Engineering / Modelling Books for Winter Evenings?

[Thomas CooksleyParticipant @thomascooksley79020]

Hi everyone, I had a copy of Tim Peake's autobiography Limitless for Christmas and I enjoyed it a lot. On the engineering side I found David Carden's The Anderton Boat Lift very interesting. When it comes to hobby engineering I always find the Workshop Practice Series of books very useful. Tom.

[Rod ClemettParticipant @rodclemett60985]

Hi Dr_GMJN,

The only other small scale traction engine construction book I can think of is "The Alchin Traction Engine" by W.J. Hughes.

More generally, (and I don't know if it's already been mentioned above), I'd recommend "The Model Engineer's Workshop Manual" by G.H. Thomas. If I was limited to one single book on the subject, it would be that. I think TEE publishing still have some stock.

Clem

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 13/02/2021 13:00:28:

Just to get the thread back on track a bit:

I'm planning on building a 1" "Minnie" Traction engine at some point in the middle distance.

HI,

I have sent you a PM.

Rod

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 13/02/2021 13:00:28:

Just to get the thread back on track a bit:

I'm planning on building a 1" "Minnie" Traction engine at some point in the middle distance. I have all the articles from ME, but wondered if there was a 'proper' physical book I could get on building a traction engine in general? Doesn't have to be specific, just something to read instead of shuffling individual sheets of A4 around. I know the ME articles were made into a book, but I think its very expensive.

Thanks.

Yes google "MINNIE" 1" SCALE MODEL TRACTION ENGINE LIVE STEAM BY L.C.MASON

H

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Tree to sea is a beautiful book, from oak tree to finished fishing vessel. For an amazing tale of great bravery, Smoke and Mirrors, and when its all gone badly wrong, Coxs Navy. If you wish to be underwater, The Garrett enigma. Noel.

[Cabinet EnforcerParticipant @cabinetenforcer]

The measure of all things by Ken Alder, is one I enjoyed. It is a book about the story of the development of the metre, nominally it's a history book but there are all sorts of nuggets in there.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Thanks all.

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Checking the bookshelves – something I had forgotten about

I found 'The Taking of K129' by Josh Dean an extremely interesting and fascinating read. It's about the raising of the Russian submarine K129 from 16000 ft of water by covert means using the Glomar Explorer Drill ship as cover. Not only are the accounts of the engineering involved quite incredible but so is the subterfuge, the finance involved and how it was actually accomplished without the secrecy breaking for the six years it took to achieve. Thoroughly recommended.

Tug

[Guy LambParticipant @guylamb68056]

One book I found very instructive this winter lockdown was 'Locomotive Boiler Explosions' by C.H.Hewison. Both technical and historical interest to be had with photos and drawings. Even in the later days of the British steam locomotive catastrophic boiler failures occurred.

[Dennis RParticipant @dennisr]

Hi Dr_GMJN,

Try " Intoducing model traction engine construction by John Haining "

Available for around £7 from various sources.

Dennis

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Posted by Dennis R on 13/02/2021 22:14:47:

Hi Dr_GMJN,

Try " Intoducing model traction engine construction by John Haining "

Available for around £7 from various sources.

Dennis

OK thanks.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Posted by Rod Clemett on 13/02/2021 13:37:34:

More generally, (and I don't know if it's already been mentioned above), I'd recommend "The Model Engineer's Workshop Manual" by G.H. Thomas. If I was limited to one single book on the subject, it would be that. I think TEE publishing still have some stock.

Is this a book of diy projects for machine tools/accessories, or is it more on lathe/mill techniques?

I read some reviews and, given the title, am confused as to what the book is about, especially since there's another book by the same name called "Workshop Techniques".

Thanks.

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

Two books I have particularly enjoyed are The Amateur Guncraftsman by James Virgil Howe (1938) and Stationary Engine Driving by Michael Reynolds (1881).

Although my interest in hot fog engines is minimal and I have never handled a gun, they are both informative and entertaining and well worth reading in their own right, which is far from common in technical books.

Even the title of the Reynolds book has a wry humour, as it followed his Locomotive Engine Driving (which I haven't read). He also wrote The Model Locomotive Engineer, Fireman and Engine-Boy, which sounds well worth looking for.

George B.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Watchmaking (Daniels) is another really nice book along the lines of Wingrove’s model car books, in terms of the chances of replicating the work within are slim to non existent.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Posted by Roderick Jenkins on 13/02/2021 14:21:45:

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 13/02/2021 13:00:28:

Just to get the thread back on track a bit:

I'm planning on building a 1" "Minnie" Traction engine at some point in the middle distance.

HI,

I have sent you a PM.

Rod

Thanks Rod. I’ve replied to your PM.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

So I selected a few to look at buying on Amazon. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence, or if the titles that appeal to me are rare, but these were the first 4 I looked at:

Some Unusual Engines – Setright: £601.99

Modelling Maritime History – Darch: £572.07

Cold War Hot Science: £875.99

Building the Allchin Traction Engine: £592.19

You guys certainly don't mess about with the cost of your books…

Anyway, I did order "Introducing Model Traction Engines", at £6.19.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 14/02/2021 15:01:14:

Posted by Rod Clemett on 13/02/2021 13:37:34:

More generally, (and I don't know if it's already been mentioned above), I'd recommend "The Model Engineer's Workshop Manual" by G.H. Thomas. If I was limited to one single book on the subject, it would be that. I think TEE publishing still have some stock.

Is this a book of diy projects for machine tools/accessories, or is it more on lathe/mill techniques?

I read some reviews and, given the title, am confused as to what the book is about, especially since there's another book by the same name called "Workshop Techniques".

It's a bit of both. If you don't have a Myford, then it's not such good value.

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Posted by Nicholas Wheeler 1 on 14/02/2021 17:09:03:

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 14/02/2021 15:01:14:

Posted by Rod Clemett on 13/02/2021 13:37:34:

More generally, (and I don't know if it's already been mentioned above), I'd recommend "The Model Engineer's Workshop Manual" by G.H. Thomas. If I was limited to one single book on the subject, it would be that. I think TEE publishing still have some stock.

Is this a book of diy projects for machine tools/accessories, or is it more on lathe/mill techniques?

I read some reviews and, given the title, am confused as to what the book is about, especially since there's another book by the same name called "Workshop Techniques".

It's a bit of both. If you don't have a Myford, then it's not such good value.

I've got an ML7, but have little to zero interest in making workshop tools and equipment. Some things I've had to do myself, like adding DROs to the mill, and a powered x-feed and gas strut etc, but it's a chore rather than something I look forward to.

I do like to read about Model Engineering techniques though – set-up tips, marking out, measuring, cutting to a specific size etc. etc. I've built one small steam engine (last summer), so am pretty much still at beginner level.

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

In my early days of model engineering before retraining I met a gentleman called Lenny Evans ( I believe it was Leonard Evans BEM to be correct but that only materialsed much later). Lenny was a superb model engineer from a true engineering background – a seven year appenticeship at Garrets of Leiston – and yes that was when they were still making traction engines. Lenny built several locos to a very high standard as well as a traction engine that won a gold medal along with other awards at the ME show.

What has this got to do with books you may well ask. Well I was invited with my wife to visit Lenny in those early days obviously in awe of his skill and knowlege. I asked about information so he drew a book from his bookcase. If want a book on lathework this is the only book you need – Spareys – The Amateurs Lathe. For man with such background to not only recommend the book but to actually have one on his shelf said much to me as to it's worth. I bought a copy which I still have and you know what – he was right, everything you need to use a lathe to it's full extent is within those pages.

I know it's been mentioned previously but it's worth a further recommendation

Lenny's long gone, very much missed but still talked fondly about in reverred tones.

Tug

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 14/02/2021 18:09:33

 

PS Modelling Maritime History was bought when it firrst came out as was Tree to Sea – prices on the jackets are £14.95 for the former and £19.95 for the latter

I can accept inflation but who in his right mind would pay £529 and 7p for a book – it's that 7p that does it!

 

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 14/02/2021 18:13:59

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Ramon – I can only assume the prices are in error, although in theory I could have added them to my basket…

I’ve already got The Amateur’s Lathe – it was the first book I bought after getting the ML7. Obviously not much on milling though…

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

Posted by Dr_GMJN on 14/02/2021 16:56:51:

So I selected a few to look at buying on Amazon. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence, or if the titles that appeal to me are rare, but these were the first 4 I looked at:

Some Unusual Engines – Setright: £601.99

Modelling Maritime History – Darch: £572.07

Cold War Hot Science: £875.99

Building the Allchin Traction Engine: £592.19

You guys certainly don't mess about with the cost of your books…

Anyway, I did order "Introducing Model Traction Engines", at £6.19.

And I bet they all had 'rare' and 'collectable' in the description! They're cheap compared with a book on stationary engines that was advertised on ebay for a long time for £12,499. it was a typical 1900s text book printed on cheap paper, in a moth-eaten leather binding. But it was from pre-revolutionary Russia, and in Russian (though I noticed that the illustrations were drawn in English) which made it worth a small fortune. I did email the seller to ask what made it so much more valuable than the equivalent English books,which typically sold for £15-20, but for some reason never got a reply.

In my earlier post I forgot to mention Repairing Old Clocks and Watches by Anthony J. Whitien (1979) which is both informative and entertaining, as one might expect from a book subtitled Horology for the Hignorant.

George B.

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

I have both Thomas' books, "The Model Engineers Workshop Manual" and "Workshop Techniques". The first one (….Manual) is more general, the second (….Techniques) is more specific to GHTs designs. In my opinion they are both excellent . GHTs style is to do everything as well as possible, which can be a little daunting at times, especially to someone like me, but in many ways is inspirational. Some of his designs, even for pedestrian things like a finger plate are examples of this.

Highly recommended, especially ….Manual!!

cheers

Bill

[Clive BParticipant @cliveb55652]

I dunno where you got £875.99 from (Cold War Hot Science). There's a copy currently selling for £30.13 on Amazon

Perhaps that's still too much?

Clive

[Dr_GMJNParticipant @dr_gmjn]

Posted by Clive B on 15/02/2021 08:05:25:

I dunno where you got £875.99 from (Cold War Hot Science). There's a copy currently selling for £30.13 on Amazon

Perhaps that's still too much?

Clive

Clive,

Like I said: Amazon.

I just re-checked and on my Amazon search, it's now coming up as £237.51, and a used one for £85.56.

That's all that comes up on mine.

Thanks.

[Clive BParticipant @cliveb55652]

Did you click on the link I provided? It still works for me.

Clive

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