 100% steam tight and safe after more than 100 years since it was made!

On the people side, the foreman, mentioned above is the first employee (other than James Crebbin) whose name is now known for sure. I have identified 2 others from the 1911 census who were possible employees.

Reginald Monk, occupation 'Model Engineers apprentice'. He was 19 and was living with his family about 2.5 miles from Carson's works. All of the family were born in Birmingham, from where Carson had relocated his business in 1910. His father, Walter, was a gun fitter.

John Purdy, occupation 'Model Steam Engine Maker (Worker)'. He was 24, local to Hampstead, was recently married and lived about 1.5 miles from Carson's premises.

It would be great to find a relative of these gentlemen to confirm if they were Carson employees.

Andy

Via another forum, I have been in contact with the owner of these models and provided the scan of the catalogue mentioned above.

That B-L took over Carson's business is not really true. Carson voluntarily put the business into administration and B-L apparently purchased some of the assets; how this was effected I have not so far been able to find out. I have found no evidence that B-L took on any of Carson's staff or machinery (the latter being unlikely as Carson quickly returned to his previous trade in machine tools after the demise of his model-making firm).

Carson used aluminium castings in his locos an carriages(in gauges 1, 2 & 3), so its use in his stationary engines is not surprising. How he came to do so - perhaps through his former links with the cycle and motorcycle trade? I would welcome comments from members here who are familiar with cycles and motorcycles c.1910-12 to know how much aluminium was in use of them.

Unlike the loco designs, most of the stationary engine designs in the BL- 1934 catalogue are from Stuart - so if B-L did take on the Carson designs, they didn't last very long.

Armstrong Siddeley was not formed until 1919, so it would have been to Siddeley Deasy that Carson's foreman went - which was one of Carson's former customers before he started the model business.

Andy

May I suggest you head over to the Denford Forum - **LINK** - where you can find drawings of the pedestal drills and components.

The bases are just a sliding fit for the column, retained by 2 off 3/8" BSW screws.

Just to clarify on the internal painting - the metalwork was painted (before assembly) but the timber was left bare.

Andy

I think Geoff's 'frets' are steel not brass - so a pair of Xuron snips will quickly be destroyed.

More likely to need a small pair of bolt or music wire cutters, or a hacksaw / fretsaw - either will need some small files to remove the 'pip' that is left, clean up the laser-cut faces and remove sharp corners..

I would prime all the steel parts before assembly.

Choice of top coats and when to apply may depend on how detailed the kit is (does it have strapping internal to the body too?), and how faithful to the original you want it to be. Generally, timber-bodied wagons were not painted inside.

Andy

Have you looked at getting someone else to recondition them?

Ostia tools (https://ostiatools.co.uk/about-us/) recondition stuff (normally, it appears, what they have removed from school workshops). Maybe worth asking them?

If the collection to be scanned is in the thousands of items, then purchasing a scanner is likely to be worthwhile. The Midland Railway Study Centre has a 44" scanner which has been used for many different types of media; linen, tracing paper, vellum, printed posters, etc.

There were some reservations about it before its purchase was finally agreed, but the results have convinced everyone that it was a very worthwhile investment.

Ensuring maintenance of digital file types need to be built in to the collection's archiving policy.

If you're anywhere near Derby, you'd be most welcome to come and see what has been done at the MRSC.

Regarding preservation / conservation, 2 suggestions: 1) Try your county records office for advice. Some, like Norfolk, have their own specialist facility for conservation as well as providing general advice. 2) Are you an accredited museum - you might get some advice through the Museums Association.

An example of using a punch in a fly press here - **LINK**

To the OP - I think you've read the drawing wrong.

Try NBSC: New British Standard Channel, followed by the section number.

The drawing I think you're referring to says NBSC13 - 10" x 3 1/2", as shown in the Dorman Long handbook page 41 here: **LINK**

On page 60 you can find details such as the taper angle of the flanges and the section thicknesses.

If it had been an 'I' beam, it would have a NBSB reference, equal angles NBSEA, and so on.

Andy