Old School Projects

Good afternoon,

I'm nearing completion of the T.E.Haynes "Hot Air Engine" project, aimed at school students. It was a project I completed too many moons ago to mention. I thought I might try his "Steam Engine" project in the same series.

Does anyone know where I might find a copy of said publication? I've tried the usual sources without success.

There is a copy of "Steam engine and boiler (Modern engineering for schools)" on Amazon.com but at a price!

Brian G

Thanks Brian, I saw that. Silly money, eh?

I wasn't sure how to describe a price of £1.50 a page delivered to the UK without getting moderated...

If I could get Amazon prices for everything on my bookshelf, I could set up a really nice workshop

Brian G

Edited By Brian G on 02/07/2020 17:13:25

If you need a book always Google abe books first !

All our bits 'n bobs from over the decades are going to get more and more pricey as they gravitate from 'model engineering' to 'rare antique opportunity'

Like a lot of things, there's probably hundreds laying around in workshops and on bookshelves. I even tried my old school archive, but no luck there. They destroy everything over 20 years old. I got a pdf copy of book 2, but no luck as yet with book 1.

T. E. Haynes Steam Engine. Link this may help.

I dont know if they actually get those crazy Amazon book prices or if they are a result of mindless web bots used to search the web for similar and set a price. They all feed off each other and go through the roof in a vicious circle. I've seen classic motorcycle books listed on Amazon for hundreds of dollars and bought the same off eBay for $20 plus shipping.

So its worth googling around. And don't forget your local library. They can often tap into national collections, university libraries and the like and get old, out-of-print books in for you on interlibrary loan, which you can then take home and make a personal copy "for the purpose of research" and be within copyright laws. Your own personal research is legitimate under the law. You are just not allowed to pass a copy on to a third party.

Thank you MichaelR,

I saw that a while ago, and it's what prompted me to give it a go.

Thank you Hopper,

I've tried the County Library "on-line" system but without success. I'll now try the more personal approach when we get back to relative normality.

I find bookfinder.com a good place to start as its search results are easier to filter than Abe Books and they include eBay UK "buy it now" as well as worldwide Biblio, Alibris, Abe Books and Amazon listings. The last two are hardly surprising as Abe Books and Bookfinder are both owned by Amazon (not quite a monopoly?).

Before ordering, a quick check on a few independent booksellers and the auction listings on eBay can often come up with a saving, whilst for new books 123 Price Check may come up trumps. This is certainly an area where having more time than money can be useful.

Brian G

Theres one for sale on eBay.ie right now. Bids at 6 quid.

Having seen the picture what part of it can't you work out? Or is the hunt for the book the end in itself?

Hi Hopper,

Unless you've found another, the only one I could find, the sale ended in 2013.

Hi Bazyle,

I'm looking for the publication so that I can make one.

Bo'sun

check your mail

Yes but the picture and text tells you some sizes and you know all dimensions will be a round figure in inches and fractions.

So Bore = 1/2 in
stroke = 3/4 in
so use a piston about 5/8 in long
so make cylinder 1 1/2 long (picture looks a bit undersize hence comment about stroke in the text)
Either use 3/4 (5/8) round soldered to 3/4 x 1/2 bar or start with rectangular bar and file it to shape. Schools might have used it as an excercise on the shaper.

Flywheel = 2in
main upstand = 4x1x1/4
Flywheel support = 1 3/4 x 1 x 1/4
Cross piece = 1 1/2 x x1 x 3/8
Axle = 1/4 silver steel
Crank disc 1 1/2 x 3/8 turned down to 3/16 with boss of 3/16
Crank pin = 1/8 stainless
Piston rod would be better as 1/8 stainless with Mamod style end
Copper pipes 3/16 OD

Boiler - I don't have my copy available but there is probably an equivalent design in KN Harris Boiler Making book.

The pictures are in MichaelR's link. I'm assuming that is the engine we are talking about.

Here is another thread on the engine that shows some differences, or perhaps the original design? A brass valve plate which gives a better bearing surface and a bush for the crankshaft. It also shows a sawn and bent main frame, a bit more difficult to get squared up. So some options for self interpretation to put your own stamp on it.

Hi Bosun,did you get my pm about the te haynes book? I've built 4 of these & taught 12 lads to build them at the school I worked at,I made a pattern to cast the bases in alloy instead of the pressed metal ones,& had an article published in me a few yrs ago about the lads building them,I have a [bit tatty well used!] photocopy of the book your welcome to if you haven't got fixed up with one

Graham.

Graham.

Hello Graham,

My apologies, yes I did get your pm, but didn't realise it was there. Many thanks for your kind offer, but another of this excellent forums members has furnished me with the book.