Stationary Engine magazine

[Jo]

The Google AI engine just told me the weight of the Stuart Major Beam engine in Kg ... the problem was it was quoting the lbs value as Kgs, so was wrong!

It is not time yet to trust AI engines and the stuff online is often posted without any editorial checking, which is also true of a number of magazines recently   

Jo

[Jasonb]

Are you sure about that weight as it gives me a weight of 32000lbs

It is showing grams not Kg for me, I knew it was big but not that big

[Chipswitheverything]

I'm even now doing some long belated tinkering with the last knockings of my virtually finished Stuart major Beam engine, but having made a fairly substantial plinth for it, I can say empirically that all told, it's a blooming heavy lump!  I think it will be in the 65 lbs sort of ball park when all back together, I'll have to think about where to put it, as I won't be casually moving it here and there without summoning assistance.

 As most of us probably have done, I have put together long runs of Model Engineer, back to c. 1950, and ( mainly thanks to friends passing on volumes ) EIM magazines, but the storage and access in an average UK sort of house does become quite a problem just from the sheer volume. They have been useful and entertaining, stimulating too, but not the easiest proposition;  ( er, along with about 3000 books in the house !)   Then there are some runs of Back Track and Steam World ... 
My nearest preserved steam railway, where the s/h book and mag stands have been gratifying to rummage over the years, have said that they are these days overwhelmed for storage room, with the sheer flood of steam magazines that come their way ( presumably from elderly "downsizers", or relatives disposing of effects?)   Dave

[paul gough]

Thank you Jason. You have painted a positive picture of how things are done by the generations replacing me. I am obviously out of date and my methods redundant. It seems all I can do is plod along at a pace and with methods I have learnt and am comfortable with. Good luck to the new digital world, but I have little time to spend on learning efficient use of computing as it would take more than I have left. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Twizseven]

Lying in hospital and wife has brought post in to me which includes notification that it is ceasing publication and that any remaining subscription will go to Old Glory.  Not sure how they can reroute my funds, should they not give me the option of what I want to do. I’m afraid I will not renew Old Glory.
Colin

[Jo]

I wonder what they would do if you were already a subscriber to old Glory?

The answer is to see if we can acquire a big heap of back issues 

Jo

[Alyn Foundry]

Lying in hospital and wife has brought post in to me which includes notification that it is ceasing publication and that any remaining subscription will go to Old Glory.  Not sure how they can reroute my funds, should they not give me the option of what I want to do. I’m afraid I will not renew Old Glory.
Colin

Oooh, that doesn’t sound good Colin hope everything is going okay?

According to recent reports on the various groups SE magazine are refunding subscription fees upon request without any issues.

Hopefully you’re enjoying the recent topics being discussed over at?https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALYNFOUNDRYMODELS/

   Graham.

[Michel_ON_MEM]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and just came across this interesting discussion. As someone who's just starting to get interested in stationary engines, I find it really sad to hear about magazines closing down. 😢
I was wondering, for those of you who have been in the hobby for a while, what do you think are the best online resources for learning about stationary engines now? Are there any good YouTube channels or websites you'd recommend to a beginner like me?
Also, I'm curious about how you all store your old magazine collections. Do you keep everything, or have you found ways to digitize the most important articles?
Thanks in advance for any advice! I'm looking forward to learning from all of you experienced folks here. 👍

[Alyn Foundry]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and just came across this interesting discussion. As someone who's just starting to get interested in stationary engines, I find it really sad to hear about magazines closing down. 😢
I was wondering, for those of you who have been in the hobby for a while, what do you think are the best online resources for learning about stationary engines now? Are there any good YouTube channels or websites you'd recommend to a beginner like me?
Also, I'm curious about how you all store your old magazine collections. Do you keep everything, or have you found ways to digitize the most important articles?
Thanks in advance for any advice! I'm looking forward to learning from all of you experienced folks here. 👍

Welcome to MEM.
The term stationary engine is quite broad. Many early steam engines come under the same blanket but these days it’s more commonly used generically for the plethora of IC engines that were manufactured around the world over the last couple of centuries. I joined the movement in the late seventies, my first engine being the ubiquitous Lister D type one of over a quarter million engines produced by RA Lister & company Ltd Dursley Gloucester England. It’s a good starter engine, not too heavy for the youthful enthusiast and very simple and easy to understand and restore. They are also reasonably cheap to acquire. I say that tongue in cheek because there are some rare early models that can cost a king’s ransom.

It’s a relatively cheap hobby to be involved with and I’m pleased to say that there’s an increasing number of the younger generation joining the ranks.  As in every hobby there’s the money influencers that can make it difficult to start with but as time progresses a collection of your choice can be built.

Before downsizing I had a collection of well over 30 different engines weighing in at several tens of Tons. My passion for making models started after becoming reasonably adept at foundry work in the pursuit of missing parts,  And not being able to afford those rather tasty collectibles.

The internet is the obvious place to start, however a visit to a local Steam Rally will see several engines on display with their owners always eager to share their passion. You might even find an engine to play with too.

These days with social media on the increase there are an amazing amount of virtually dedicated groups associated with the stationary engine movement. Information is readily available in almost realtime.  Please feel free to join my own private group. https://www.facebook.com › groups › ALYNFOUNDRYMODELS ›
               
I have been involved with the hobby for over 40 years now and am pleased to report that I now have 3 generations of enthusiasts involved.

   Graham.

[RayW]

Just a quick update. I have just received the first Old Glory incorporating Stationary Engine (all 10 pages!) and I have cancelled my subscription. There was no quibble and they will be refunding the remainder of my subscription. If you are an SE subscriber and wish to cancel, just call the Subscriptions number in the front of the mag.