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Do you know who built these miniature engines?

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andreas kanonenberg17/03/2010 21:33:57
5 forum posts
I recently heard about a miniature engine exhibition near Barcelona/Spain just a few weeks back. Some of the engines on display peeked my interest. Alas, I have no idea who the genius behind those works of art is. Maybe someone here can shed some light on this? The name that's been mentioned is Tony Walshaw, and the engines (DB 605 & RR Merlin 61) are supposed to have been built  to 1/5 scale. Any hint  would be much appreciated.

Edited By andreas kanonenberg on 17/03/2010 21:34:39

thomas oliver 231/03/2010 19:07:01
110 forum posts
Tony Walshaw is related to the Model Engineer columnist "Tubal Cain".  I saw him displaying a RR Merlin some years ago and had a chat with him about it as I worked on Spitfires in the 39-45 war.  The most amazing thing about the engine is that there are no castings used.  It was all machined from the solid, and is a working engine not a dummy as some people thought.  The next amazing thing is that he made not one but five of them.  He also made other engines - the other one he had was an Anzani engine a la Bleriot engine.  He was some gifted engineer, but then he was a professisonal and owned an engineering business.  Tom Oliver.
mgj31/03/2010 19:47:57
1017 forum posts
14 photos
Wasn't that Merlin in ME - sometime in the 80s I think. I remember seeing articles on it.
 
If it was him, then I suppose it should read "One of those Merlins"

Edited By mgj on 31/03/2010 19:50:33

andreas kanonenberg31/03/2010 19:56:21
5 forum posts
Tom & mgj,
 
Thanks very much for this. I did learn in the meantime that Tony Walshaw is Tom Walshaw's (Tubal Cain) son and that he indeed built a few of those Merlins to order (I did not know they were machined from the solid -- wow!). Do you by any chance know how I would be able to contact Tony? I would love to write an article about his work but so far I've been striking out regarding contact info for him. Can you help?
Bowber01/04/2010 13:06:39
169 forum posts
24 photos
He was a good friend of someone I worked with at K Shoes in Kendal, at the time he told me all about them being made.
Apparently he had to assemble the crank and rods in a certain way or he couldn't get at all the nuts, he also ran each one and then took it apart to clean it an reassemble.
I had thought that the crank case was cast though.
Tony also showed my dad a load of engines when he delivered some electrical items to him, my dad was very impressed, that's when I found out that Tudal Cain was his dad.
 
Steve
andreas kanonenberg01/04/2010 16:58:47
5 forum posts
Thanks, Steve!
 
Do you still know your former co-worker? Or anybody who might have some contact info for Tony? Maybe your dad still knows how to get in touch with Walshaw? Any further leads would be greatly appreciated. You can always send me a message to keep personal info confidential.
 
Thanks again!
 
Andreas
Bowber02/04/2010 10:40:45
169 forum posts
24 photos
I do still know him, unfortunatly he now has Alzheimers and it's quite progressed.
I wouldn't want to pass on any details without his permission, but if I get the chance I'll find out. Don't hold your breath though.
 
Steve
Bowber02/04/2010 10:42:51
169 forum posts
24 photos
Sorry, I must make it clear that it's my friend David who has Alzhimers, not Tony.
 
Steve
andreas kanonenberg02/04/2010 17:09:43
5 forum posts
So sorry about your friend David's situation! But yes, if you could inquire with him that would be wonderful. Thank you so much.
 
Are you guys all in the same neighborhood/vicinity? Any chance that Tony still has his old business? Maybe that's one way to find out. I'm in the U.S. and I haven't been able to find out anything.
 
Still hoping (but not holding my breath). Thanks again!
Niloch02/04/2010 17:42:21
371 forum posts
If one is over 18 it is illegal in the UK to exclude oneself from the Electoral Roll. Web sites such as this one have details including addresses of a huge number of individuals who are old enough to vote.  Beware of three things though:
 
(a) it is very likely that you will have to register and pay a fee to gain access to this information, however, a member here may have already registered;
 
(b) Approximate knowledge of Mr Walshaw's whereabouts is almost essential; and
 
(c) Mr Walshaw might not exactly welcome the successful results of your detective work.

 
andreas kanonenberg02/04/2010 20:16:01
5 forum posts
Thanks for the tip but this definitely not a road I want to go down. If I can make contact with Mr. Walshaw the good old-fashioned way, that would be terrific. But I most certainly would never ever stalk anybody.
 
Appreciate the tip though.

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