help needed in exeter

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Oh dear..I am in the process of trying to find a local club to join, all this talk of unwelcoming members is a little off putting.

Of course as a skilled tradesman / engineers you should be able to command a skilled rate for the work you do regardless if you work from a garden workshop or a 30000sq ft factory, but surely as model engineers is not helping others locally part of the enjoyment, passing on knowledge ?

 

Edited By Brian Abbott on 12/11/2015 23:20:03

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I really can't understand this negative comment about clubs. I just can't think of anyone in St Albans DMES who would turn someone away. Mostly they get asked if their interest is boats or engineering (we are a sort of combined boating and ME club) and are pointed to an expert in the field. After a bit of introduction they get nudged towards the Membership Sec.

I've never encountered inhospitable behaviour. When I went halfway round the world and pitched up without warning at Box Hill, Melbourne last year I even got a free lunch! Fantastic bunch by the way – maybe you should emigrate as I was tempted. Not forgetting you lot at Tullamarine whom I visited the following day.

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

Bazyle – come to lancashire, if you are retired they will love you, and if not they wont even acknowledge you, in my club at least!

[martyn nutlandParticipant @martynnutland79495]

Don't want to get too drawn into this.

Let me make an analogy. A friend of mine who was a calligrapher used to say to people who complained to him about the price of script that: 'it had only taken him 10 minutes'. 'No it hadn't. It has taken me 30 years'.

And Brian Abbott is right. Of course, a skilled worker is entitled to the just rewards of his craft. 'The labourer is worthy of his hire', as one very worthwhile book says.

I'm a trained journalist (a rare breed these days) and for many years I made a decent living out of writing. I've also done scores of jobs gratis because one likes to help people who may not be as adept in a particular field as oneself. Brian's argument

Isn't that the fundamental point here. And in the case of engineering, rather than journalism, any decent person is going to reimburse for the materials.

I'm not sure we can make judgements about scrap people have 'pulled out of a hedge'. But an awful lot of people, especially in the UK, need to take a reality check in thinking any old heap of rubbish is worth a fortune just because it's old. But then antique and many classic car dealers couldn't function outside that premise!

Finally, I do think we need to recognise that a lot of what we do has no material value and maybe we shouldn't be involved if we have monetary worth in our sights. I don't want to be in any way offensive but in 2015 what is the point of a stationary engine other than for it's own sake, or for that matter, the old Austin engines I rebuild?

Could someone pop around and just help our friend in Exeter?

Martyn

 

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[John ThorneParticipant @johnthorne49048]

I have today made a small part for a 1928 Ariel motor bike and 2 brass dome nuts and threaded bar for a copper kettle handle as freebies including the material. I am very happy to help anyone and to pass on any knowledge I have as after all someone in the distant past and not so distant past took the trouble to show and teach me. What gives me the greatest pleasure is show the younger lads at our local steam railway how to use a lathe, a mill, the power hacksaw and hand tools etc. They are the future and the motto in the railway workshop is, We do the impossible in five minutes miracles take a little longer but nothing is impossible. If I lived close to Exeter I would be happy to help but I am afraid it is a long pop. As to our local club I am a member but due to other comitments have not been able to get to the meetings this year so can't really past comment. However I will be at the AGM next week and hoping that next year I can join in a bit more But will they want a grumpy old man ??

John

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Fizzy, mmm now I wouldn't get that reaction from a Yorkshire club I'm sure, (especially as I have roots in Bradford &nbsp.

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

i think we are going a bit 'off topic' here. i have been in regular contact with the OP, and without giving away too many details the job is in hand, though not by myself due to distance and the limitations of space at home (the loco is a very big loco and whilst of superb quality would have to have spent a few months dismantled in my dining room as wont fit in my workshop, and needless to say a partly dismantled loco in the dining room didnt go down too well). i would have done the job just to help out and no renumeration but for the above.

regularly in contact with John re progress and advice via phone.

the club issues were resolved by John becoming chairman!

cheers,

julian

[john bennett 1Participant @johnbennett1]

Hello all,as julian has said the job is now in hand,and i thank him for his kind offer and i do realise that this loco was a bit big for his workshop,if i had turned up and plonked it on my dining room table .i would now be living in my workshop or under the patio,but he has been a mine of information and has always had time to talk to me on the phone,a true gent,anyway the progress so far.it has been stripped,an axle pump has been fitted, and with the help of a friend who is a fabricator we have cut into the bunker and fitted a handpump,we had to raise it off the floor or the swing on the handpump handle would have been too great,i have bought all the pipework and fittings along with silver solder and flux,just need to get some bending tools this week.although i have never done any silver soldering i am going to attempt it next weekend.i need to feed the handpump and axle pump feeds into the existing water feeds and take a return back to the bunker from the axle pump for the bypass,,a small job for most but a leap into the unknown for me,but whats the worst that can happen.when this job is finished the platework is going off to be blasted and painted,again by a friend who is a pro painter.as for the situation at my club i have suggested that we ask the members if they would take on the role of a mentor to inexperienced members like myself. who need help with projects,how may will take it up i dont know but whats the harm in asking,if anyone is interested the loco is a halton tank and if you want i will post photos at the end of the build.thank you all for your input it was nice to see that there are people out there who do help other members.

john

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