Modern Exhibitions

The London Model Engineer Exhibition ceased to exist after an incredible 107 years having being based at numerous venues in the capital before moving out to the suburbs. OTW first visited in 1968 at the Royal Horticultural Halls before regular visits to Seymour Halls where the heady smell of coal smoke and diesel fumes indoors sustained all. Olympia and Wembley conference centre also hosted the event before the move to Ally Pally where it occupied both halls. After Model Engineer gave up promoting the Exhibition TEE subtly renamed it and carried on in a more restricted form for a dozen or so years until Covid put the Kybosh on that as well. Now, all bar the Midland and Lowmex, that is it as far as model exhibitions go, so what follows is a selection of photos from our more recent visits.  

The great organ, Blackheath's 80th	Lauri Malila  Philipp Meier

For many years the Model Powerboat Association had a large stand at the exhibitions but of late it was down to local Clubs such as Blackheath, Victoria and the Model Hydroplane Club to promote competitive boating. All three clubs always had a heady selection of current and vintage boats. In 2016 F2B Champion and World F1 Champion Lauri Malila with 2023 Class 1 vice champion Philipp Meier flew in from Switzerland for the day to see us all. Each event used to be a gathering of the clans, often with visits from ex enthusiasts. Occasionally, visitors to the stands would surprise us all with items that they wanted to donate or sell, creating valuable contacts along the way.

The late Terry Everitt's home built hydro engines	Arthur Cockman's V4 flash steam motor

A feature of the MHC stand each year was a selection of important and historic boats and engines including this case of the late Terry Everitt's home built motors. Front right is the last home built motor to hold the British A3 record. Phil Abbott would always exhibit a wonderful selection of flash steam boats and engines that he had collected over the years.

North London Club hydro timing equipment	Alan Rayman flash steam motor

2012 saw a large display of timing systems for boats and cars from the early electro mechanical examples through to the latest electronic devices.

Two of John DeMott's 30cc motors	'Anette' four stroke hydro

The Midland Exhibition seldom had anything tethered boat or car related apart from the discovery of vintage boat 'Anne' and the large display on the Kingsbury stand in 2015 of John DeMott's boats and homebuilt engines.

JDM 30cc hydro	Display of Edgar Westbury motors discovered by OTW

Following the rediscovery of the hoard of Edgar Westbury's engines these were donated to the SMEE and restored by the West Dean College, a selection now regularly appears at Exhibitions, both prototypes and production versions, and some that may never have been seen.

Scale model of an early Fiat	Herkimer go kart

Apart from the occasional scale model car, modern tethered cars have been a notable absence of late although there used to be a sizeable display at the Bristol Exhibition and Olympia with the Retro Racing Club and others. 
 

Two British record holders 3B and Class IV	Class V and  the 1979 EC Championship winning Class IV

2014 saw a controversial display of three British record holding tethered cars and David Giles' 1979 European Championship winning and record breaking car. The contention was they 'are not examples of model engineering'. In addition were the lovely A3 and A2 boats from Roger James along with the late Frank Jutton's TNT flash steamer and Oliver Monk's Floyd, the last steamer to hold the record for 8lb boats before the rules were changed.

Record breaking A3 and A2 boat from Roger James	100+year old Fred Westmoreland motor

There are always a number of engines built from kits, published designs or miniature versions of full sized engines, but occasionally there are some that are worthy of note such as Fred Westmoreland's pioneering two stroke with a surface evaporation induction system and Bert Stalham's supercharged V twin, happily one that did not disappear forever.

Bert Stalham's fabulous supercharged V twin

It seems unlikely that there will ever be a major national exhibition again but some of the exhibits from years gone by, including the superb model of Alf Hagon's JAP sprinter that appeared regularly on the North London stand some 55 years ago, still a personal favourite that would look lovely on a shelf.