So what do readers want to read about?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've had an email saying "I believe this is something that both you and your readers would be interested in as we draw ever closer to Wimbledon 2023."

I thought it might be worth checking if readers would like to see this in MEW…

Good morning Neil,

In the build up to this year's Wimbledon tournament at the All-English Lawn Club, we pose the question: Is this the most fashion conscious event on the sporting calendar?

In order to find out, here at <redacted>, we take a look at:

• the association with the royal family
• the plethora of a-list attendees
• the collaboration with Ralph Lauren
• and the dress-code traditions that have made this annual event so incredibly unique

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I’ve had an email!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Bless ‘em … they probably picked-up on the word ‘Model’

MichaelG.

[Anonymous]

They've obviously seen your forum picture and asociated you to their last two points.

[JAParticipant @ja]

Who is Ralph Lauren?

Do I want to know? Do I live in the same World?

JA

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Is Sam Fox mentioned

[SakuraParticipant @sakura]

I liken Sam Fox to one of those Ferrari look a like kit cars with a VW engine – all show and no go. Well not for the likes of most of us!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well I have no interest in Wimbledon or any other such sports, and have no wish to read about fashion, and I'm not at all interested in who or how many people go and watch it, or their dress codes.

Regards Nick.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Been out in the sun to long

H

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

I often wear a short skirt whilst in the workshop. Some might say that a 70 year old man shouldn't. But it's my workshop and I will wear what I like. Plus, it lets a bit of air circulate on a hot day. So, I for one would be interested in the fashions at wombledon this year.

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by lee webster on 22/06/2023 22:00:21:

I often wear a short skirt whilst in the workshop. Some might say that a 70 year old man shouldn't. But it's my workshop and I will wear what I like. Plus, it lets a bit of air circulate on a hot day. So, I for one would be interested in the fashions at wombledon this year.

Lee, surely this is a new topic! If it becomes one I would happily contribute!!

JA

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

And why not? As you say, it's your workshop.

" ….. interested in the fashions at wombledon this year. "

Freshly-ironed white boiler-suits and safety glasses? Grease-top caps for the umpires?

I used to know someone who wore skirts (his wife's old ones) at home, and a kilt in public; but that was because shingles on his legs made wearing trousers painful for him.

.

Yes, they could well have misconstrued "model" but you'd think the word immediately after would make them stop and think. Perhaps the mailing office were using AU-I. Especially in these more sensitive times: though I don't recall young ladies draped langorously over the shiny new lathes in past years at Alexandra Palace or Harrogate. Maybe I was visiting the wrong sales-stands.

No crust-free cucumber butties, strawberries-&-cream and Pimms there, either.

[phillip gardinerParticipant @phillipgardiner]

Ralph Lauran can give me some of his fortune so i can build another model loco mate i think he is fantastic.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by lee webster on 22/06/2023 22:00:21:

I often wear a short skirt whilst in the workshop. Some might say that a 70 year old man shouldn't. But it's my workshop and I will wear what I like. Plus, it lets a bit of air circulate on a hot day. So, I for one would be interested in the fashions at wombledon this year.

You have spoiled my day Lee, luckily you didn’t provide a picture but a 70 year old in a short skirt is something I wouldn’t wish to see but my imagination is quite good even in cases where I wish it wasn’t. I will have to move swiftly on to something engineering that is interesting.

Mike

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

'Freshly ironed white boiler suits?' De rigueur for engineering officers in RN.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 23/06/2023 11:04:25

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

What is the Wimbledon Tournament? Is it held on the common?

Regards

Gray,

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Graham Meek on 23/06/2023 11:08:36:

What is the Wimbledon Tournament? Is it held on the common?

Regards

Gray,

It's about how long you can keep a Womble in the air with a paddle like thing.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Now I'm waiting for someone's article about restringing a tennis racquet yourself to appear in my inbox…

Neil

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by lee webster on 22/06/2023 22:00:21:

I often wear a short skirt whilst in the workshop. Some might say that a 70 year old man shouldn't. But it's my workshop and I will wear what I like. Plus, it lets a bit of air circulate on a hot day. So, I for one would be interested in the fashions at wombledon this year.

Well, I like to say something positive where appropriate (if that's the word…)

You're obviously not a member of the glowing-chip/cubic-inches-per-minute-metal-removal group…

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 23/06/2023 11:37:59:

Now I'm waiting for someone's article about restringing a tennis racquet yourself to appear in my inbox…

Neil

Perhaps the server is down?

Being serious: a series of occasional and short articles on similar jobs would be entirely suitable for MEW. I bet most of us have some interestingly random repairs from family/neighbours/etc to show.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Oh, it won't be the racquet stringing itself we'll be reading about, but the machine someone has built to carry that out….

In fact the "occasional short articles" on what might be called "Domestic Engineering" would be in the spirit of when Model Engineer was the Model Engineer & Electrician.

I have a couple of bound volumes now a bit over 100 years old (no they were not new to me), and include a method for re-seating the scullery water-tap, a link-motion device that plots your pulse from the wrist, and a trigger-focus hand-torch!

The tap was unscrewed from the pipe, dismantled and mounted on an improvised, wooden Keats plate on the lathe's faceplate. A later item in the volume cites that, and shows how to make a simple tool to reseat a ball-cock without needing remove it from the lead pipe to which it had been soldered – adding a wry comment about the cost of engaging a plumber. Nowt new there then.

The pulse-plotter uses a smoked-glass plate I think, and the writer gives the equation for the pulse: lots of trigonometry.

The torch, of right-angled pattern, uses the trigger to alter the distance between the bulb and convex lens.

.

This same volume also gives the description of a miniature traction-engine, apparently freelance but looking in the photo of roughly 4" inch scale size, with a dryback firebox. The author is a Mr. Briggs. I wonder… was this the original Briggs Boiler?

.

There are also darker items in ME&E of that time… It was in 1917, still in World War One, and many model-engineers used their skills as out-workers for armaments production, making shell-case components. Various articles give ideas for the techniques.

.

One former fellow club-member, a sidesman in his local church, used our society workshop to repair a processional cross damaged by over-enthusiastic brass-cleaners; and to make acrylic replacement centres for ornamental roses stolen from an altar cross. The thief must have thought the red glass originals were rubys! We decided the society needed an extra "E" , not for "Experimental" but "Ecclesiastical" .

I have made odd pieces of caving equipment, the last being a manual winch whose reel side-frame parts were cut from scrapped miniature-railway bar-rail.

.

Now, what natty little number shall I wear to the club track tomorrow? One must look one's best when replacing sleepers.

 

Edited By Nigel Graham 2 on 23/06/2023 23:20:45

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