In search of Peter Rawlinson

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In search of Peter Rawlinson

This topic has 40 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 10 February 2019 at 15:23 by Jeff Dayman.

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26 June 2010 at 19:49 #52948
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
Whatever happened to Mr. Peter Rawlinson? for a long time in the 1990’s he was a prolific contributor to MEW and described some very sophisicated bits of tooling including a wire EDM machine.

Did he give up writing, or change hobbies, or go on to write for other publications?

I enjoyed his writings greatly. I could only aspire to his skills, but always came away with applicable ideas to things I could do. Such a contrast to the “how to drill a hole with a twist drill” type articles seen frequently in MEW today (to say nothing of the endless plugs for Myford – but that’s another issue).

JD

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 26/06/2010 19:50:07
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26 June 2010 at 19:49 #38001
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
2 July 2010 at 20:54 #53077
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
NO ONE reading the forum knows anything about Mr Rawlinson or what happened to him?

JD
2 July 2010 at 21:29 #53082
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

He asked for his articles back and stopped submitting them.

regards David
2 July 2010 at 21:51 #53084
Steve Garnett
Participant
@stevegarnett62550
Jeff, I’ll send you a private message with the only info I have – an email address and a phone number… (took 10 minutes to find them, and wasn’t that easy…)

And in view of what David said about withdrawn articles, there might be a bit of a clue here from something that Colin Usher wrote:

“Peter Rawlinson is a prolific author/engineer who has built a reputation for producing excellent tool and machine designs. He has now produced a series of books where he has pulled together most of these designs. Volume 1 contains over 20 different projects as diverse as Machining Large Tubes thro’ Laser Alignment to a Mechanical Dividing Head. Volumes 2 and 3 are much the same, each detailing over 20 engineering projects. All designs are complete with excellent CAD drawings and colour photographs. Volume 4 is a compilation of the series of articles that originally appeared in Model Engineers’ Workshop giving complete instructions and drawings for the construction of a CNC Milling machine. This volume also contains details of his CNC Continuous wire eroder together with a brief look at “ G “ code programming.

Whilst these books are primarily intended for the model engineer they will surely find a place on the book shelves of many professional engineers.”

Edited By Steve Garnett on 02/07/2010 22:04:02
2 July 2010 at 22:10 #53085
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
Thanks Steve – PM sent to you.

David – do you know what year and month roughly that Peter withdrew the articles and stopped submitting?

Thanks JD
2 July 2010 at 22:46 #53089
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Now that it’s mentioned I can remember his doing the print on demand books.

However a quick web search doesn’t show anything so unless he’s like the best whores and is ex-directory he’s making it hard for anyone to buy his product.

John S.
3 July 2010 at 01:44 #53090
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
Posted by John Stevenson on 02/07/2010 22:46:30:

so unless he’s like the best whores and is ex-directory

Uh, pardon?

JD
3 July 2010 at 09:53 #53092
Niloch
Participant
@niloch
Sounds as if Mr Rawlinson’s books would be an education to many of us. I have no idea whether the author of the following books is THE Peter Rawlinson but I found the following on Amazon:

Tools to make life Easier

August 2006

ISBN-10:0955373603

ISBN-13:978-0955373602

Temporarily out of stock

Tools to make Life Easy: Band Saw Blade Welder v.5

February 2007

ISBN-10: 0955373646

ISBN-13:978-0955373640

Toos

42 pages

Tools to Make Life Easy: v.5

September 2006

ISBN-10:0955373611

ISBN-13:978-0955373619

Toos

200 pages

The reason for two ISBN numbers hasn’t registered on my radar.

Edited By Niloch on 03/07/2010 09:59:50
3 July 2010 at 21:36 #53114
Michael Ellis 1
Participant
@michaelellis1
The first book listed by Niloch, Tools To Make Life Easier, is by the same Peter Rawlinson. It was mentioned in MEW #118 with contact details. As I recall from the writing in MEW various series, he was developing or had already developed mobility problems. It is quite possible he has dropped out of active engineering model as a result.

ellis
3 July 2010 at 22:29 #53115
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Posted by Jeff Dayman on 03/07/2010 01:44:22:

Posted by John Stevenson on 02/07/2010 22:46:30:

so unless he’s like the best whores and is ex-directory

Uh, pardon?

JD

Jeff,

Bit of an in-joke.

Apparently all the high class call girls are ex directory, you have to make contact by recommendation, or so I’m told.

I use this as a stock phrase as my engineering repair business isn’t in the phone book either, nor does it have any signs at all, all work comes as recommendation.

John S.
6 August 2010 at 08:40 #54057
Spencer Brook
Participant
@spencerbrook26722
The last article authored by Peter Rawlinson in MEW was in Issue 123 (March 2007) and was on turning large radius items on a lathe.

In the introduction to his article on a “Tailstock Power System” in MEW 110 (November 2005) he gives some considerable detail of why he developed this system – he suffers from Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (a manual dexterity problem) in both hand.

SEGB
6 August 2010 at 15:34 #54061
DMB
Participant
@dmb
SEGB,

Carpal tunnel Syndrome can be operated upon, so given that there is no reason for PR not to have an operation, he could get this fixed – I know another model engineer who has.

John.
13 August 2010 at 22:54 #54244
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
John, beware, CTS occurs in varying degrees and in some cases has varying complications, such as diabetes and arthritis which can preclude efective treatment.

Early diagnosis is also key to effective treatment of CTS. If not detected early enough, permanent damage to the median nerve will preclude effective treatment of the condition.

To make such a bland and overarching statement as you have will only serve to inflame the feelings of suffers of this debilitating condition!! And I speak from experience on this.
13 August 2010 at 23:09 #54245
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
My sympathies go out to all of those with carpal tunnel disease of any sort. I know it is a rough one no matter what the severity.

However I do not want to see the thread derailed off topic. If it does, I will ask moderator to lock the thread.

The subject is Mr. Rawlinson and whether he is writing or working elsewhere. So far I haven’t been able to find any current info on how he is or what he is up to, despite leads from several people above. Thanks to them for their efforts.

JD
30 January 2019 at 01:48 #393641
Tanya Nicholls
Participant
@tanyanicholls87224
Hi to all.. I believe you are asking about my father who very very sadly passed away on Friday.. hoping for a response from any one on here… about him..
30 January 2019 at 09:17 #393656
Willem Kotze
Participant
@willemkotze19252
Tanya, My sincere condolences to your family on your loss. I did enjoy his articles very much.
30 January 2019 at 10:05 #393659
Russell Eberhardt
Participant
@russelleberhardt48058
Tanya

May I add my condolences. I too used to enjoy his articles and found them inspiring.

Russell
30 January 2019 at 11:19 #393669
Chris Trice
Participant
@christrice43267
I can only add what others have said. There is a certain comfort I think from knowing that he lives on when any of us use what we learnt from him and that his books continue to give joy to their owners when we read his words. To make people smile after one has left is the best way to leave. Sympathy and thoughts for you and your family at this sad time.
30 January 2019 at 11:35 #393671
ega
Participant
@ega
Tanya Nicholls

I was very sorry to learn of Peter Rawlinson's death.

I was friendly with a Jim Smith of Folkestone who knew your father and, frankly, revered him.

Like the others, I very much appreciated his contributions to MEW and his willingness to share his expertise over the phone.
30 January 2019 at 13:47 #393687
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
Hello Tanya, I'm very sorry to hear your sad news. My sincere condolences to you and your family. I started this forum thread back in 2010 when I was considering doing a wire EDM machine. I had not seen anything published by Peter in a long time and I hoped to have an email conversation with Peter about some of the EDM machine details, and perhaps find and purchase a couple of his books. As others have said, Peter's articles were enjoyable reading for many of us and his insights into the technology being discussed were most helpful to those following along and building similar equipment. He was a very skilled man and will be missed by the model engineering world. Best regards Jeff Dayman Waterloo Ontario Canada

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 30/01/2019 13:47:37
30 January 2019 at 16:41 #393702
larry phelan 1
Participant
@larryphelan1
Sad to say,this answers the original question.

I read many of his articles ,and while they were way above my standard,the were always well worth reading,as I,m sure others will agree. Such people come along,once in a lifetime,and if you are lucky enough to know them or meet them,that is a bonus.

Others may put it better,all I can say is May God rest him,he will be sadly missed.
30 January 2019 at 17:15 #393705
Tanya Nicholls
Participant
@tanyanicholls87224
Ohhh wow… this is so nice to read… so nice to know that what he loved to do was appreciated by others… I didn’t know if any one would even reply as I noticed that the thread was started back in 2010… he still tinkered in his workshop at home literally right up until the day he passed away last week..it was just him.. it was what he did…. he was always doing something always had some project or another on the go.. I have always looked up to him and always thought that he must’ve been a very clever man.and your words confirm that to me.. i always said to him.. ‘if only i had half the brains that you have. I might just do ok..’.but I think they missed me.. and went to my daughter instead. I am wondering I don’t really know how these things work but I wonder is there any way of me starting a thread of my own on here.and maybe include pictures.. or are you not able to include pictures. Just so I could see what responses i were to get.. it is so nice hearing how my dad has helped other people in their works.. ohh and before I go for the moment.. can I just ask.. would you all be ok if I were to print out all your lovely comments about him.. so I could perhaps put them together for his funeral perhaps.. And just a great big thank you replying back to me.. I really really do appreciate it.. many thanks Tanya

Edited By Tanya Nicholls on 30/01/2019 17:33:49
30 January 2019 at 17:35 #393710
ega
Participant
@ega
Posted by Tanya Nicholls on 30/01/2019 17:15:45:
.. would you all be ok if I were to print out all your lovely comments about him.. so I could perhaps put them together for his funeral..

Please feel free to do so.
30 January 2019 at 17:40 #393713
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Hello Tanya,

I'm sorry to hear that Peter has passed on. He was a prolific contributor to Model Engineers' Workshop, with some real ingenuity like his spark eroder and resistance soldering device. He also wrote many articles for Model Engineer. I took on MEW a few years after he ceased to write for us, but I greatly enjoyed his articles as a reader. Peter's articles were always interesting and thought provoking.

Please fell free to pass on our appreciation of Peter's work from my self and my colleagues at MyTimeMedia.

Neil

Neil Wyatt, Editor Model Engineers' Workshop
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