I am also on permanent holiday now and living in Leyland, Preston, UK. i served an engineering apprenticeship with D. Napier and Sons as a Centre lathe turner at Liverpool, they produced aero engines, turbo blowers and the famous Deltic 18 cylinder diesel engine which powered the Deltic locomotive. On completion of my apprenticeship in1962 i moved to Leyland, in Lancashire, joining Leyland motors who produced commercial vehicles. The first couple of years i spent setting and operating multi spindle bar automatics, i then earned promotion to a staff job, as an industrial engineer, i did this for a number of years finally finishing my working life as a production manager.
I own a 1947 South bend 9 inch lathe, a small pillar drill, a linishing belt sander and various files and hacksaws, which cover the lack of a milling machine. Among my various interests i much enjoy pottering around my workshop and have produced to date a Sterling engine, various cubes within cubes, a wobbler model steam engine, i am currently making a spool valved steam engine. My next project will be to design and make a beam engine and i look forward to discussing my progress and pitfalls with other members.
