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March   

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

Locomotive News and Notes.

 

 FOR

By the 

 of the 

  L o c o m o t i v e

 there is 

 

 a   Pacific 

locomotive constructed by them for the 

rated 

 States.

This system owns and

operates over 

 miles of metre gauge 

The main line runs practically the 

 of

the 

 Peninsula, 

 

 

  F r o m   t h i s   m a i n   l i n e   t h e r e  

various other small branch lines 

 local 

senger and freight service.

The motive 

 of 

 steam locomotives of various

‘types with tenders,

 passenger coaches, and

 freight wagons. In addition to this the

railway operates a marine service consisting of

steam boats, tugs and ferries, also owning

harbours, docks and wharves.

B y  

 S. 

 

 

T H E  

 

 co.,

Ltd., Manchester,   the 

 

Central 

The engines are required

 working passenger 

 from 

 to

 

 which forms part of the through

route between Cape 

 and Port Elizabeth.

These trains consist of seven bogie roaches

having an aggregate weight of 

 to 

280 tons;

the 

length of run is 

 miles, and eastbound

trains have   negotiate   gradieats of 

in 

the aggregate length of 

 grades being

 

The largest continuous rise is 

of   miles   chains, and in many cases the

grades are combined 

   chain curves.

Very

similar conditions exist an the westward run.

 the present time 

 locomotives are 

on 

 trains, but, 

 a view to dispensing

 Gauge 

 

 Freight and Passenger 

 for the Federated Malay States.

 Pacific   type locomotive 

has been introduced for 

 

 

 and freight service, being thus classified

as a mixed traffic engine. The cylinders are

outside the frames, with piston valves above

them, 

 valve gear being used for

aatuating the valves.

The cylinders measure

 in. diam. by     stroke, the piston valves

 a diameter of 8 in. The engines are

equipped with American design superheaters

and weigh approximately 80 tons, including

 tender fully loaded.

 this double surface and securing greater

economy of working,

owing to the successful

the company. decided,

 

  w i t h

   Garratt   

 on the Union of South

 Railways, to adopt the type for service

 

 railway referred to above.

 new engines embody in the 

 

 gained in the working of the

different types of

 Garratt   locomotives in

South Africa, 

 thus will represent the latest

    t h e   t y p e .   T h e  

diagram is from the 

 kindly supplied by

the buiiders.

H

E A V Y  

   L

O C O M O T I V E S  

F O R  

A

F R I C A

.

An order for the 

 of two

 Garratt    l o c o m o t i v e s   h a v i n g   t h e  

2 - 6 - 2

w h e e l  

and weighing 

 tons

each, was recently placed 

 

 Peacock

 boiler 

   fitted with superheater, and

the grates with rocking fire bars suited for

burning native coal. The cylinders are equipped

with piston valves actuated by Walshaerts valve

gear. 

 steam and automatic brakes will

be fitted to all coupled wheels.

The following are the 

 pat-ticulars :-

 

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The Model Engineer and Electrician.

 

 

Cylinders, diameter,   

 stroke,   ins.

Coupled wheels, diameter, 3 ft.   ins.

Coupled wheelbase, S ft.

Total wheelbase, 56 ft. S ins.

Boiler working pressure, 

 lbs.

Total heating 

Boiler tubes, 

 sq. ft.

Boiler heating firehox, 

153.5 

 ft.

Boiler heating superheater, 333.0 sq. ft.

T o t a l ,  

   

 area, 33.9 sq. ft.

Tractive effort     per cent. boiler pressure,

 Ibs.

Tank capacity, 3,000 gallons.

Fuel capacity, 4 tons.

Weight 

 and   

 order),   tons.

Weight (full and in working order) adhesion,

63 tons.
 

 engines are true   double 

and thus 

 be operated in either direction

 turning, the driver’s brake valve and

other fittings are being 

 in duplicate

so as to be available with equal convenience,

whether driving chimney or cab end first.

L

O C O M O T I V E  

 

 

 writer of an article 

  a p p e a r e d

recently in a 

 devoted to motor 

some

comparisons 

railway locomotives and motor 

He drew

 to the fact that 

 of the latest loco-

motives, presumably the 

   Pacific 

o n  

    G r e a t   N o r t h e r n  

 

 tons and developed 

 

 giving a

ratio of weight-to-power of 

 Ibs.

per 

He went on to cite the case of a motor cycle

w e i g h i n g  

 

  a n d   d e v e l o p i n g   6  

 a

 ratio of only 30 Ibs. to 

 

In the 

 of the writer such comparisons

are altogether futile, and that no engine or

machine 

 be judged on such a basis, the

correct standpoint 

 that of 

 performed

p e r  

 developed. On such a basis, the

 Pacific   engine referred to, developing as a

maximum 

 

 

 hauling a train weigh-

ing 

 tons (or with its 

 weight, 

 tons),

g i v e s   a  

 of over 

 

 to the 

but as the 

 

 is very 

 less

 that just mentioned, the weight hauled per

 developed is much greater. As a matter

of fact, the writer has investigated this subject,

and finds in many cases the average is 

per 

and an everyday figure is 

 per

 further 

 showed that

with a heavily loaded passeager train practically

full, each passenger was being conveyed at a

high speed at the expenditure of 

 on the

average, leaving the question of weight out

Now the 

 cycle cited by the writer of

the article would, on an average rating, convey

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The Model 

 and Electrician.

 people, and the total weight is 

 lbs..

 a ratio of 

 lbs. to the h.p., and, cf

much more 

 I 

 per passenger.

 doubt these figures 

 be varied con-

siderably in both cases, but 

 used are the

 selected for comparison by the author of

 article referred to, and it only 

 

impossible it really is to 

 such 

different 

 of engines usefully.

 

is quite 

 to approach the subject on 

basis of weight of the 

   machine and

 maximum 

it is expected to develop.

O b v i o u s l y   n o   l o c o m o t i v e   c o u l d   r e a c h   i t s

maximum horse-poner   anything 

it 

 running light, and that is 

 

assumed when the neight-power

employed.

rating

-

-

 

 

Locomotives that are called upon to make

long runs 

 stops must of 

 be

equipped 

 tenders of suitable capacity, and

even where track water troughs are installed a

 tender is practically unavoidable under

modern conditions of working.

The difficulty.

of course, is 

   fuel, for although it is pos-

s i b l e   t o   r e p l e n i s h   t h e  

 supply 

means have not and could not 

well be devised for replacing coal 

stopping.

Thus, 

 

 increased size of

hauling heavier train loads, fuel

and 

 consumption are on   higher scale.

and, consequently, the size and weight of

tenders have 

 

In some cases the

 of the tender approximates to as much

as   per 

 of the engine itself, and, as 

non-paving load, it 

   a serious 

on 

 

 energy of the locomotive.

With this fact in mind 

 advisability of em-

ploying

additional mechanism either in

form of a   booster   or of making 

 

a self-driving unit is one to be considered, and.

 is being considered in Europe   the

present time, following upon successful results

obtained in the United States with the 

named appliance.

 proposal n-as recently put

forward to equip locomotive teaders 

 a pail

 low-pressure 

 

 steam from the

 high-p&sure ones on the locomotive

itself, 

 thus curtailing the demand upon the

boiler for live steam.

S u c h   a  

 

entail 

 use of articulated 

 and be a

rather complicated affair,

and it is to be

assumed that the 

 of engineers 

prefer to

utilise

the

 booster   class of

merhaaism.

 

 L

O C O M O T I V E

 AND 

S

C O T T I S H  

R

A I L W A Y  

  A N D  

 

 

The first 

 locomotive to be placed

in service on 

 in 

the U n i t e d  

 

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The Model Engineer and Electrician.

   

was constructed at the Kilmarnock Works of

the Glasgow and South Western Railway about

26 years ago, to the designs of 

  J a m e s

    t h a t   t i m e  

 

dent. The engine was placed in traffic in the

 of April, 1897, and considerable interest

attached to its appearance, mainly on account

of its cylinder arrangement.

 originally

built, this 

 No. 

I I

, had two inside

cylinders, each 

 ins. diam. by 26 ins. stroke,

and 

 outside ones, each 

 ins. in diam.

B y   t h e   c o u r t e s y   o f  

 R. H. 

Mechanical Engineer (Kilmarnock), London,

Midland and Scottish Railway,   is possible to

reproduce herewith a photograph of the engine

as just 

 turned out from the Kilmarnock

Works after ‘rebuilding.

The striking 

 of 

  l o c o m o t i v e  

 and after con-

version can be 

 from a comparison of

the 

 line drawings, whilst the photographic

reproduction provides a basis for further com-

parisons.

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Rebuilt Four-Cylinder Locomotive for the London, Midland   

 Railway

(Glasgow   South-Western Section).

by 24 ins. stroke. The boiler, in common 

general practice at that time, supplied satu-

rated steam   the cylinders.

The total heating

s u r f a c e  

 

 sq. ft., to which the tubes

 1,062 s q . f t . ,   a n d  

 

 I I

 ft., and a grate area of   sq. ft. 

 pro-

vided, a working pressure of 

 lb. per 

 in.

being carried. The small size of the boiler, in

The 

 now fitted is   a large size and

 arranged to give maximum capacity. The

e n g i n e   a s   r e b u i l t   h a s  

 

 14 i n s .

d i a m . ,   t h e  

  p a i r  

   

  o f

 ins. and 

 inside pair one   26 ins.

The

 is equipped with a superheater of the

 Robinson   type, having 22 elements, the

total 

 surface being 1,803 

 ft., and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 5 

Diagram of the above 

 before 

 with the use of four high-pressure

cylinders,

was

remarked

upon

in

various

quarters at the time the engine 

was 

and in the light of subsequent developments,

where 

 locomotives 

 concerned,

it might be considered entirely inadequate.

 period, however, the large boilers of to-day

were not considered necessary, or even prac-

ticable, a leading factor of modern design being

in the case of heavy main line locomotives, the

provision

 as large a 

 as could be

mounted upon the frames.

grate area 27.6 sq. ft. The heating surfaces

are distributed as 

 

 

 

 

  f t .

Small tubes, 

 sq. ft.

Elements, 

211.00 

sq. ft.

 

 sq. ft.

 working pressure of 180 lb. per sq. in. is

carried.

In its altered form the engine,

 of tender, weighs 61 tans g cwt. as

against 48 tons 14 cwt. in the earlier design.

The inside cylinders are formed in one casting,

the outside pair being separate.

Cross ports

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The Model Engineer and Electrician.

are introduced, thus making it possible for 

p i s t o n   v a l v e  to 

 the steam of both

cylinders at one side. The front piston 

head serves the front port of the inside 

and also the back port of the 

 cylinders,

 vice versa, and by this means the rocking

shaft 

 valve, valve spindle 

 valve con-

necting

rod of 

earlier locomotives are

eliminated. The outside 

 are identical

in 

 respect, thus 

 the 

for right and left-hand patterns. The piston

 

 a diameter of 

I O  

i n s

They 

supplied   Allen 

 Simmonds,   Reading,

in accordance 

 their patented design.

valves are arranged for inside admission 

are actuated   

 link motion

 in

the earlier type.

Reversing is effected   

of steam 

 gear fixed to the right-hand

f r a m e   c l o s e   t o  

  r e v e r s i n g   s h a f t ,  

operated from 

 footplate, the cut-off in 

 being   per cent.

The reconstructed engine is, as seen, 

 

 a large and comfortable cab of the

standard type now adopted on the Glasgow 

South Western 

   the London, 

 

a n d  

 Railway. The tender, 

 

of the self-trimming 

hopper type, has 

  c a p a c i t y   o f

3 , 2 6 0   g a l l o n s ,   a n d  

capacity 

 j

tons, 

 the original 

had   

 capacity of only 

 gallons and

curried   

 of coal.

In the original engine 

 rigid 

   ft. 9 in. This 

  b e e n   l e n g t h e n e d  

 ft. in the 

 one, the total 

base, engine and tender being 

   ft.   ins.

as compared 

   ft.   ins.

In its 

f o r m  

  e n g i n e  

 in 

 

  t e n d e r ,   4 8   t o n s    

 the 

b e i n g  

increased to 61

   

Similarly, the tender, which weighed 32 

 cwt.,

 turns the scale at   tons   

The diameter of the 

 remains as 

 6 ft.    i n s . , for the coupled wheels.

and 3 ft.   ins. for the bogie nheels. 

 

 has been increased from   ft.

to 6 ft. 6 ins.

The engine as 

 

 

 a 

 effort of 

 lb.

In its 

 condition it develops 

 

 

Sj 

per cent. of the boiler pressure.

This is one of 

 cases in which a 

 

 having become obsolete 

first-grade 

 line 

 is concerned, 

offered a sufficient 

 for conversion.

 now running, it is practically a new 

and should rank among the most efficient 4-4-o

passenger locomotives in the country. 

the 

 has been 

 in fast passenger

traffic 

 a very short period   has’, 

 

informed, already 

 remarkable 

o f   p o w e r   o u t p u t ,   a c c e l e r a t i o n   a n d  

running at high speeds.

 for 

 

Steam Engine-III.

B

Y

 A

X L E

. ”

(Continued 

 

 

The 

 rod stuffing boxes 

 in Fig. 

 made 

 

 gun-metal 

 or from

bar.

They

should be machined

all over.

are a

push-fit

into

t h e  

  s h o u l d   b e   b o r e d   o u t    in. 

to suit the piston rods. Five 

 holes arc

drilled in the top Range and the 

 flange

is tapped for three No. 

B.A. studs. The 

should stand out   in. The piston-rod gland 

made of gun-metal and should be 

 on the

outside to an easy push-fit into the stuffing box.

and bored to suit the piston rod. The 

 

drilled to suit the studs in the 

 box.

The cylinder covers, valve box, and 

boxes can now be used as template for 

off the position of the studs required in the

 

 Plan 

 

 Piston 

Glands.

cylinder casting, care being taken to 

 tha:

the bevelled portions of the cylinder covers arc

opposite the steam ports. In 

 clamp-

ing up the L.P. valve box care should also he

taken   get the 

 lines marked   the cast-

ings registering exactly, and slide 

 guide-

parallel to the cylinder bore. The studs securing

the covers and valve box are 

 

worth, screwed about   in. into the casting and

standing out at least 

 in. longer than the

length required to take a full nut 

 the 

covers jointed in 

The stuffing boxes at-e

secured with five No.   

 studs and nuts,

and can now be 

 to the cylinders

permanently. No 

 will be required for

the stuffing boxes, except, perhaps, a little red

lead paste.

Fig.   shows the L.P. steam chest 

It is

made   cast-iron. If possible the lip or recess in

the back of 

 casting into which fits the lagging

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The Model Engineer and 

March   

should be cast in, orherwise the 

 may be dis-

pensed 

 and the lagging 

   be flush

 the sides

The cover should be machined on the plain

side, and filed up to 

 on the edges and

polished. The lagging is secured 

 five No. 8

B.A. screws.

To keep the slide valve on its face   spring is

fitted to the steam-chest cover. This spring is

bent from a piece of spring steel 

 in. wide

and   

 thick, and is secured to the cover

with two No. 6 

 screws. The flange of 

cover is 

drilled 

 in. diameter to suit the

valve box.

   

 the 

 piston, 

 is 

 a block ring and two split rings.

 plain

piston with two grooves turned in for the 

can be used if desired, or the block ring mav be

dispensed 

The body of the piston is made

A

Elevation and

 

 

   

 

 

 

Plan   the L.P. Steam Chest 

in two pieces and each should have an extension

cast   for holding the casting in 

 

Each casting should first be bored out

 in. diameter, faced at the joint, and rough

turned to, say, 

 in 

 on the outside.

T h e  

  p i e c e s   c a n then be mounted on a

mandrel and turned to size.

The body of the

piston should be a good sliding fit in the cylinder,

say, from 

 in. to 

 in. 

slack. The block

ring is machined all over and 

 float 

 the flanges of the piston when assembled.

It should be bored out to an easy fit on the: piston

bodv and should be the same diameter as the

 flanges. The piston rings can be turned

from the casting used for 

 block ring. The

rings should first be turned up to 

 ins.

 an the outside and   ins. inside and

parted off to thickness. A piece should then be

sawn out, say,   in. wide at 

 and the joint

filed up true. The ring should now be 

on a faceplate, being held in place with a washer

big enough in diameter to grip the ring all round,

but leaving enough room to allow the tool to

work on the outside of rhe ring.

To close the

joint of 

 ring while it is being set up a piece

of 

 can be placed round it and the ends

twisted. Having set the ring to run as true

 possible, it should be again turned to the same

size as the bore of the cylinder.

Without

Details of the H.P. and L.P. Pistons.

removing the 

 holding the ring, it should

be gripped with 

   plates. and bolts on the

outside. Then the inner fixings can be removed

nnd the ring bored out to its finished size, 

is 

 ins. diameter. The rings should be

tried in the cylinder and 

 

 filed   obtain

Details of the L.P. and H.P. Slide Valves.

not m o r e   t h a n  

 in. opening when the

ring is placed square in the 

 in any posi-

tion up and down the bore. The complete piston

should now be assembled, and care should be

taken to 

 that the rings are free to move when

 piston is tightened up. The L.P. piston,

Fig. 

 is 

similar in construction to the H.P.

piston.

The rings should be turned up to

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The Model Engineer and Electrician.

,

297

3  

 ins. 

  o u t s i d e   a n d     i n s .

diameter inside, after which   in. should be cut

 

 before turning the ring up to size.

that has been said regarding the H.P. piston also

applies to the L.P. piston.

T h e   t w o   p i e c e s

forming the body of the 

 piston are

registered together at the outer joint;  the spigot

on the loner portion being   push-fit into the

upper portion.

 piston valve, Fig.   can be made of either

gun-metal or cast-iron. No rings are fitted, as a

plain piston valve is easily 

 

 leak-

age occurs.

It should be turned to a 

scraper. The sides of 

 valve should be parallel

and   sliding tit 

 guides provided on the

L.P. steam-chest.

 piston rods are made from mild 

forgings. The first operation is to machine the

crosshead to size in the shaping machine, and

rough turn the shank. The pocket for the top

end brasses can be formed by drilling a suitable

hole 

 a twist drill and cutting out the piece

of 

 not required with a saw, after which

the sides of the pocket can be filed to 

 The

bolt holes can now be drilled and a plate tem-

porarily fitted 

 the 

 of the rod to form

 

Details   the Piston Rod and Connecting Rod.

into 

 liner. It can be ground in nith a little

oil and 

 

 The over-all length should

 

 upon which to finish turning up 

 rod.

‘The rod should now be turned to size and the

be left a little over-size   

 for adjustment of

 

 to suit a 

  s l o t t e d   n u t .

the steam edges 

 the valve is set near 

 cap for the brasses should be made from

completion of the model. The valve is machined

mild steel bar.

It is drilled to suit the bolts

all over and forms   piece of simple turning. The

L.P. slide valve is made of cast-iron, Fig. 

and the 

 corners are 

 off at 

 

It should be faced on bath sides either in the

shown in the drawing, Fig. 

21. 

The top of the

holes in the piston-rod are knifed to suit the bolt

lathe or shaping machine, and the edges filed up

heads.

square to size.

It is bored out 

 in.

The top end brasses are made from gun-

diameter and faced at 

 ends to suit the valve

metal castings. To machine a pair of top end

washer and securing nuts on valve spindle. The

brasses 

 should first be 

filed 

up flat at the

joint and soldered together for 

 out. Two

face of the valve should be tested on a good

top and two bottom pieces should be soldered

surface-plate and the high places 

 with a

 The sides can be faced if the brasses

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The Model 

 and 

Electrician.

March   

-

-

 mounted on a mandrel. The brasses should

be a good fit in the 

 The pistons can 

fitted on to the rod and the nut 

 up.

The top of the t-od can then be drilled for a

 diameter split pin.

In 

 the

rod care should be taken to get the back and

sides of the crosshead parallel   

 shank and

the 

 through the top end brasses perfectly

at right angles to the axis of the rod.

T W O

bolts 

 in. diameter by 

 ins. long

are required for both piston rods.

In Fig. 

the portion of the rod which fits into the piston

is shown parallel. The piston thus 

 on a

shoulder 

   

 small bearing surface.

If desired a cone may be provided on the piston

rod   in. long, tapering from   in. diameter to

   diameter.

 

Column and

Guide Bar.

 connecting-rods, Fig. 

 

 also 

from mild 

 forgings. The H.P. and 

rods are the 

 except that the L.   

pin is 

   form

 for 

 

levers. The forgings should first   turned 

over. 

 

 end should be drilled 

 in.

and then split 

   fine saw and the 

 

up 

 The pieces can be drilled and 

together and the sides faced up in 

 lathe.

The hole for the crosshead pin should be 

drilled and the fork formed   drilling a

 diameter hole, and 

 away the

metal between 

 jaws.

The 

 should be

shaped to width 

 the eyes filed up to size.

The bolt holes are knifed at both ends. Little

need be said about the crosshead pins. They arc

turned smooth and parallel, and should be 

 drive fit into the connecting-rod. The pin

for the, H.P. rod should stand through about

 in. at each side of 

  j a w s .

The pin

and bore of the bottom end should be 

to each other.

The bottom end 

 are

 up 

 gun-metal castings. 

 

castings should bc filed up at 

 

 and

soldered together.

 should first be bored out

t o    in. 

and then turned up   the

outside and parted off. The bearings should then

 lightly driven on short piece of bar that has

 turned       in. diameter, and the edges

of the bearings 

 to 

 the fillets on the

crankpins.

T h e  

  m a y  

  b e  

soldered and the joint; cleaned up.

The guide bars are made of mild 

 and

should   

 all over in the milling 

shaping machine. The front inner edge of the

lip is bevelled (Fig. 233.

They are drilled,

three 

 holes in each, for   B.A. bolts.

The front 

 

 

 arc turned from

mild steel bar and finished 

 all over. The

top 

 has four   

 holes drilled in

it. 

 

 should be knifed   the 

 a 

 cutter. 

 lower 

end of the columns

is turned to a push-fit into the 

 and

 for a 

  d i a m e t e r   n u t .

The

 portion on the 

 column is longer

than that on the outer columns.

Care should

be taken to obtain the correct relation 

 sides of 

 

 and the centre lines of

the 

 in 

 flange.

 square portion of

  c e n t r e   c o l u m n   h a s  

 

 

drilled in it, which can be marked off from the

bracket 

 tha reversing gear.

Loose guide 

 are fitted to the condenser.

 are made of mild steel sheet and should be

filed up true all over to   ins. by   ins. by   in.

thick. Six 

 holes are drilled in each

 suit the holes in the guide bars and condenser

columns.

 no bending load comes on these

guide plates they 

 be 

 of cast-iron.

 will now deal with the crankshaft, which

is perhaps the most difficult 

 of the engine

to make.

The crankshaft is shown in Fig. 

It is made of mild steel 

 has two cranks set

at 

 It is 

 usual practice in 

marine engines to have cranks at 

 and has

the advantages of considerably reducing the

range of 

 stress and of making the

engine comparatively 

 to start, for 

 one

crank is on the dead centre, the other is in the

position of maximum turning moment. But in

 model these points are not of much importance,

 with the idea of obtaining a better balance

cranks at 

 have been adopted. The crank-

shaft shown has the eccentric sheaves solid with

the shaft, and is made 

 a forging.

simplify the making, the eccentric sheaves can

background image

M a r c h  

 

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

299

b e   m a d e   o f   c a s t - i r o n   a n d   k e y e d   o n .   H a v i n g
obtained a forging for 

 crankshaft, the first

p i n s   a n d   j o u r n a l s .   T h e   c r a n k - p i n s   c a n   b e
f i n i s h e d   t o

size.

T h e

eccentric

sheaves

t h i n g   t o   d o   i s   t o   r e m o v e  

  o f   t h e   m e t a l

should also be finished to size.

T h e  

between the webs.

T h i s   m e t a l  

 be drilled

  c a n

  b e   r e m o v e d   a n d   t h e   s h a f t

and 

 out. 

 shaft should now be centred

 

 

 

 

  t o     i n .   d i a m e t e r ,

 in the shaping mnchinc to machine the 

u p o n  

  s h o u l d   b e   f i x e d  

  t h r o w -  

of 

 

 after 

 operation the shaft can

be put back in the lathe and the main journals

The Crankshaft and Diagram of Position of Eccentrics.

p l a t e s ,   l a r g e   e n o u g h   i n  

 to 

  t h e

centres required for turning 

  c r a n k p i n s   a n d

 sav 

 ins. diameter bv   in. wide. 

 should be a driving fit on the shaft

and secured with setscrews.

The centres should

b e   m a r k e d   o f f   o n   t h e  

  a n d   s m a l l

h o l e s  

  a n d   c o u n t e r s u n k   f o r  

 

 

Part Sectional Elevation of the Flywheel.

shaft in the lathe.

The shaft should first be

rough turned to   in. diameter, and the eccentric
sheaves also rough turned nearly to size.

T h e

o u t s i d e   e d g e s   o f   t h e  

  s h o u l d  

  b e

machined and bevelled, as shown on the draw-
ing. The crankpins should now be turned and

t h e   i n n e r   e d g e s   o f   t h e  

  f a c e d .

 fillet

 in. radius should be provided on 

 

T h e   s h a f t   s h o u l d   b e   m a c h i n e d

smooth all over.

T h e  

 at the ends of

t h e   s h a f t   m a y   n o w  

 cut 

 in. 

 

 in. 

 to suit the loose coupling and

t h e  

If 

  t h e   c o u p l i n g   m a y   b e

solid with the 

 making it 

 ins. diameter

b y  

  i n .  

a n d   d r i l l e d   t o   t a k e   f o u r

  b o l t s .

T h e   l o o s e   c o u p l i n g   m a y   b e

t u r n e d   f r o m  

 diameter bar, and is 

 a

l i g h t   d r i v i n g  

 on the shaft. It is turned 

smooth all over.

The flange is drilled for four

 diameter coupling bolts and the holes

k n i f e d   w i t h   a  

  d i a m e t e r   c u t t e r .

T h e

coupling is drilled for a 

 diameter taper

pin, which secures it to the shaft. The 
is 

 in. by 

 in. deep.

T h e  

is 

 of cast-iron, Fig. 26, and is turned all

over.

T h e   f a c e   a n d   e d g e s   s h o u l d  

 

s m o o t h   a n d   p o l i s h e d .

T h e  

  s h o u l d   b e

 out to 

 the shaft upon which it should

be a light driving fit.

  k e y  

  i n .  

w h i c h   i s   s u n k  

 in. deep into 

  s h a f t

s e c u r e s   t h e  

  a   s a f e g u a r d   a g a i n s t

t h e   f l y w h e e l   c o m i n g   o f f

  m a y   b e   f u r t h e r

secured by a 

 

 tapped centrally into

the end of the shaft and a r-in. diameter turned

washer.

If the 

 is required for a belt

drive then the face of wheel should be slightly
cambered.

 A. 

 do not quite grasp what your

difficulty is, but 

 you will 

 a perusal

o f   o u r   h a n d b o o k s     E l e c t r i c   B a t t e r i e s     a n d

  I n d u c t i o n   C o i l s , ”  

  p o s t   f r e e ,   f r o m   o u r

 

 

  p u t   y o u   o n   t h e

right track.

background image

The Model Engineer and 

 

  1 9 2 3 .

An 

G a u g e   G a r d e n

 Electric Railway.

By R. W. C.

T

HE following description and accompanying

plan and photographs of an o gauge garden

m o d e l   r a i l w a y   m a y   b e   o f  

 to 

M . E .

readers.

In order that the whole railway may be moved

if necessary, it 

 decided to lay it on standard

sized planks, 6 ft. by 69 ins. wide, 

 just

allowing for double track where necessary. To

prevent warping, each plank is cross-battened in

three places 

 being screwed down to the

supports at the ends.

Owing to 

 contour of the garden, in order

to get a level track, one end had to be on piles

while the other end is on ground level.

The

Fig. 

 Track showing 

 at 

 is spanned by a 

 single track

model of the 

 over 

 St. Lawrence River,

near Quebec.

 

 is 

II 

ft.   ins. long, the centre

span being 6 ft., total length of bridge being

 St.   ins. with unsupported span of

17 ft.   ins. The height of the piers is 3 ft. and

the 

 of the rail track above ground 

level is   ft.   ins.

The bridge, which is not intended to be an

exact scale model of the St. Lawrence Bridge,

was, however, 

 on the same lines in

order to get over the difficulty of traversing   ft.

of 

 

 an embankment 

  h a v e

been impracticable.

 bridge is entirely made

of wood, 

 together, and was made up

from eight triangular sections of the same shape,

these 

 assembled into the two main canti-

levers. The girders, of the K type, bear the

entire weigh-the track girder in

no way

contributing to the strength of the bridge.

The ends of the cantilevers are anchored

Fig. 9.-Looking through Bridge from the Southern End.

at the shore

ends

to piers filled with

earth.

T h e   s p l a y   o f   t h e   m a i n   c a n t i l e v e r s

is from   ins. at the top to 8 ins. at the

bottom, and gives 

 

 against 

The main 

 of the girders are $-in. 

$ - i n .  

t h e   s m a l l e r  

  b e i n g  

 

 View of one of the 

 by 

 cut from laths. No. 

 round-head screws are used mostly and

no 

 has been experienced, in all about

 screws 

 

 The bridge is capable of

carrying all loads likely on o gauge railway up

to 

lb. per axie.

background image

March 

 

The Model Engineer and 

SOME 

 OF THE 0 GAUGE GARDEN ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

background image

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

March   

The entire track is small scale brass 

more satisfactory owing to keys getting knocked

manent way, some by Messrs. Bassett-Lowke

out when rail cleaning takes 

and Co., the remainder   Leeds Model Co. The

Steel rail has teen tried, but, the rust which

former track 

is now 

some 

IO 

or   years old and

o c c u r s   m a k e s  

 too 

 for   

 

 the weight of-vehicles 

IS 

n o t

 to wear it off.

All points are made at the 

of the 

  I n   a l l ,   t h e r e   a r r

some   pairs, including four cross-

overs-although not standard rail-

way practice, it has been found

better to solder the whole frog solid

so that nothing can shift about and

get out of alignment.

Where chairs requiring keys are

used in

 construction of points.

leaden 

 cut from 

 

 arc

 

  f o u n d   f a r   s u p e r i o r   t o

wooden keys.

I t   i s  

  t o

r e p l a c e    

 keys 

 

ones, as 

 permits.

Electrification 

 commenced in

June, 

and is practically com-

plete. The third rail is put outside,

according to 

 latest 

 

it is found to bc more 

than the 

 

 system owing to

simplicity of construction   points

(see 

 and no trouble

 occurs from couplings hanging

short-circuiting

the

mains.

The third rail is No.   or 

 copper wire soldered on to

I-in. brass 

 screws, spaced

about 6 ins. apart, the screw head

being flush 

 rail level.

 volt system is used and one

locomotive taking   to   amps at

t h i s  

 

 

  a   t r a i n   o f

 loaded trucks 

 

 

 get

a l o n g  

 

    t r a i n   o f   2 2

l o a d e d  

 

 train 

 lbs.

  t h i s   c a s e ,  

  e n g i n e

weighing   lb., making a total of

 lbs. The motor 

 constructed

by 

 

 of 

 and was

built into a tank locomotive.

Being

of the automatic reversing 

 it

n-as found 

 to fit a small

rotary 

 reversing switch for

operating reversal 

 returning

t o   t h e  

 

 on 

board.

The 

 

 consists of

reversing switch, resistance regula-

tor, ammeter, voltmeter, and auto-

matic

c i r c u i t   b r e a k e r   t o   b r e a k

circuit at   amps. (can be altered

for any current 

 in event of a

 causing a 

 on the 

Experiments are at 

 being carried out

with     gauge steam loco. for outdoor use.

 to the 

 of obtaining a 

has actually been ‘outside over 

 y-ears in 

all that required renewing on this railway being

some sleepers and all the 

The 

 of chair 

 keys has been found

background image

March   

The Model Engineer and 

flexible connection to carry paraffin under

it has been decided to 

 another

locomotive as a   

   tank instead of the

 

 tender locomotive.

 to the present the locomotive working at

 lbs. pressure has pulled a load of   lbs., not

including the 

 weight, which is itself   lbs.

This 

 place on a windy day 

 the

correct flame 

 at the 

 end. The

present boiler is of 

 water tube type, but an

experiment 

 boiler is on 

 

Possibly  L.B.S.C.” can give 

 hints as to

 a 

 gauge solid 

 boiler is within

the 

 of 

 certainly methylated

spirits arc absolutely useless out of doors.

I know that the majority of model railway

engineers look upon   gauge   a mere toy con-

pared 

 the 

 

 models, but to myseif

I find greater 

 in trying to make

 as small as possible1 that will work

 Il.--A Corner   the Track looking 

 and also have a 

 

 of

 rather than build a model to run up and

down   straight track.

I fear I have encroached, 

 

 on 

space rather more than I should, so I will end

with saying that if any readers who have 

gauge stock which they wish to test and have a

good long track to run them on, I shall 

be pleased to see them by arrangement.

The various views shown are 

 

 The Bridge

from the Sorth 

 The Bridge from South 

 General View of Bridge and 

 Station

under construction 

 View of 

  S t r e e t

Station from north, 

 construction of plat-

forms 

 

 Earwigs Nest Station after altera-

tion   (6) Earwigs 

 Station before altera-

tion   (7) The   

 Express Passenger Loco-

m o t i v e   ;   ( 8 )   T h e  

  T a n k  

showing current 

 device and electrified

rail.

J .   H .   B .   ( S h e f f i e l d ) . - - - N o .   W e  

altogether recommend them for this purpose.

Model Engineering

Equipment and Supplies.

A Review of Current Technical

Progress.

The

 

   Vertical Milling and Gear=

Cutting Attachment.

T     

 new 

 accessory, and is shown

 Fig. 

as set   upon a 

 

   R 

 

   screw-cutting lathe, in the actual

operation of cutting a 

 

 wheel on

 cast iroa blank. 

 

 is remarkable

for 

 workmanship in its construction, and

 it converts a B.G. 

 at short notice

 a 

 vertical milling machine

 high-duty 

It consists of   main slide bracket, standing

 ins. from the 

 bed face, which is de-

vised to be firmly attached to a lathe bed 

true alignment, by means of a tongue piece

 fits between the 

 shears upon the

under side of its planed base; a bolt and clamp

providing the fixing.

This main slide, 

faces toward the tail end   lathe, carries a long

saddle, capable of 

 clamped firmly, within

reasonable limits, at any height   the slide,

the 

 on the front edge providing the clamp-

ing aotion. 

 the front of this saddle, and

at the top, cast thereto, is a projection, carrying

 front vertical slide, upon 

 screw-controlled

s a d d l e    which is 

 a long vertical

spindle bearing.

This bearing is gunmetal

bushed, and 

 

   a vertical spindle

f o r   a c t u a t i n g  

 cutters. There is to this

 a ball-thrust at bottom of bearing, 

fibre washer at the top, 

 the bearing

and a pair of lock nuts.

The spindle is bored

 in. throughout, and is opened out to No. 

 

  a t   t h e   b o t t o m ,   s o   t h a t   c u t t e r s

carrying this form   shank, duly end tapped

 

 can be drawn in, and locked,

by a 

 draw 

 stud-nutted at the top.

 the saddle is operated for fine adjustment

of feed by an outlying 

IO 

 square-thread

screw, with horizontal handwheel, it carries the

spindle and cutter with it.

T o  

  t h e

drive, 

 is by a mitre gear on a

cross

horizontal shaft at the 

 the horizontal wheel

of the

 is set in a housing cast to 

and, being keyed to a 

   the

vertical 

 

 it at any elevation that

 spindle 

 be put, within the limits of the

s a d d l e  

 The 

  f e e d   s c r e w   i s

divided for micrometer reading at the top, and,

upon 

 front saddle at 

 other side, is 

lever for 

 this to the slide.

T h e   r e -

mainder of the drive is as 

 :-The initial

action is   a horizontal shaft, carrying at the

mandrel end a No.  

 taper shank, de-

signed to be drawn into the hollow mandrel of

the lathe, and, at the accessory end, a mitre

background image

 

 Engineer and Electrician.

I

wheel. Short of the wheel is a bearing arranged

to take vertical adjustment to admit of fitting

it to different 

 of centre.

 mitre

 drives its pair   a 

 vertical shaft,

 in. diameter, 

 

 can. be

adjusted

 the shaft to proper depth; 

 shaft running

on a foot step on the main frame, and in a

bearing above the mitre gear. The rest of this

shaft is splined,

  d r i v e s  

  a   t h i r d

mitre gear in a housing on the main saddle, so

that, at whatever height 

 main saddle is

locked,   carries this third 

 gear to that

elevation.

There arc, therefore, three 

gears, 

 

 

 spindle and vertical

shaft, another between the latter and

12 

 the face of main slide   vertical

centre of spindle is   ins. of 

Size

of base where bolted to bed is   ins.     ins.

In addition to 

 main bracket, a pair of

dividing heads are added as an extra. These

are 

 in position on the boring table of lathe.

 head centre carries a hollow mandrel bored

for No. 

 taper, which is drawn in. The

tail centre has a push 

 and 

 this

and the mandrel can be efficiently locked. The

rapacity of centres is, of course, 

 upon

the 

 hack to front of boring table and the

 of its slots, but the height of centres

is 2 ins.

 arranged, small-size division plates

are fitted.

  a r e   o f   t h i c k  

  w i t h

Fig 1 

 

 Abwood   Milling Attachment.

horizontal shaft at top, and the third from this

shaft to the cutter spindle.

T h e   t w o   l a t t e r

pairs are protected by an 

 guard, cover-

ing them entirely in, and these take their posi-

tions automatically by the hand 

 of

the main slide.

It is only necessary; to adjust

the first-follower mitre wheel to 

 after

having set the beariag for   driver.

Both the slides are scraped after machining,

and fitted with strip adjusters, and all the

gears are cut from the solid. The vertical shaft

is of annealed silver 

 The 

 spindle

is of carbon steel. The front slide screw allows

of z-in. vertical traverse; and, with the main

and front saddles at extremity, the maximum

height from bed   lathe to nose of spindle is

rectangular notches, 

 by a toothed lever,

the 

 of which is similarly rectangular and

a non-shake fit.

 lever is held in tooth

 by a spring.

 shown in the picture, a 

 No. 

 cutter is mounted by a 

 and nut

against a fixed shoulder of the No.   

 mandrei. This is elevated, by the hand

and fine 

 to stand 

  l e v e l

nith the dividing head 

 and there locked.

The blank of cast iron,   ins. diameter for

48 teeth, is 

 mounted on a No. 

taper mandrel, having a drilled centre at the

tail end. Both these fitments are drawn in. We

found that, with the lathe on lowest

speed,

single gear, and using the treadle, it was quite

background image

March   

The Model 

 and Electrician.

a simple matter to cut a tooth space to full

depth at one cut across the blank, which is

about   in. wide, and this left a good finish.

In this connection it is 

 to note that the

elevation of a cutter mounted in this manner

will allow of 

 

 up to   ins. dia

meter, with the heads properly elevated also.

The tool is manufactured by the patentees,

 Charles and James, Harrow 

  W o o d ,

L o n d o n ,  

    V e r y  

finished and a thoroughly 

 

which should be of great use   general 

not 

 for gear cutting, but for 

kinds of end 

 edge milling, 

cutting, and a host of 

 of this kind

 can be conveniently carried out on a

lathe. The fact that no overhead is 

 is

a strong point, and that the gearing of 

 lathe

 heavy work to be carried out, the stress

 which is well provided for in the design. In

fact, the 

 

 appears to lie in the

limits of the available cross and longitudinal

feeds of 

 

 and size of its boriag table.

Workshop Topics.

 

 items 

 under this heading relate to work done

and other matters 

 with in T

HE 

 E

NGINEER 

Workshop

 

 

 Street, London, E.C.4.

About Bevel Wheels   Their Setting

Out and Cutting.

( C o n t i n u e d  

 

 

 

 

General Note.

Having, so far, described the shape of 

blanks and teeth, we come directly to the sub-

j e c t   o f   c u t t i n g  

 teeth, or the 

approach to the process of accurate cutting that

can be carried out by rotary cutters.

The Shape and Width of Cutter.

In Fig.   

 

 the relative appearance, in

orthographic projection, of the back, or large

 of a 

 wheel tooth space to that of the

small end looking directly along the path of the

cutter.

 

 b 

is the apex point of the

g e a r  

 

 

 

 small end. 

it is shown above 

 level of the tooth 

is that 

 

 space is usually cut parallel

 the top line, or face, of the tooth of 

other 

 and not radial to 

 

 point,

 it should be 

   described

before, all the 

 and centre lines of 

teeth converge to this point, and what we have

to 

 

 particularly here is 

radius cf the 

 at the large end is struck

from the 

 a, and that of the small end from

 The radius of the 

 

 to be co:‘-

 varies all the way along the tooth 

t h e s e   t w o   p o i n t s ,   a n d ,   i f   w e   d r a w   a   l i n e

through all these radius points, it will be a

straight line, which,

if 

 will pass

through the apex point, just as all the other out-

lines and centre lines shouid.   will be re-

membered that in setting 

 

 tooth shapes

  F i g .   1 8 ,   o n   p a g e  

  o f   V o l .  

Oct. 26, 

 issue) we chose   16 and   pair

of 

 and that the number cutter for the

large end n-as 

   teeth, or 

   cutter, due

to the bevel angularity.

It is of this pair of

 and the larger 

 we show the re-

lative outlines of the tooth shapes here in

Fig.   One thing 

 be clear, that, if 

used that identical cutter, it 

 shape the

tooth space all right at the large end, but. in

running right through 

 cut the space too

 at the bottom at the small end. We 

 must use a cutter of the large-end shape,

but as narrow as the small end, just as indicated

in Fig. 

Resetting the Blank 

 Widening.

Fig. 

 I 

 

 plan   the 

 

f r o m   F i g .    

 run the 

 

cutter through all round   

 depth, 

   dividing plate, or other 

 mechanism,

 have, so far, produced tooth spaces of the

 shape at the 

 

 but too 

and of 

 width   the root at 

 end,

but not the correct curvature of s’des. To finish

 large end we must revolve the blank, 

    F i g .  

bringing 

 side of tooth

into parallel with 

 

 line, but in 

this, it 

   

 

 finishing line 

 come

 to the centre line of cutter, and, if 

 ran

the cutter through 

 

 in this pcsiticn,

it 

 result in cutting away that side of 

space half the cutter width 

 

This is

obviated by traversing the whole setting 

background image

The Model 

 and Electrician.

March 

 

 in the direction of the arrows, or traversing

the cutter in 

 

 

 bringing 

side of tooth into line with the side of cutter.

Indeed, in this 

 the cutter registers again

 the space at smail end, but will cut away

the large end to its correct width on that side.

Having carried this out all round, the wheel

blank is first 

 to its original position,

 with the cut right through the centre of

space, and is then set in the opposite direction

csactly the same circular distance, and side

traverse, to correct, and the other side of the

space cut, with 

 result that the tooth shape

is exactly 

 at the large end, and large

end only.

To obtain 

 correct circular movement of

the blank, to bring the side of the tooth 

 to

the centre line, we only require to note that

the circular 

 is equal to a 

 of

the pitch and therefore the correct movement

can be measured by a division plate having four

times the 

 in it that there are teeth in

the 

Thus, if we are 

 a 

n-heel, 

 require a 

 plate, and, for the

ordinary dividing,   use every fourth hole of

the plate. Then, when setting the wheel round

 bring the 

 side on the centre 

 use

only one 

 either way, in order   effect

the Q-pitch movement.

W h y   a  

 is the

quantity required is that the width   a tooth

and space, measured on the pitch line, are the

same, and each are half 

 circular pitch   there-

fore,   move the relative position of cutter

centre from the centre of the space to the side

will require

 

 

 

  i s   a

quarter of the pitch.

Next, the 

  s i d e

 to bring the cutter back to register

with the small end space will require a back

traverse   one fourth 

 circular pitch of the

small end.

Suppose 

 are cutting   

 on

the outside of 

   

 and the length of

the tooth is one third of the conical radius 

the apex point, in 

 case the small end occurs

at a radius of two thirds of the large end, in

 case the 

 of the small end is 

 large end, and 

 X   = 

6 d.p. The

circular

pitch

of 6 

 is 

 and

- -   =  

or   requires a traverse of 

 

 

to register.

This, however, 

IS 

given

as a guide, and is of 

 approximate’ only.

 traversing a still cutter-into the small end

it can be fairly well gauged what correction is

required on these figures.

Fitting Required on the Small End Teeth.

Having taken the three different position cuts,

the tooth space is as. 

 as most gear cutters

will go, the rest of 

 

 being carried

out by filing the points upon either side at the

small end backward towards the large end, and

off to 

 at that 

 in 

 to give

the curvature of the tooth side its true 

curvature.

A good guide, however, to 

which, by the way, is cnlr one method of 

the job-is to choose a standard cutter-not a

 one-of size equivalent   

 small end.

That is, in the above case, a 

   

 6 

Run this cutter through centrally to the same

depth as the other, and   should shape the

small end correctly. Now, 

 the small end

correct 

 

 the large, the averaging out

 the filing 

 be facilitated con-

siderably.

Cutting Small Bevel Gears Approximately.

In cutting small Ion--duty bevel 

 much

may be suggested on the score of u s i n g   3

standard cutter of medium size and taking 

one cut with it.

 we require   cut bevel

wheels of 30 

 

 and of the ratio 

to 16, as 

 out, and with a length of tooth

one third the radial conical length.

The size

upon 

 inside will be 

 x 

 =   

and

the 

 d.p. is, therefore, 38 

enough. If a No.   38 cutter of standard width

be run right through 

 deep to widen the

large end a little, 

 similarly, for the 16 wheel,

 3 cutter of the same 

 to the same

 the 

 with a little fitting could be

made to gear, but it should be clear that they

are certainly not touching on the 

 and

probably are onlv gearing   one point all the

time, and that 

 is somewhere ‘near the out-

side. If trouble occurred by the 

 

background image

 

 

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

hard on the outside., 

 a 

 

 in (not

right across), using a No.   

 or 

 cutter,

 clear it.

But these iast proposals are

only offered 

 and should not be

adopted offhand, and then only by readers who

are quite clear as to 

 

 of the gear

they are attempting to cut.

 reader who has

mastered all that has been written in the fore-

going 

 on bevel gear formation will see,

  t h e   p r e s e n t   w r i t e r   w a s t i n g  

 

describe 

that in certain cases 

sized cutting could   used, 

 the cutting angle

d e c r e a s e d    little, so that this medium-size

cutter cuts deeper and 

 at the large end and

 and 

 at 

 small end. In

such a case,   tipping off the 

 of the other

 on the 

 quite a tolerable gear can

be 

 for light-duty purposes. It is not

claimed, however, that these suggestions aim

 efficiency in running, a characteristic of 

ing that the model builder can sometimes 

 if only he gets his gears to run smoothly

 nithout much noise.

   

A Use for Broken Pliers.

By 

H. 

 

Broken tools are often thrown away   

V e r y  

 such 

 

 often prove to be

 .

Quite recently i broke a pair of long-nosed

pendulum pliers, as     in sketch. I did not

 them away but put them on one side in

 tool cupboard as useless stock.

During last week I had need of some small

 to remove the small pins, used in fretwork,

 a piece of work.

The

6

 pincers proved far

 clumsy and I had of

necessity to look round for

 more delicate.

 was then I thought of

converting

the

broken

pliers.

The first thing was

to soften them to make

 I could file them.

This done I cut off the

unbroken part of the nose

 filed the remaining

part to a circular shape.

Next I filed 

 inside of

 

 to

the

shape

shown

in

the

diagram. The result was a pair of small pincers.

These proved to be just the article required.

The whole conversion took less than twenty

minutes and it has proved to be time well spent,

for I have since found them quite useful for

removing all kinds of small nails, including

Radio Engineering.

A Claw-Grip Crystal Detector.

B y   R

I C H A R D  

T

W E L V E T R E E S

 etc.

I

T is often said that the onlooker sees most

of the game, the truth of which 

 clearly

demonstrated to me a little while ago, when

watching the efforts of a friend to 

 a crystal

in the detector of a 

 set he had

purchased.

Having procured the crystal, which 

 origi-

nally about   in. in diameter, an attempt 

made to hold it in the cup by tightening the 

 

 

  p a r t i c u l a r   c r y s t a l  

extra brittle or no i am not prepared to say 

but, anyhow, before it was half tight its dimen-

sions were considerably reduced.

The next attempt took the form of using

fusible metal to hold the crystal, and it appeared

to me that that idea had many drawbacks.

In

the first place there was the danger of 

The “Claw-Grip   Crystal Detector.

heating the crystal, secondly, the bulk of metal

may have the effect of damping its action, and,

finally, it is   messy job, especially if several

 have to be experimented 

 short, both arrangements seemed so crude

that the idea occurred to me to use another

method of securing the crystal in the holder.

The manner in which this 

 accomplished is

clearly shown in the accompanying sketch, from

 it will be seen that the holder consists of

an angle piece fixed to the base, drilled out to

receive a small two-pronged 

The latter is

riveted to a screwed stud, held in position by a

 knurled nut.

As the latter is tightened, the prongs of the

claw close in upon the crystal, thus providing

a firm grip with excellent electrical contact. The

removal and 

 of the crystal is most

easily effected, without risk of damage or loss

of time.

From numerous experiments I find that the

claw holder gives improved detection, and from

results obtained the idea appears to be quite a

sound one. The claw holder is now protected

and for the time I 

 been compelled to side-

track

my

new

aluminium

speed-boat

 II 

to satisfy the clamours of friends

who use wireless sets.

background image

The Model 

 and Electrician.

March   

Practical 

 from our

ea ers.

A Model Engineer’s View of Clockmaking.

To 

THE 

E

DITOR OF 

The Model Engineer.

 

 have read the letter of   

Boiler 

in your issue of 

 II

 and

may I now be allowed to present the other side

of 

 story to Mr.   

 

I am a merchant who 

 more about

locomotives, 

 marine engines, 

pressure boilers of varying degrees of safety (or

danger, as my sister says), and other such 

trivances. 

 knowledge of clocks is confined

to a painful experience that I had at the age of

five years, when I 

 the kitchen clock to

pieces and stuck the works back haphazard,

hoping that it would not affect the 

 of

the clock. I slept on my side and took 

 meals

at

 sideboard for two days after it.

 is another skilled clockmaker. He, at

the age of seven, 

 the back of the grand-

father clock in the hall.

 highly skilled

manipulation he made that 

 strike 

 

 and 

 at one, 

 three and four o’clock

respectively, 

 he was highly pleased with

himself! He then removed some gadget inside

and the hands revolved at a fine 

 Hc 

rather disappointed in the 

 of the

hour hand, as it was slower than the other one.

However, a few questions and the answer

will 

 Mr.   Pot-Boiler   what I mean.

 a sure and certain coupling that

 enable me to 

 coaches at various points

cf 

 

 scale line. Who made it for me?

 clockmaker. And that coupling is fitted to

 

 and other vehicles and has never

once failed to uncouple or remain coupled as

required.

I made a model light cruiser and fitted her

with 

 turbine engines, and she goes   

sea.

The turbine itself is after the fashion of

the 

 W. 

 

 design, as illus-

trated on page   of  Model Steam Turbines.”

She has twin screws and 

 turbines.

Who made the gears for the 

an d

synchronisation of the shafts?

A  

I built   giant model liner,

II 

f t .   o v e r a l l .

She sails in all seas.

Who made the engine

 telegraphs so that not 

 are 

 gong

signals heard in the 

 room, but 

 two

sets of triple-expansion engines

are

started,

given any 

 from fuil ahead   full astern,

and in all 

 controlled by ringing from the

bridge

t o  

  e n g i n e  

   

  t h e

 of the telegraph   the bridge to the

‘speed you 

 

 on the-dial? A

 On that same ship 

 steer from

the wheel   the bridge in the orthodox manner,

and

there

is

another

wheel on the 

bridge. There is, 

 a pointer on the

bridge proper teliing 

 exactly the position

of the 

 There   also on that bridge a

rev. counter telling you the speed of

your

engines.

 these 

  w e r e   m a d e

by 

a

 a scale model clock for my Euston

Station.

 made one no bigger than a

halfpenny. It goes and keeps time. I have

about 

 of these little clocks now on ships and

in stations.

I built a tower in imitation of that

of a very famous clock in London.

I  

chimes.

I got them.

In the club   which I

belong there are 

 manv power boats that

are s&going-big 

 with-powerful engines

and fitted out in detail. The biggest up to

date is a model of 

 Lion,   ft. long,

with guns that fire in broadsides or singly. Her

 is 

I

: knots. 

 Messrs. Bassett-Lowke

 

 Turner 

 are indebted fur many

things on that giant craft. But for the things

that made her possible and a seagoing proposi-

tion 

 are indebted to her owner (late, alas 

 built her, engined her and made her a

living, breathing thing of majesty and beauty

and the flagship of a club 

 enterprise and

skill are not lacking.

He was a clockmaker in

a small way. She 

 the last 

   a long

and useful life 

 to the art of the fine

worker and a lover of all kinds of models. He

did not despise the tin toy engine, nor did he

puff himself up 

 the finest model ship I

have ever seen. And he made it. He was a

sahib.

He died two 

 ago, leaving in his 

provision for the distribution of all his models

among his fellow members of 

 club. To me

he left the Lion. He was carried from his little

 to his last rest by an 

 of rail-

way, power boat, yacht,

wireless

and clock

enthusiasts, and there were over two hundred

 engineers at his funeral.

One of the

 of his 

 was that his name was

never to be published 

 the club in con-

nection with his 

 His 

 was draped

with a iarge standard with the arms of the club

on it, and his hammer and cold chisel 

buried with him. In 

 to him 

 

 was closed down 

 a month. There 

no activity, marine, 

 

 or other

form of model work in the club for that period.

For one has gone from among us whose name

will live, and the numerous monuments to his

skill to be found on 

 a ship and, engine are

fitting reminders of him. Yes, we are a power-

ful, enterprising, keen club, where criticism is

sharp and often unkind.

But n-e 

  n e v e r

replace

 Daddy, the Clocksmith.”

The moral is this: in the model world we

cannot afford to lose the 

 of 

 

smith. His work is an ideal 

 we should

bear in mind and strive to attain, though few of

us will ever attain it. He is an obliging fellow,

  w i l l   m a k e  

 nhat 

want

in 

background image

 

 

The Model 

 and 

intelligent 

 but to him the finest of our

 is a 

 job, 

 to us he is a man who

commands respect.

T

H E  

 

  i s

 paper essentially 

 to fine 

 and is,

I suppose, more 

 the loco man 

 speed

boat 

 than for the clocksmith. But 

shouid 

 grudge so fine an artisan a few pages

of interest in our journal, considering what 

owe to him?

Personailp, I have 

 little

interest in clocks.

I can merely stare   

mouthed wonder at such work.

But I like to

see articles and letters about clocks in the 

and I read them.

So what I say is,   Welcome, 

 Clocksmith 

long may you remain in our midst, and 

power to your elbow.“-Yours faithfully,

 

A Small Model Steam Engine.

To 

THE 

E

D I T O R  

 The Model Engineer.

D

E A R  

S

I R

,-I thought that the photograph

herewith of a miniature model engine might be

of interest to some of your readers.

I t   w a s

m a d e    myself entirely, 

  p a r t

being

cut from solid mild steel. It is remarkable on

account of its smallness, standing as it will,

complete on a

  S w a n     m a t c h   b o x .  

flywheel is just the size of   penny, and the

bore and stroke is 

 in. only.

Although made on gas engine lines, it works

on steam or compressed au-, the latter being

favoured on account of its cleanliness. I have

had it running for 

 hours at   time on

steam 

 faithfully,

 

Charging Through Rectifiers.

To 

 E

DITOR OF 

The 

  E n g i n e e r .

 

 

 

 in difficulty 

   

valve rectifier, I am hoping you 

 be able to

find room for this letter in the 

 as some

other readers 

 have had better luck.

I feel sure that the subject will be one of

general interest, as owing to the   

 

boom, 

 readers, like myself 

 

 to

use the 

 mains for charging accumulators

 referred to the 

 Handbook So. 

o n

this subject and 

 also gone through Mr.

E. T. Painton’s exhaustive articles in the 

of November 

to December 

 

 but have

had no success. Using a transformer to reduce

the voltage to 

 

 current through   

cell rectifier,

       

  o n   c h a r g e  

13 amps  after about 35 minutes one jar 

boiling, and the current

  a m p s , though

strangely enough the other jar was stone cold.

The lead of the hot jar had turned a chocolate

colour.

Mr. 

 in his article says   transformer

not essential,” but i do not know what would

have happened with the full voltage of 

I am, yours faithfully,

C. T. M

A S O N

.

Repairing Calendar Clocks.

To 

 E

DITOR OF 

T h e   M o d e l   E n g i n e e r .

 SIR,--in reply to 

 Brooker’s letter

in your February   issue, re calendar movement

for grandfather clock   the kind he describes

is that 

 is most usually found in these

clocks.

The ring of figures 

 to be revolved by hand

at 

 end of every short month. Thousands

of grandfather clocks were made on this prin-

ciple, in fact I have seen more with it than

It is called a simple calendar.

A perpetual calendar u-as invented by 

Brocot, which gives 

 correct days for all the

months and years, including leap year. Separate

dials show the name of the month, the days

of 

 month, and the days of the week;

it also shows the phases of the moon, and the

equation of time, or the difference between solar

and mean time.

It is a complicated arrangement, and although

I cannot say that it is never applied to a 

 by 6-16-h Working Model Steam 

father clock, personaily I have never seen one.

whereas I have seen very many of the former

 description of the perpetual calendar 

given in  The Watch and Clockmaker’s 

book, Dictionary, and Guide,” by Mr. F. 

Britten,

 

Price 13s. 

 post free,

f r o m   P e r c i v a l   M a r s h a l l     C o . ,   P u b l i s h i n g  

Department, 66, Farringdon Street, E.C.4.

In my own grandfather clock the month

figures were painted round the dial, just inside

the hour figures, and the indicator was in the

form of a central second hand. The latter is

now gone, also the 

 work for driving it,

as is often the case in these old clocks.

 regard to whether 

 maker is still in

business I am afraid ! can give no information.

The name on the dial is, however, not

necessarily that of 

 maker, as the seller very

often puts his name on the dial of a clock.

The

background image

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

 22, 

maker’s name is, 

 often stamped upon

t h e   d i a l  

 am. 

  y o u r s  

 

 

Making Stanchions for Model 

To 

T H E  

E

D I T O R   O F  

T h e   M o d e l  

D

EAR 

 reference to Mr. A. Dunn’s

remarks about 

 for model steamers

in your issue of 

 22.

I have been up

against the same trouble as Mr. Dunn, and

finally got over   

 by making a form

sketch

 In

case

the

cuttc 

m a d e   f r o m   a

piece of old 

 

a n d  tempered to   dark

 colour. Sote that all cutting edges 

Using   Forming 

 Mounted on the Vertical Slide

 

 

 

have clearance, and the usual three degrees will

do. It is difficult   

 this clearance in a

small sketch. The shank should be a good

stout bar, mine n-as   in. by   in., and 

whole tool was held in the vertical slide to get

height adjustment.

I held the stock in the

chuck and used the back 

 to steady 

job.

My stanchions 

 about   ins. long and

made from brass 

   in. diameter.

The

work was done on a 

 foot-lathe, and paraffin

was used as coolant. They took two minutes

each to make and I 

 drill them (in a simple

jig) in   seconds each. There is probably not

much demand for these goods or the   trade 

would reel them off like smoke with the aid of

a small automatic and ditto boy.-Yours faith-

fully,

 W. F

R A S E

R .

Data on the 

 of Two Notabie 

To 

T H E  

 OF 

 he Model 

D

E A R  

S

I R

,--1 reaa 

 considerable 

the article 

 

 under the above

heading in your 

   February   

 dealt

  t h e  

   

 

   

locomotives

 

 

and

 Cosmo

Bonsor. 

The article in 

 makes no reference to

the extraordinary 

 of both of these

engines.

 

  evaporated 10.7 Ibs. of

water and   Cosmo Bonsor 

 IO 

 of water

per lb. of coal. In 

 respect they appear to

be 

 better 

 the best modern full

size engines in 

 to-day. In this con-

nection it may be of interest to refer to your

issue of January 

 where Mr. Lake furnished

particulars of a remark-able 

 locomotive

in which every possible effort 

 made to

secure the maximum efficiency.

In the last

paragraph of that article we are informed that

9.7 lbs. of water 

 evaporated per pound of

fuel, and this was considered   phenomenal.”

Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox, of 

boiler fame, have published a book entitled

 Steam: Its 

 and 

 

 con-

tains a vast amount of useful data. Among

other things it states that as the result of a

number of tests extending over three months

it was found that their boilers gave an average

evaporation of 

 Ibs. of water per pound

of combustible.

The article adds:   This is

within four per cent. of Rankine’s standard, and

   per cent. of the highest theoretical

 under the conditions in which they

 made.

It is not probable that any kind

of boiler fairly tested will ever beat such a

record.

 about 

I

 per cent. is lost in 

gases and in 

 it is evident that all

claims to over 

 

 evaporation should 

looked upon as unreliable.”

Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox will have to look

to their laurels 

AS 

that evaporation of 10.7’ Ibs.

by   

 is uncomfortably close on their

heels.

who says model steam engines are

notoriously 

 ?-Yours faithfully,

 

Society and Club Doings.

The Society of 

   Experimental Engineers.

 

  C a x t o n   H a l l ,

commencing at 7 

 

 April 

I I

,

 May     hursday, May 

 Tuesday,

June 26, Thursday, july 19.

C

O M P E T I T I O N S  

for the Challenge Shield and

the Bronze Plaque and Medal will be held at

each of the above meetings, particulars on notice

board and may be obtained from the Secretary.

Get the particulars, then go in to win. If you

background image

 22, 

The Model Engineer and Electrician.

don’t try, you can’t succeed, ‘out if 

 don’t

succeed, you can deserve to.

 Workshop 

 be closed for

 on 

 March 

 and Tuesday,

 3.

 

 

M a r c h   2 6 ,

 

 Out,” by Mr. Ii. A. 

 

  M o n -

day, April 

 Brazing, 

 and Soft 

ing, 

by 

   G. Eckert    M o n d a y ,   A p r i l

 Shaping,” by Mr. C. S. Barrett   Monday,

May 

 Drilling and 

 Grinding,” by Mr.

H. G. E c k e r t    

 

 

    F i n i s h i n g

 by 

    H i l d e r s l e y   a n d     L .

Franks   all to 

 at 7 o’clock.

 

April   and

M o n d a y ,  

      7   f o r   7 . 3 0   o ’ c l o c k - - a l l

 must   

   

 particulars of the Society nith form of

 for 

 and visitors’ cards

for meetings   

 

 and the 

o n  

 

  m a y   b e   o b t a i n e d   f r o m   t h e

S e c r e t a r y ,      J. 

 3 

I

  R o a d ,

   

Manchester Society of Model   Experimental

Engineers.

Our 

 

 meeting took place at 

C l a r i o n  

 Market Street, on March 6.

Two 

 members were elected.

M r .  

gave a 

 paper on   

 this was 

received 

 provoked discussion and interest.

It also 

 several confessions of failures--

myself 

 others

A vote of thanks was

tendered to Mr. Mills.

 

 3, cancelled.

   open meeting for models, etc.   May 

I

,

 

 gives a 

 on   Springs,” 

should   very inter-sting.

 

 

 Mr. Mills, Larch pattern

 

 

 

 vertical steam engine,

 in. b   in. bore and stroke ; 

 

 

 

 

 for overtype engine, a fine piece

of 

 k 

 

 

 tracing of compound

 

 

  n e a r l y   c o m p l e t e

 petrol en gine,

in. 

 and stroke 

 in. by 

 

 Hardacre, an armature

 

 

 

 

  H o n .  

 

t

Stetford Road, 

 S.M.E.

An ordinary meeting was held at the Plough

Inn,

B y k e r   B a n k ,   B y k e r ,  

  o n

Thursday, March 8.

After the reading of 

 minutes, etc., and

the transaction of formal business, discussions

o n   v a r i o u s   s u b j e c t s  

 

  b e t w e e n   t h e

members.

 

 

 note that from

  8 ,  

all future meetings will be held

at the Elephant and Castle Hotel, Low Friars

Street (Back of Clayton 

 

 

 

  a s k e d   t o   b r i n g   a l l

models, 

 to the meeting on Thursday, March

when

we

are

making

arrangements

 I.C. people to have our photographs

taken.

There are many persons who have applied

for application forms of membership which have

not yet 

 received, and we ask these parti-

cularly to kindly return them as early as possible

to the Secretary, who will be glad to hear from

them.

Rummage sales are 

 being arranged and

 wishing to 

 or sell is asked to inform

the Secretary.

During the last two 

 nine 

 

bers have been elected.

A fen- visits, etc , a r e   a t   p r e s e n t  

arranged for the months of June, 

 and

 and as soon as the arrangements 

completed they will be published under this

heading.

Lectures, papers, etc., are also being

ar-ranged and any member who is willing to 

us in this 

 is asked to notify the Secretary

as early as possible.

The Society’s Library is now available to

members, although we are still 

 short

of books. The Librarian is Mr.   H. 

 

 

 

 

Tyne. It is hoped 

 a good attendance 

be seen at our meetings, and an invitation will

be extended to 

 interested in the 

if they 

 communicate 

 the Hon. Secre-

tary, Mr. B. 

 46, Raby Street, 

 S.M.   E.E.

 

 

 of the Blackpool Society of

Model   Experimental Engineers, held at the

 

 Church Street, Blackpool, on

 it 

 

 to make premises at

Johnson Road Laundry, Blackpool, the 

nent 

It 

 also decided to fit up there, as funds

permit, a workshop, to be open each Tuesday

a n d  

 

t o   c o m m e n c e  

 

 

 

 at 7.30 p.m. The

o p e n i n g  

 to take the form of a 

concert.

Mr. B. 

 

 has had long 

in mechanical and model 

 has kindlv

offered to 

 less skilled members in the con-

struction of their models, etc.

There are several members who have 

attended meetings

 well lately, 

 to

their working on the building up of wireless

receiving sets. Mr.   Blackburn has kindly

offered to give these members every assistance

in their work (wiring of panels, winding of

coils, etc.), he himself just having completed

 

 receiving set and loud speaker.

It is earnestly hoped that   members 

attend.

background image

The Model Engineer and 

   

Persons wishing ta join please communicate

 

 

  H o n .  

 

Reads Avenue, 

 

Wakefield and District 

G

E N E R A L  

 a very well attended

meeting on February 

 it was unanimously

agreed that the half-yearly general meeting 

held at the 

 on March 23, commencing

  7 . 3 0  

p . m . ,

also that the Hon. Sec. make

inquiries   the proposed workshop mentioned

 a previous meeting.

A l l   m e m b e r s   a r e

requested to be present at this meeting for the

election of officers and deciding dates for 

New members are still coming in.

Hon. Secretary, F. 

 6, 

P r e t o r i a

Street, Sandal, Wakefield.

Dublin Society

of Model    E x p e r i m e n t a l

Engineers.

This Society had a most interesting and enjoy-

able evening on Friday, March 9, 

 Mr.

 H. 

 read   paper on the   History

and Development of the Electric Underground

Railway. 

The lecture and 86 slides were kindly loaned

by the Electric 

 Co., Broadway, West-

minster, and dealt with the undertaking since

its inception up to the present day. The slides

showed the rolling stock-old and new-Great-

head shield, automatic stops, drivers’ telephones,

lifts and escalators, ticket machines, power

house, safety devices, air-shafts, tunnel borings,

etc., all of which were of great 

 to

engineers.

On Friday, March 

 Mr. A. R. W. Mont-

gomery will give a demonstration of cylinder

patterns and castings

Members are reminded of the forthcoming

Eshibition on April 19, 

 and 

 to be held

in the Engineers’ Hall, and to   speed-up 

their 

E

D W I N  

 

  S e c r e t a r y ,    

Park, Rathgar, 

News of the Trade.

The   Voltalite   Magneto Cycle Lamp.

Owing to the steadily increasing demand for

 Voltalite 

  C y c l e  

  t h e

makers are able to notify a reduction in prices,

due to the greatly increased production.

The

revised prices are as follows: 

 

 head set,

 No. V6 head and rear set, 

 

  V 7

d e  

  h e a d   s e t ,  

 

 No. VS de 

 and 

 set, 

A new leaflet on the subject, printed in three

colours will be 

 to our readers on appli-

cation to the 

 Electric Supply Co. Ltd.,

 Brown Street, Manchester.

Radio Supplies.

 

 notified that Messrs. Radio instru-

ments Limited,

I L

, Hyde Street, New Oxford

  S t r e e t ,  

h a v e  

  M r .   C .   B

 

  ( l a t e   s a l e s   m a n a g e r   o f

t h e   h e a t i n g  

  o f   M e s s r s .     W .

Sullivan, Limited), as sales manager of their

radio department   from March 

I

Accumulators for Wireless.

We have received 

 Messrs. Industry and

Commerce Alliance, Limited, 4, Vernon Place,

S o u t h a m p t o n   R o w ,  

 W 

  t h e i r

special net price list of 

 accumulators,

which they are stocking as a re

 line.

The prices quoted are 

 

1 ts of less than

 dozen.

For dozen lots 

 

 an extra

discount of 5 per cent

 for larger

quantities may be had on 

Carriage

is free in the London area, 

 

 for

country. Their terms are   

 cent. monthly

on approved accounts,   per 

 for cash,

and 5 per cent. for cash with 

The list

will be sent to any of our readers on request.

All accumulators are 

 

 an-1 uncharged.

Notices.

 Editor invites 

 and original 

on all small 

 

motor and 

 subjects.

Matter intended for 

 should be clearly 

   

side of the paper only, and should invariably bear the sender’s

name and address. It should be distinctly stated, 

 sending

 

 whether remuneration is expected, or 

 and all

 

 be accompanied by a stamped envelop addressed

for return in the 

 of rejection. Readers desiring to see the

Editor personally can only do so by making an 

 in

advance.

A l l  

 and 

 relating to 

 of the

 and books to be addressed to Percival 

   Co., 66,

 Street, London, E.C.4.

Annual Subscription, 

 Rd.,

post free to all parts of the world.

All 

 relating to Advertisements and 

 to

b e   a d d r e s s e d   t o  

  A

D V E R T I S E M E N T  

M

A N A G E R

    M o d e l

Engineer,” 66, 

 Street, London, E.C.4.

Sole 

 for United States, Canada, and Mexico 

: Sun 

a n d

 

 Liberty 

 

 York, U.S.A., to   

 all

subscriptions 

 these 

 should be addressed. 

copies,   cents   annual 

   dollars,   cents, 

 free.

Contents.

The asterisk   denotes that 

 subject is 

Our Point of View . . . .

 

  a n d   N o t e s ’

 Design For   Model Compound Con-

densing Steam Engine-III* . . .

. . .

An 0 Gauge 

 Electric Railway”

Model

Engineering

Equipment

and

Supplies*

 

W o r k s h o p   T o p i c s *

.

 Use for Broken Pliers”- . . .

. . .

. . .

Radio Engineering*

. . .

. . .

. . .

Practical Letters . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

Club Doings . . .

News of Trade

  

  

  

. . .