Hobby related novel

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

I first read Nevil Shute Norway's novel "Trustee from the Toolroom" many, many years ago. I have re-read it several times since and always enjoy the "revisit". It was written in a time when Great Britain still produced steel Meccano, Swindon produced great locos and gay meant something completely different!

Do YOU know of any other novels that are relevant to our hobby?

Rik

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

“Trustee from the Toolroom”

[Anonymous]

'Strike While the Iron is Hot' by Guy Lautard

Andrew

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Gray,

I'm sure I've read that Shute knew Westbury from some of the "secret" work that they did during WW II. Some of the aspects of "Keith Stewarts" life – where he lived quietly and delivered his copy every week to London, the world wide fraternity of live steamers- are surely based on LBSC.

I've often wondered whether the worlds smallest generating set as described in the book is a practical proposition. I suppose it might work with a compression ignition engine but I've never managed to get those to start without dislocating my elbow, not just a flick with my thumbnail.

cheers,

Rod

[AndyfParticipant @andyf]

Sounds an interesting read, Rick. I've ordered a second-hand copy (cheaper than a Kindle e-book).

The tiny generating set may have its counterpart in those bugs they were so fond of slipping into suspects' pockets in 60's and 70's spy novels, which were about the size of an aspirin yet could transmit speech or whereabouts (in pre-GPS days) over remarkable distances for hours on end. A shame that that sort of technology seems lost to us now

Andy

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Yes I still have a copy of this book will look throught my library for more titles and report back.

Bob Thomson
librarian for BSMEE

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

According to the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation,"Trustee From The Toolroom" is an adventure drawn to some extent around Edgar Wertbury, there was an article in ME, vol 129, no.,3238 1st Dec 1963.

Ian S C

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

A warning to all the elderly gents out there, there is some s*x in that novel.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Ian,

Thanks for the reference. Clearly Shute drew on many sources to compile his characters.

I think I've got all his novels. The only other technical one is No Highway. I first read that when I worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment , Farnborough as a student back in the seventies.

His autobiography, "Slide Rule" is well worth reading – detailing his work on the R100 airship. He is very critical of " the ministry" and the politics surrounding the R101 and its crash. I suspect it was this and the Labour government (he was no socialist !) that prompted his move to Australia.

cheers

Rod

[michael coleParticipant @michaelcole91146]

The first Shute novel that I read was "Around the Bend " about a charter air business set in the middle east. A very good read.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Thanks Gray for the tip about the Hooker story – I think I may have already read that at some time but I'll search another copy out and give it a whirl.

Rod, I also found Slide Rule a good read. I seem to remember that back then calculations used in the design stage of aircraft were performed by lots of ladies – known as "calculators" seated in rows of desks.

I never did get a calculator for Christmas and now at my age I don't think I'd know what to do with one.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Can I suggest Lathe of Heaven:- Ursula K. Le Guin.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Thanks Jason – about as relevant as "The Thread" by Victoria Hislop – lol. —- Rik

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by Graham Meek on 28/04/2013 15:30:31:

Posted by Ian S C on 28/04/2013 13:32:59:

According to the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation,"Trustee From The Toolroom" is an adventure drawn to some extent around Edgar Wertbury, there was an article in ME, vol 129, no.,3238 1st Dec 1963.

Ian S C

Hi Ian,

Thank you for confirming what I had heard, I was sure it was ETW but not 100%.

I think I can safely say that I too have achieved the last line in the book since my retirement last June.

Gray,

Gray,

I've been slowly reading some back numbers of ME and have got to 22 December 1960. In that there is a copy of a letter from Nevil Shute to Ron East requesting back copy details of the Congreve Clock as featured in the novel. Shute says in the letter "…but it has a model engineer as its main character, based perhaps a little on Mr Edgar Westbury…" Confirmation of your assertion from the horses mouth, you can't get more definitive than that.

cheers,

Rod

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

This is an amazing read.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sir-Joseph-Whitworth-Worlds-Mechanician/dp/0750916486

 

Besides what we know about his contribution to machine tools he invented a hexagon shaped round for field guns, In test this went 25 miles, 4 times further than anythink going at the time including the armstong gun which was adopted by the British forces and cause the cock up at Crimea where we were under enemy gun fire before we could fire.

if we had thave used the whitworth gun the whole think would never have happened.

 

Just because armstong was better represented in parliment, nothing changes

 

And then to add insult to ingury the Yanks 'invented' the hexagon round back in the 1980's

 

Edit clickable link added

Edited By John Stevenson on 27/05/2013 11:51:27

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

WHITWORTH rifles…demonstrated at Bisley to queen victoria (iirc two inch hole target with bell at one hundred yards she herself fired the shot)…not adopted by our army but widely adopted in america in civil war

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Just like the Germans using their 88 mm AA gun for terrestrial firing, and out ranging all the alied guns, we had the 75 mm AA gun that could out shoot the 88, but red tape said it was an AA gun, and thats that. Ian S C

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Flight of the Phoenix

To partly answer the original question.

Neil

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Agreed Neil. the film "Flight of the Phoenix" had the same dramatic effect for me as did the first grown up film I ever saw at the "flicks" ——-"The Dambusters" at the Granada in Bedford. I would have been eight. Every seat was taken, very exciting. ——–Rik

[Steamer1915Participant @steamer1915]

Plus one for "Flight of the Phoenix". It was the engine starting sequence that hooked me on radial engines. So much so that I started to build one. (See my photos) Hope to finish it one day. BTW, the modern remake with Dennis Quaid is absolute dross. Why oh why do they bother?

Steve.

[SkarvenParticipant @skarven]

I think I have all the books by Nevil Shute (Norway) and he has been my favorit writer since I was a boy and read Pastoral and The Rainbow and the Rose. Many of them, even Trustee from the Toolroom, is about flying, and it started my interest in that. I must say that even if his novels have different subjects as politics, model engineering, flying… he is very good at describing people and relationships between people, as in Trusty from the Toolroom. My favorit writer!

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Steve,

Because they think it will make as much money as the (superb) original.

Phil

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

I have always been partial to the odd bit of "quirky" music – Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Jake Thackray, Stanley Holloway etc. etc. and I know I started this thread off re: books but you'll excuse me if I slip of the rails (sic) and recommend this delightful (and relevant) piece. Best route the signal (sic again) through your hi-fi, wind up the volume – sit back and enjoy.

Rik

'yer tis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB_uPSkNEoU

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

You could try

Steam's Last Apprentice by Victor Penketh

or

Didcot Steam Apprentice (Working Lives) by Patrick Kelley

Have a look on Amazon

There is another, but I can't find it Think its called An Apprentice in Steam

[Author]

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