Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

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Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw

Western Thunderer
There are definitely two Q1s, 33022 has no wheels but does have superheaters, the unidentified one (poss 33016) appears to be on its wheels but sans superheaters, the ends of the flues are plainly visible and the header is way out of position. I'll have a look in my info on Tues to confirm what I can.
Martin
 
AndyB

AndyB

Western Thunderer
I reckon the cars are at the same steam rally as the traction engines / rollers.
There were far fewer rallies in the '60s, and this one looks like quite a big event.
The East Anglian Traction Engine Society rally in 1962 was held on 22 September - which is quite possible given the foliage, attire and length of shadows on the ground. I don't know the location, but possibly around Ely. ('Traction Engines on Parade' by Anthony Beaumont has pictures labelled 'Ely 1962', one of which is of Aveling 7898 'Margaret')
I'm fairly sure the engine next to Aveling 4403 is McLaren 5 ton tractor 1413 of 1913, reg AL8769. According to the 5th edition of the Traction Engine register (pub 1987 and the earliest I have), there were not many surviving engines had 'AL' registrations. Many of those that did were Fowler ploughing engines. The valve chest cover of the Mclaren is quite distinctive. Sorry, can't find a picture of this engine to compare with.
 
AndyB

AndyB

Western Thunderer
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Fairly sure the engine next to Ruston 'Oliver' is Garrett 7nhp traction engine 32936, reg ER 603. Built 1916, named 'Felsted Belle'.
Owned at the time by Arthur Clark of Felsted, Essex.
Was still in East Anglia (Cambridge area) mid 1980's.
Picture from 1960 here.
The engine was used in the steam rally scenes for the film 'The Iron Maiden' - info here.

Edited to add info.
 
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76043

76043

Western Thunderer
The architectural model of the LCC estate on the LMA website brought back memories for me. I worked for Thorpe modelmakers when they were based in Grays Inn Road, they were London's oldest modelmakers having started sometime around the end of the 19C. I have a 1930's brochure which showed they specialised in court case models for the nearby Lincoln's Inn area.

The company moved to Ascot in the 90's and it seems the archive is:


There were other modelmakers around this area such as Pipers. Most modelmakers placed a makers plate somewhere on the model, but maybe this one was lost or never put on. The record seems to be of the photo not the model, so the model is probably lost. I worked on Cross rail models which ended up at the LTM store in Acton so some can survive. Indeed the Soane museum has some of the best architectural models from several hundred years ago when plaster was the material of choice. Cedar was the material I was trained in, but obviously plastic of various sorts was used.

It's a little known industry that apparently is making a bit of a comeback despite CAD taking over, as people still value something you can see and be with as opposed to virtually.
Tony
 
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AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Interesting that you should mention Thorp, Tony. We have a couple of their models at work (Senate House, University of London).

47619266-A484-4D69-9FE9-DEF15F68F7ED.jpeg

Because of that (partly), I discovered that there's a recent book on them - well, on the world of architectural modelling told through Thorp's archive - available from Routledge: A History of Architectural Modelmaking in Britain: The Unseen Masters of Scale and Vision. Not especially expensive for an academic book, but I'm waiting for a sale before I might be tempted...

Adam
 
76043

76043

Western Thunderer
Thanks for this Adam, I had no idea until today their archive was at AUB. They had a photo studio and full time photographer who catalogued all the models before shipping, all very interesting for me that since that time I became a photographer of museum objects.

I'd wager that Senate House model returned to Thorp for a new base and perspex case as the newer base looks like their standard oak section they used for everything. Maybe.

I'm tempted by the Routledge book as it's not too expensive for Routledge. I got my Modelmaking HND/Degree from St Alban's school of art, Bournemouth I believe is the vanguard now of Modelmaking teaching in the UK and the author teaches there.
Cheers
Tony
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
76043 said:
Thanks for this Adam, I had no idea until today their archive was at AUB. They had a photo studio and full time photographer who catalogued all the models before shipping, all very interesting for me that since that time I became a photographer of museum objects.

I'd wager that Senate House model returned to Thorp for a new base and perspex case as the newer base looks like their standard oak section they used for everything. Maybe.

I'm tempted by the Routledge book as it's not too expensive for Routledge. I got my Modelmaking HND/Degree from St Alban's school of art, Bournemouth I believe is the vanguard now of Modelmaking teaching in the UK and the author teaches there.
Cheers
Tony
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My pleasure - you're probably right about the refurb of the model (it'll be in the Library collections, formally, so I could probably find out if I didn't have 1001 other things to do - my Library colleagues are generally really helpful). There's several more, I believe, of various vintages, relating to Holden's pre-war proposals and later buildings: we do tend to hold onto stuff. I don't think that's a bad price at all, but - for me, anyway - it's a relatively tangential interest to justify the shelf space!

Adam
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave said:
Of all the years I worked in the Tottenham Court Road/Gower Street area I never looked up! :rolleyes:.

Senate House is a nice contemporary art-deco building to 55 Broadway. And sure enough after a quick check the architect was Charles Holden.
Click to expand...

You're not alone - it's the most self-effacing/well-hidden tall building I know. And yes, it's a Holden design - and loads of people just walk past it. The interiors are especially good, I think (we've doubled for various US Embassies, large parts of Gotham City Hall, a Chinese Casino, been blown up for the Beeb, been shown - quite accurately - as the backdrop for films about the Ministry of Information, and appeared in a Muppets film: make your own joke). The original master plan would have taken it all the way down towards the Euston Road (well, down Malet Street as far as UCL, where Birkbeck is now).

Adam
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave said:
What got me looking a bit deeper was the double doors and the stone floor and walls in the background of the photo of the model of Senate House and how similar they are to those in 55 Broadway.
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The details, materials, etc., are all pretty close (even the rainwater goods). The umbrella stand/coathook in my office was commissioned as part of the brief, too. A bit big to smuggle onto the train home, however.

Adam
 
T

Tim Birch

Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave said:
What got me looking a bit deeper was the double doors and the stone floor and walls in the background of the photo of the model of Senate House and how similar they are to those in 55 Broadway.
Click to expand...
Senate House brings back memories of when I was at University at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) fifty years ago. I would frequently walk across the road from SOAS (which was about where the fire extinguishers are in relation to the model) to go to the geography library in the tower part of the building. The ground floor of Senate house was very grand and always empty. It seemed like something Mussolini might have built! Mention of Birkbeck reminds me that it did good lunches and had a good bar. However the best lunches were at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine across the road from Senate House, but they got very offended if mere undergraduates tried to enter!
 
A

Arun Sharma

Western Thunderer
I recall reading somewhere that as a distictive building, Hitler had told the Luftwaffe that Senate House wasn't to be bombed. It was intended to become the German Headquarters for the entire UK [assuming that Operation Sea Lion was sucessful].
 
oldravendale

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
That is, indeed, a striking building. I lectured there once about an invention which added minute amounts of iron oxide to motion picture film base so that information could be recorded as distinct from a sound track as it was exposed. They were what could be described as an erudite audience! It was most certainly a technology looking for a use which no-one ever found.:)):)):))

Brian
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Such a device is clearly handy in the works. Why is it wedge-shaped?

Would it not be easier to use if the carriage ran parallel to the floor?
 
Crimson Rambler

Crimson Rambler

Western Thunderer
The traverser enabled engines in the erecting shop to be moved from one track to an adjoining one using a single crane. It comprised the inclined ramp with a trolley which ran on top. The front of the engine rested on this trolley and with the rear of the engine lifted and supported by the crane the trolley brake was released and engine slid sideways down the ramp being followed at the back by the crane - hence the wedge-shape @simond. It remained in use until Highbridge was closed by the LMS in 1930.

Crimson Rambler
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
thanks, I "got the idea" but I was suspicious that it does not slide - there appears to be a crank handle at the near end - is that a brake (in which case I agree that it does slide) or a lead-screw (in which case it would not) ?

A lead screw would be much safer, but somewhat more work for the staff.

seeing the picture on the larger screen, I cannot see a lead screw, so maybe it is a brake?
 
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