Hello everybody,
There was a big gathering of the Williams clan yesterday and I was so happy to see my Grandad's last model on proud display in my cousin's house. He was in the last year of his life when he completed it and was by then crippled by arthritis and registered blind.
Every single part, nuts and bolts included were made by his own hand and the engine is still in running order over 50 years later.
Grandad's last model by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
Grandad's last model by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
It is a steam pump he was sent to maintain in Bedford and was of great importance to him because that is how he met my Grandmother. Tucked away in the case is a typed up version of the note my Grandmother left in the display case. She tells the story best;
Note written by my Grandmother. by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
Among his many adventures he served on RMS Mauretania, at the time the biggest ship in the at the world, as second engineer. Before his eyesight failed he built a working replica of the Mauretania's triple expansion steam engine which was sold at auction.
He also turned his hand to clock making;
Clock made by my Grandfather by
Richard Williams, on Flickr
This still keeps good time.
I once asked my father if Grandad would have liked my models, he just laughed and told me to impress him I would have to make every single piece of it myself. Hence my recent interest in scratch building.
If you have got this far I thank you for indulging me and hope your models can be enjoyed by future generations of your family.
Best wishes
Richie
