Hi all,
My first post but I just wanted to thank Sue for taking the wonderful photos (well, all except one
)
As Ramon says, it was, and always is a fantastic day and this year was the best yet.
One downside to the event is that the condensor packed up on the 1879 Gimson beam engine (which I think is the most beautiful engine there) so we think that we have got to renew the piston ring on the air pump. We replaced it 4 years ago with a man-made fibre rope rather than the original sisal (yes, you did read that correctly) and it is a bit of a job...after stripping down the linkages and cylinder the piston and rod weigh about a quarter of a ton, and a new rope ring wound round the parallel ring groove. The ends have to be thinned in order to fit.
Where else can you have so much fun at the weekends?
Thank you for posting this Ramon. If anyone can make it next first Sunday in October for the Model Engineer's Day please do come. Sue's photos give a great indication of the atmosphere; it is like a great gathering of old friends even if you haven't met any of them before. Sounds daft I know but that is the only way I can begin to describe it...you also get to hear some of my old squit
Andy
PS. It is called the vinegar engine because it came from Sarsons. I believe it used to pump molasses.