Photo Album
Edgar T Westbury Miscellaneous images
When OTW assisted Edgar Westbury's daughter in clearing her garage, we discovered an absolute treasure trove of models, engines and photographs that had not seen the light of day for over forty years. The material spanned Edgar's entire career from his days in the navy at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 through his days as an instructor at the RAF apprentice training school at Halton and on to his time with Percival Marshall and the Model Engineer. His life story and many of his models and engines were featured in our earlier article, but here is a selection of images not directly related to cars, boats or engines.
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| Edgar at Halton with an early Atom | The Percival Marshall publishing company staff |
As well as all his many
constructional articles on boats, engines and more, he would also create
designs for novelty items for modellers to make as 'Christmas presents'. The
prolific LBSC also used to create designs for the modelling readers to
create for the 'kiddies', but these were usually much longer term projects
if they were to be finished and working in time for 'the day'.
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| Cigarette boxes disguised as mini coal boxes | Cigarette dispenser |
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| Letter rack | Miniature wheelbarrow |
Often his engine designs would be incorporated into larger projects such as the 1831 locomotive or the road roller with a single cylinder engine. This roller model was found under a workbench in the garage, untouched since the design was published. Quite by chance, a visitor to the Midland Model exhibition had a complete 1831 that he passed on to Phil Abbott whilst he was on the Blackheath Club stand.
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| 1831 loco with twin cylinder motor | The ME Roller |
Totally unconnected with anything related to modelling was the discovery of this amazing continual addition and subtraction calculator, an Arithmometre the precursor to all those used in offices, schools etc through to the development of the electronic calculator. The device with all its gears, brass, ebony and Ivory was invented by Thomas de Colmar in 1822. From the serial number we discovered that this one dated to 1866. A discovery of immense value both historically and financially, not at all what we were expecting.
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| Thoms de Colmar Arithmometre | Lathe designed by ETW |
With his
connections to Halton and his reputation for engine
design, Westbury undertook to design portable generators
for use during WW2. Amongst the items we discovered was
the prototype of one such, based on his Busy Bee motor
that was originally intended as a power unit for an
autocycle, another of Westbury's interests. The basic
unit was developed into what is seen below right, of
which thousands were made.
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| Prototype portable generator | Later production version in carrying frame |
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| Westbury's own torque dynamometer for testing engines | Another of his projects, the ME spray gun |
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