London model engineering exhibition

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I was only told of the winners I mentioned. Didn't actually notice the certificates.

On the Epping stand I liked the simple but effective Galileo escapement using lolly sticks. The detent now plastic had originally been a lolly too but was a bit too high friction.

On the Romford stand there was a interesting indexing attachment from printed plastic including the detent spring in this case for a Southbend with the wheels having a splined hole to fit the gear on the rear of the spindle.

And they had printed markers with squares and triangles onto the wheels for subdivisions.

Harlington had this typical London bridge/embankment that is often modelled in O gauge with a Pansy nearly finished on top, a chassis in front. Then another was being re-boilered with some complex pipework for the two injectors (which won't work off the pannier tank water if they are like mine ).

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

On the Chelmsford stand this impressive crane (builder now deceased) was in action all day lifting and lowering its load.

[Halton TankParticipant @haltontank]

The voting for best club stand was close this year. Harlington came 1st, Chelmsford and Northolt MRC were joint 2nd, there were 3 clubs that were joint 3rd but I can't remember which.

Some photos of models which caught my interest.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hello Bazyle,

There seem to be very few people about, when did you take your photos? I always have to fight to get near anything of interest! Come on tell us all when this slack time is.

Andrew.

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Anti-dementia time, hopefully someone can help!

Before the 'London' exhibition was at its current location and when it wasn't at Wembley, where was it and in roughly what years?

I know I've been, maybe in the 1980's or 90's, maybe at Olympia?

[S.D.L.Participant @s-d-l]

Posted by Martin 100 on 22/01/2018 14:24:36:

Anti-dementia time, hopefully someone can help!

Before the 'London' exhibition was at its current location and when it wasn't at Wembley, where was it and in roughly what years?

I know I've been, maybe in the 1980's or 90's, maybe at Olympia?

Before Wembly Arena it was at Picketts lock in two halls.

The other ME exhibition that was last at Brooklands before that Ascott and Sandown Park and before that Olympia when it was with the other magazine interests such as military AFV models, model planes, soldiers and railways etc

Steve

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Seymour Hall, maybe??? … with the Myford's 'boss' doing hand turning demos in brass, and so, so, so much more interesting!! Mind you, rose coloured specs etc. and I gave up when it moved to the latest venue and its dim-witted traffic police

rgds

Bill

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

In answer to Martin 100

It all depends what you mean by the London exhibition.

The Model Engineer (MEX) was at Wembly and Olympia and Ally Pally when it was associated with the international odel show and was always in the Christmas holidays between Christmas day and New year. After parting company with the war gamers and the plastic meccano it shot off to Sandown Park in a cut down engineering model format which was by definition smaller. After moving to Ascot and changing dates to be a summer event it then returned to Sandown Park in the just before Christmas slot. By this time the TEE publishing sponsored show which was at the Lee Valley leisure centre in the mid January slot had grown sufficiently large to move to Alley Pally. So we then ended up with a show at Sandown at a less desirable time competing with the growing show at Alley Pally mid Jan. Add in the advent of internet shopping and you get even more problems and pressures.

The upshot was that Sandown shrank and Alley Palley grew to the point where MEX 'evaporated' and had to be reinvented at Brooklands with almost no trade stands and a much smaller set of exhibits. (I did go and I did enjoy it but I'm not sure it would have warrented the trip without the addition of the Brooklands Museum).

I may have got some details wrong but thats the gist of it.

MEX managed somehow to shake off many of the regular attenders by all the chopping and changing of both venue and time of year which is sad considering it's history. I'm sure none of it was intentional and it's very easy to comment in hindsight. I'm not at all sure I would like the job of organising such an event

 

regards Martin

Edited By Martin Kyte on 22/01/2018 15:13:11

[shaun meakinParticipant @shaunmeakin78815]

Just got my breath back after returning from the Exhibition. Have to say it was a great success for us, particularly Friday and Saturday when the attendance seemed fantastic.

We at CuP Alloys always have our card machine ready to take customer's money(!!) and even though it costs we have never charged any extra. We didn't experience any problems either, apart from once and that was operator error!!

But as I always say it's not just about sales, we go to support the 'hobby' offer free impartial advice and generally enjoy the chat and banter with you all.

A great weekend for us at CuP.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

!st, 2nd and 3rd certificates are the equivalent of gold, silver and bronze at many exhibitions. Entries compete against a standard rather than each other so multiple winners at a level are not unusual.

Neil

[AJWParticipant @ajw]

Been going for decades and still enjoy it, bought a few things that I didn’t realise I needed! Bag search was ok I thought.
What wasn’t good was my advance ticket, it was dearer than on the door, plus handling charge then I had to print it myself!
Though there was some incentive for advance tickets?

Alan

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Andrew T. I took my photos about 14:45 when it had thinned out a little from the crush before midday. The car park was full by about 12 when the snooker people had taken any spaces left though early arrivals were starting to leave for lunch by 12.30 and it seems to keep thinning out from then.

If you want the emptiest time it is about half an hour to one hour before closing though some traders will then be covering their stands maybe 15 minutes early and of course on the last day things shut down earlier. It is strange how some club people who are retired and have all next week off still panic to get things shut down even when they then have to wait an hour for their pick up slot.

Ally pally is not a good venue for exhibitors as the loading and parking is crap even before putting on two events at once. Sandown is actually good for loading as there are loads of doors though the slopes make it a bit hairy with a bid model on a skate. Ascot could have been ok but the numpties running it kept vehicles no closer than 100 ft in the second year there. Olympia and Earls court have little parking but in the old days you could drive in to unload. I even took the Landy up in a lift once (computer show). This is where Warwick scores I imagine though I've never exhibited there and last year there was definitely more stuff at that show.

[Halton TankParticipant @haltontank]

Neil,

In this case the competition for best stand is voted by the clubs themselves. Each club or organization eligible is given a voting form where they vote for three stands placing them in order of 1st, 2nd and 3rd. You cannot vote for own stand.

Should point out that in this show there no competion models, and all the models on show are the work of club members (mainly), and was sad to see that a number of clubs had decided not to exhibit this year.

Regards

Luigi

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Posted by Cornish Jack on 22/01/2018 15:11:49:

Seymour Hall, maybe??? … with the Myford's 'boss' doing hand turning demos in brass, and so, so, so much more interesting!! Mind you, rose coloured specs etc. and I gave up when it moved to the latest venue and its dim-witted traffic police

rgds

Bill

This one…

I seem to recall either that year (1968) as a 10 year old, or maybe the previous year, talking at a stand with a Mr (professor) Chaddock, who had a model gas turbine exhibited. Wonderful chap, with a friendly explanation of a fascinating model…

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Posted by martin perman on 21/01/2018 17:33:45:

Gentlemen,

For years two friends and I visit the London Model Engineering Exhibition at Alexandra Palace and for the last few years I always head for the VMSC, Victoria Model Steamboat Club, stand because my Grandfather was a member and used to sail his steam powered boats on Victoria pond, London and there are always pictures and video shown and occasionally my Grandfather appears on them.
I've got to know the club secretary and he emails me the odd picture, a week ago I got an email asking if I was going to the exhibition as he had something for me, I replied yes and yesterday my friends and I caught a train to attend the show, when we arrived I went to the VMSC stand and met the secretary who after a chat handed me a muslin cloth bundle which I unwrapped to find what you see in the pictures, a compound forward and reverse steam powered engine that my Grandfather made for a friend of his many years ago.

One of the club members died recently and his wife found herself with his hobby, she sails her own boats but wanted to find homes for other items my Grandfathers engine being one of them, when the secretary said he knew of one of the Grandsons she said give it to him it can go back to the family.
Everything you can see was made by my Grandfather including all of the nuts and bolts on a Britannia Colchester Treadle Lathe including all of the milling work. My Brother now owns the lathe.

The pictures can be found in my picture file under Grandads Engine.

Martin P

I thoroughly enjoyed this most interesting post, especially the very happy ending.

Thanks for the pictures – your grandad made a fine job of it.

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 22/01/2018 15:12:55:

In answer to Martin 100

It all depends what you mean by the London exhibition.

The Model Engineer (MEX) was at Wembly and Olympia and Ally Pally when it was associated with the international odel show and was always in the Christmas holidays between Christmas day and New year.

Wembly conference centre show was after new years day (or continued to then). Same time as boat show. I used to go to both on opening day of boat show circa 3/4 Jan. Last time I went to Wembly was in 1966

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Sam

I wonder which 'MEX' that might be, and if you have discovered something which we have all been waiting expectantly to hear.

I particularly like your term "proper" model engineering exhibitions, which I remember from the New Horticultural HallS, back in 1946. Yes, you did one and then went across the road to the other – both packed.

Apologies meant Midland exhibition I confused initials

You have me on the dates though as I can only go back to the 60's for my attendance for the models – but late 50's for the boat shows – Oh how one misses the proper shows , Kids of today do not know what they are missing-

Do not get me on a "proper" Billy Smart's circus with lions, horses & elephants etc

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

To be fair I'm only going back 20 years or so.

regards Martin

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