Model Engineer magazine
Encyclopedia
Model Engineer Magazine was first published (in the United Kingdom
) to support the hobby of model engineering
in 1898 by Percival Marshall, who was to remain its editor for over 50 years. It has been published by My Hobby Store since 2008. The magazine addressed the emergence of a new hobby — the construction of models (often working) and experimental engineering, largely in metal. It transcended class barriers, appealing to professional engineers, jobbing machinists and anyone interested in making working mechanisms.
(pen name
of Lillian 'Curly' Lawrence). From the inter-war period to the 1960s he produced many designs for simple but reliable small model steam locomotives. Most of these were published in Model Engineer, and brought the construction of small passenger hauling locomotives within the reach of the typical home machinist. Other notable contributors include Henry Greenly
, Edgar T. Westbury
, J.N.Maskelyne and one of the most notable editors, Martin Evans
.
in London. The exhibition is almost as venerable an institution as the magazine itself, and is notable for the display of some of the finest examples of the hobby.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) to support the hobby of model engineering
Model engineering
Model engineering is the hobby of constructing machines in miniature. The term was in use by 1888. There is some debate about the appropriateness of the term...
in 1898 by Percival Marshall, who was to remain its editor for over 50 years. It has been published by My Hobby Store since 2008. The magazine addressed the emergence of a new hobby — the construction of models (often working) and experimental engineering, largely in metal. It transcended class barriers, appealing to professional engineers, jobbing machinists and anyone interested in making working mechanisms.
Contributors
The magazine has had many notable contributors, but foremost among these was LBSCCurly Lawrence
Curly Lawrence, known as LBSC, was one of Britain's most prolific and well known model or scale-steam-locomotive designers. LBSC were the initials of Britain's London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. LBSC, “Curly” to his friends, was born 27 September 1883 and christened William Morris Benjamin...
(pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Lillian 'Curly' Lawrence). From the inter-war period to the 1960s he produced many designs for simple but reliable small model steam locomotives. Most of these were published in Model Engineer, and brought the construction of small passenger hauling locomotives within the reach of the typical home machinist. Other notable contributors include Henry Greenly
Henry Greenly
Henry Greenly was amongst the foremost miniature railway engineers of the 20th century, remembered as a master of engineering design.-Miniature railways:...
, Edgar T. Westbury
Edgar T. Westbury
Edgar T. Westbury was perhaps best known as a major contributor to the English recreational magazine Model Engineer. He contributed under his own name, and also under the pseudonyms 'Artificer' and 'Kinemette'. Beginning in 1925 until his death in 1970, he made over 1474 authored contributions to...
, J.N.Maskelyne and one of the most notable editors, Martin Evans
Martin Evans (model engineer)
Martin Evans was a major contributor to the English recreational magazine Model Engineer. He was promoted from Technical Editor to Editor of the magazine in January 1966.. His editorship, along with a change in almost all other staff on the magazine, is credited as having saved it from decline....
.
Model Engineer Exhibition
Model Engineer has had a long-standing association with the Model Engineer Exhibition, originally held at OlympiaOlympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
in London. The exhibition is almost as venerable an institution as the magazine itself, and is notable for the display of some of the finest examples of the hobby.
Magazine content
The subject matter of the (now twice monthly, earlier weekly) magazine ranges from articles about techniques and tools to profiles of full-size prototypes of modelling subjects. The main content is, however, 'constructional articles' describing projects at various levels of detail. Such articles range from single pages to long running series in alternate issues, some of which can last for many months, if not years. These more detailed series generally appeal to a wider audience than those engaged in the project. It is often as much in the (often loosely) related anecdotes alongside as in the processes described.Model Engineer today
Over the years the magazine has waxed and waned, but is currently enjoying the increased popularity of the hobby engendered by the availability of comparatively cheap machine tools from China and Taiwan.See also
- Bassett-LowkeBassett-LowkeBassett-Lowke was a toy company in Northampton, England, founded by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899, that specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets...
- Live steamLive steamLive steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment.A live steam machine or device is one powered by steam, but the term is usually reserved for those that are replicas, scale models, toys, or otherwise used for...
- Ridable miniature railwayRidable miniature railwayA ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
- Model engineeringModel engineeringModel engineering is the hobby of constructing machines in miniature. The term was in use by 1888. There is some debate about the appropriateness of the term...