It's a dull, cold, wet October Saturday morning. We live 25 miles from the nearest town, nowt doing and she that must be obeyed is sitting in her dressing gown, winding herself up about all the jobs that can be done around the house, time for a sharp exit to the attic where she never goes. It's a man cave and she doesn't like it, she is intimidated by all the engineering stuff and technical books and it's unheated so it's always cold on days like today! I was so pleased with my watch battery replacement using my new press for replacing snap on watch backs, until I turned the watch over only to find that I had simultaneously acquired another skill - how to crack a watch glass. So time for another session in the attic, rummaging through shipbuilding and marine engine books. Had a look through John Lamb's books. Attached is the frontispiece from John Lambs "Running and Maintenance of the Marine Diesel Engine" 1947, with John Lamb on the bottom platform of a Hawthorn Leslie Werkspoor engine. Many of us will be indebted to that man for his contributions to our understanding of marine engines and for his contributions to marine diesel engineering, not to mention lifeboats. I was told that he volunteered to get inside a covered in lifeboat to that was then set on fire to test its fire resistance. "John Lambs Questions and Answers on Marine Diesel Engines" is still a fascinating book to read
Section and elevation of a Werkspoor engine, details not known
Lovely old drawing of starting gear for a double acting engine, details unknown. We have yet to appreciate the skill, knowledge, ingenuity and patience of those that designed, drew, made, fitted maintained and operated stuff like this.