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Finally decided on the Name "JOHN"

 "JOHN" the Burrell Traction engine



"JOHN" being my Dad's name, and the inspiration for the whole Model Engineer hobby.

From an early age we often attended the Model Engineers show both in Birmingham (Bingley Hall) and Ally Pally London. Model boating was his passion, and scratch building 4 stroke petrol engines a key activity. This involves a lot of workshop equipment, so when Raleigh the bike people when finished in Birmingham my Dad purchased a good selection of the machines from the old tool room.

As a tool maker, and draughtsman by trade he knew when a machines was fit for purpose, and if an improvement or rebuild was necessary. I have continued the tradition and of course use the same machines, and have made a few improvements to them myself.      
   
So its Fitting that the new engine bears his name, my previous engine a 1" Minnie called "NINA" after my wife which he did get to see running all be it on air, not steam.  The plate just requires some fresh Red paint and a polish and mounting somewhere either on a toolbox or smokebox side. 


Enough of the emotional talk, the eccentrics are progressing at speed, because after a slow start I am now able to manufacture them at speed, and to a very close fit to allow them to wear in before they wear out. As can be seen in photo opposite there is a lot going on inside and these have now had the oil hole added so are almost complete.

The next job for me is to decide what I need to purchase from this years Model Engineer show, now held in Warwick. This I still attend, only with my mother now. She enjoys a day out, and looking at the price of equipment, and tools and seeing the models outside.

I'm planning on ordering an expansion link and having this Laser cut which makes sense to me, and hopefully picking it up at the show to save a postage.  Below is what I'm talking about this is another builders work but explains what I'm up to.


 <  (Left) 3 almost finished eccentrics 









Until Next month, stay safe, make swarf and be the best you can be.
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