Member postings for Bill Starling

The lovely little beam engine, dated around 1840, now in the Bridewell Museum in Norwich comes from the long defunct Bagges Brewery in King's Lynn. It was described in the ME for 5th July 1968 in an article by Geoffrey King entitled 'Model Stationary Steam Engines'. There is a general arrangement drawing, by Mr King, plus a detail drawing of the column.

At least one model was built - in America - to Mr King's detailed drawings. I have seen pictures of the model, but have now lost track of it.

By coincidence, the current edition of Old Glory has an article about the Bridewell with a photograph showing the cylinder cover and valve chest of the engine.

Amazingly its twin sister survives. It is in Jay Leno's museum in America and can be seen in steam at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoBWAE0win0

Bill.

Martin,

Yes. The rest of the market and Bury itself are well worth a wander round too.

Bill.

There have been a couple on mentions over the months of a tool stall on Bury St Edmunds Saturday market selling 'stuff' of interest to model engineers. I finally got round to making a pilgrimage to Bury yesterday to investigate. It's run by a chap called PeterWilson – www.engtool.co.uk – and he had everything from a couple of Myford lathes to boxes of used drills plus odd ends of brass, steel etc. Also his prices seemed aimed at encouraging me to spend money – not an easy task.

The only snag is that he retires at Easter so, if you are thinking of going to see him, don't delay.

(Usual disclaimer. Just a happy customer.)

Bill.

Thanks Ramon.

As well as a wide range of models to look at, many in action, we will be having a demonstration of a spark erosion machine, which should be interesting.

Hope to see you there.

Bill.

With only a month to go, may I remind you about the 'Model Engineers' Day Out' at the Forncett Industrial Steam Museum in south Norfolk? This year's event, on Sunday 7^th October, will be the twentieth and promises to have a great selection of exhibits of all types and sizes. If you do come, please say hello. It would be nice to put a face to the people whose postings I enjoy reading. There's still time and space for a few more entries – an invitation and details from: [email protected].

I'm not thinking quickly enough. Contact details for both the clubs Ramon mentions are on my list of contacts for the Model DEngineers' Day at Forncett. I assume they are 'in the public domain' as they are club officers.

Halesworth - sorry, no name: secretary@hdmes

and Norwich - Shirely Berry: [email protected]

Best wishes,

Bill.

Dear Chris and Pat,

I'm not that near Yarmouth/Lowestoft - I'm near Diss - and I don't belong to any local clubs. However I do organise an annual model engineering exhibition at the Forncett Industrial Steam Museum, about 10 miles south of Norwich. A lot of people from Norfolk/Suffolk and further afield come along and I try to keep in touch between events with an occasional newsletter. This year's 'Model Engineers' Day' (7th October) will be our 20th and the invitations are due to go out shortly. Even if you've not yet started making anything, you'd be very welcome to come and meet us. If you - or anyone else - would like more details just send me an e-mail address.

Best wishes,

Bill

(Very inexpert ML7 enthusiast.)

Sorry everyone. I should have said:-

221037426854

Is there a gremlin in this website that sneaks mistakes in when no one is looking?

Thanks for sorting it out Ady1.

Best wishes,

Bill.

With Diane's and David's permission ....

I'm offering some things on e-bay that might interest followers of this Forum, particularly the I/C engine brigade. They are original handbooks for the Gnome & Le Rhone rotary aero engines made under licence during the First World War by W H Allen of Bedford. Some of them include general arrangement drawings of these amazing machines. Both the 80 h.p. Type R and the 110 h.p. Type J are covered.

E-bay item no. 22103746854 is 'Instructions for the Care, Maintenance and Erection of the 80 H.P. Le Rhone Engine.' This will give you links to the others.

Thanks, Bill.

Dear Diane and David,

Another grouse about Smith's, which can't be laid at your door. Being 'prudent' I'd rather spend my pension on the workshop, not on postage. Ever since this thread started I've been pestering my local Smith's - Diss, south Norfolk - when I had occasion to be there. They do stock ME and MEW, however yesterday they admitted that they have not been allocated any copies of '300 Years ...' and can't order any! Having phoned round, this applies to other small branches locally. Happily someone has been into Norwich, where they have a grown-up branch, and bought copies for me and a similarly awkward friend. First impressions - I'm delighted, but haven't read enough yet to be troubled by the spelling mistakes!

If you publish something similar in future, I'll order it direct and hope to cut out Smith's.

If either of you ever make a pilgrimage to south Norfolk, do come to the Forncett museum. We'd love to meet you.

Bill.

Dear Neil,

If you can get to London easily at weekends (as I can from Norfolk), the training courses run by SMEE (The Society of Model and Experimental Engineers) are an excellent starting point. See: http://www.sm-ee.co.uk/. for details of the complete beginers' course, the stage two course teaching you how to make a small boiler and oscillating engine and the vital course on how to sharpen lathe tools. They are an amzingly helpful and friendly bunch and I've certainly gained a great deal from them - or perhaps I can now claim from 'us'. It's worth the effort to go back for the talks and other meetings whenever possible too.

Best wishes in your pursuit of this great hobby,

Bill.

This must be my cue to mention this year's Model Engineers' Day on 7^th October at the Forncett Industrial Steam Museum in deepest south Norfolk. On of our star attractions will be Ramon Wilson's recently completed table engine – see the thread 'A change is as good as a rest.' If you would like a copy of my e-mail newsletter or details of the Model Engineers' Day, available nearer the time, just PM me your e-mail address.

Hope to see some of you at our regular steam days on the first Sunday of the month.

Best wishes,

Bill

(PS. Diane – don't forget us in your forthcoming publication!)

Edited By David Clark 1 on 08/02/2012 20:48:07

Dear Chris,

I have made two Polly engines on the SMEE training course. (Highly recommended, great fun as well very useful.) We used solid copper 1 ¾ ins dia x 20 swg tube for the boiler. This was supplied by SMEE but, if you have any difficulty finding some, I gather 42 mm copper pipe from plumbers' merchants is also fine. It is certainly much easier than bending brass plate. You can still get practice at bending tube from plate with the burner – smaller and easier!

I use butane for heating (simply because I've got some). My biggest burner is a Sievert 2941, which has a 25mm nozzle. No problems in silver soldering the ends onto the tube to make the boiler. Smaller, size 3939, burner used for small stuff.

Good luck with your engine. It's very satisfying to see it come together.

Bill.