Member postings for Diane Carney

I am looking for someone/ a company who can number stamp a series of machine data plates with sequential numbers. Potentially up to 500 plates but may not be all in one batch. Plates are all identical roughly 100 x 55mm. Has anyone on here ever had similar requirement or does anyone know anyone who might be able to take this on?

Diane

Please note that the latest issue of Model Engineer, 4717, has suffered a pagination error in that there are whole sections out of order. The printers have taken responsibility and the issue will be reprinted and a new copy will be posted to subscribers in due course (asap).

Many apologies

Edited By JasonB on 16/05/2023 09:49:31

The two Fowlers, Renown and Repulse, were sister engines (consecutive numbers) and both worked for the same showman, John Murphy. There's an interesting story that involves them actually switching identities for a time (not uncommon practice in the day I suppose) but I believe they are now back 'the right way round'. Renown was ordered without the twisted brass and usual embellishments and had a hard life. It's preserved in that form today and to many people it's the most handsome showmans engine around, thanks to it's 'plainness'. The dark blue certainly suits them both well. I'd say it is a darker blue than the Burrell, Ex-Mayor. In all cases, though, I think being blue makes them memorable.
The yellow one did actually spend some of its working life in that livery! Hence why the owner has turned it out in yellow. (You can imagine, it has many nick-names, none of which I will write here!). I don't think anyone has a clue what its name is - it's just 'the yellow one' - hahah!

Duly forwarded. Many thanks Jason!

D.

An enquirer at Bolton Steam Museum's recent open day was trying to find out about the availability of drawings and/or castings for a model of the little inverted double-diagonal steam engine made by Lang Bridge & Co (c. 1890) of Accrington that's in their collection. It is demonstrated powering a stenter machine. The gent thought he had seen a model of the engine and that drawings were commercially available. Does this ring a bell with anyone? If so I'd be pleased to hear as I have the chap's details.
Many thanks
Diane

FULL SIZE!

I am posting this on behalf of my daughter, Jeanie Walker, who is presently engaged in recruiting staff to work along side her at Locomotive Services (TOC) Ltd. based at Crewe. They are looking for Steam Locomotive Engineers to be employed in the general maintenance of their running fleet of engines.

Full details are available on the job search website, 'Indeed'. Search for 'Steam Locomotive Engineer'.

If you know someone who might be interested please pass this on.

My daughter and I were driving our Sentinel steam waggon from Bolton to Southport last night. We find that it's the best way to enjoy the open road (in front of us)

Does this count as good upcyling? The piano has been in my family since about 1920 and I learnt to play on it, but after two house moves it had become useless as a piano as it was untuneable (despite the est efforts of several highly regarded piano tuners). I didn't want to scrap it so I have 'repurposed' it! It still contains the fully strung harp which still 'sings'. I have since done away with a very cumbersome desk. So liberating...!

Ha!!! I knew I would smoke you out!

You know what I'm talking about.... !

No, your'e right, Michael. Point taken.

I wasn't so much answering the OP, but the thread has rather gone into the usual territory of setting up to etch metal at home which so often involves huge effort, and sometimes expense, for often mediocre results. Not always, I hasten to add, but often.

Take care ... x

Whilst I fully understand that there is a lot of time to be spent and, indeed, fun to be had by researching, drafting, collecting equipment, trying it out, obtaining a suitable 'mask', sourcing and purchasing the chemicals (for pre - during and post actual etching), finding somewhere where no other family member is ever going to tread to practise this sorcery and (if using ferric chloride) spending the best part of the following week trying to get the stuff off your hands, there is probably a far simpler way. I understand that some suppliers of etched brass plates are very approachable and charge very resonabl prices - and may even offer a small discount to readers of the M.E. community forum. No equipment needed other than a thumb nail sketch. Just saying ....

Thanks for those useful posts. I might have difficulty referring him to anything on this forum as he doesn't seem to have access to anything online ... but it's whiled away most of my evening!.
Thanks for the MEW reference, Jason. That sounds a similar method to that shown by Nigel for his Lion con rods.

I found this here also of iterest.

Thanks again
Diane

Should have said ... he has no computer.

I've just had an elderly gentleman on the phone looking for directions to an article on how to make a 'copying device' in a lathe. I think he means a profile tool, but he was struggling to describe what he wants to achieve. It sounds as though he wants to make some matching bronze cnadlesticks. He was sure there has been an article on how to make the tooling in either ME or MEW but he doesn't have an author's name.

He lives in rural Cornwall (near St Austell) with no family or 'Workshop' friends or club near by but is a magazine subscriber. He's a jeweller/silversmith to trade, not an engineer.

Can anyone remember any articles on profile tooling? I don't recall anything in my time at ME, but it's possibly been in MEW. Any ideas I'll pass on.

Many thanks
Diane

Is anyone presently constructing a 5" Merchant Navy?

Some years ago I made a full set of plates for a 5" gauge Merchant Navy. The builder has sadly passed away before the loco was built (I have no idea how far on it was) and his daughter is interested in selling the plates. They are fully finished, even the flags are painted in enamels in full colour and they are ready to fit.

If anyone is interested - or you know somehone who may be - please contact me and I will put you in touch with the lady.

Diane

You can now download Fig 1 - it's an A3 PDF I'm afraid, so not good for printing - from the home page, near the bottom under 'Look out for ...' on the right hand side.

(You know when you try to do something and it should take 10 minutes but it takes an hour because you only ever do it once a year, if that, .... ....)

Diane

Link to PDF

Edited By JasonB on 22/05/2020 18:33:08

The problem has been noted. It may be reprinted next time but I am going to try and get it onto this website ... somehow.

Diane

I think the term is 'bump'!

If there's nothing forthcoming, can anyone suggest another line of enquiry?

Many thanks
Diane