2015 Metal Working Craftsman of the year award Presented to William R. Robertson

(Edit: When I originally read the on-line content that became this post I skipped the paragraph regarding the actual award presentation – unlike other years it didn’t occur at NAMES. I noticed my error today when paging through the same story in Home Shop Machinist. The resulting post doesn’t make a whole lot of sense so I’ll just leave you all with a hotlink to a favorite image of Mr. Robertson’s modelling and encourage those interested in modelling to go see NAMES (North American Model Engineering Society meet currently held just outside Detroit) if they can – Next year’s winner will likely be there in person as per tradition.)

While I’m here I guess I should note that William Robertson has been named Metal Working Craftsman of the year for 2015 by the Joe Martin Foundation. http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Robertson.htm Here’s one of my favourites from the online museum – hopefully they don’t mind the hotlink – model railroaders should see more work like this: http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/images/WmRob44.jpg

AH

Cherry’s Model Engines arrived today.

Somewhat unexpectedly my copy of Cherry’s Model Engines turned up. I hadn’t been expecting it – the package was coming via Royal Air Mail and based on past experience I figured I had at least another couple of weeks to stew. Wait or no wait, I’m glad to have it.

To many North American model railroaders  the name Cherry Hill is likely unfamiliar. Suffice to say that she is one of the UK’s better model makers. Working from the solid and keeping all labour in house (as any proper worker would) she has been breathing life into the old, the  experimental and the mechanically impossible for the past sixty years and taking her share of accolades along the way.

While not a how-to book it is none the less a very encouraging look into the stories behind each of Mrs. Hill’s models.

On her self penned four wheel drive Gilletts & Allat;

“Cherry wanted to design and patent a traction engine as it might have been in 1862. The idea was to incorporate features not taken up by other designers at the time. That is how Patent No. 2260 ( a number from the time but not allocated then) came about.”

nuff said…