Friday people day again and today's picture is of David dismantling, cleaning and restoring Tom's steam engine.
“Uncle” Tom Crozier (really a distant relative by marriage) produced and sold castings for model marine steam engines during the 1930s. This was one of his demonstration models that he had made up to show what the finished model would look like.
Tom was born in Manchester (UK) in 1889 and served an engineering apprenticeship in the early 1900s. In the course of that he made many of his own tools, some of which my husband still has and regularly uses. We acquired them, along with two model marine engines, following Tom’s death in 1970.
After it came to us this engine was polished and coated in polyurethane varnish in the early 1970s. That kept it bright for many years, but it had deteriorated in recent times to a dull brown. Removing the varnish proved a distinct challenge involving every solvent known to man along with a range of scourers and polishing compounds.
As you can see, it is now back together, though, and looking every bit as clean and neat as it did when it came off Tom’s workbench 80 years ago.
Lovely fine detail in both images Babs a study in concentration well rewarded with the beautiful end result, just think how much it would have cost to clean if David wasn't such a cleaver chap, thanks for the narrative very interesting:)
Now that is a stunning piece of machinery, well done to David for his patience to restore it to its former glory. Great narrative as well Babs and thank you for the birthday wishes Xx
I enjoyed your story - great images and what a cute steam engine. Well done to both the photographer and the mechanic who cleaned and replaced every bit with none left over...
David also said thanks for your comments too.
He managed to get the engine back together with no extra pieces left over. He has also had the steam engine working in the past too. Typical engineer! Got to make sure it works.
This was just one of David's many projects. He has got such a long list of projects I think he needs to live until he is at least 143 years old.