Readers' Workshops - Patrick Cubbon

Patrick Cubbon describes his workshops – a portable one from 1963 and the current accommodation

- Patrick Cubbon

Model Engineering and a workshop has always been part of my life since schooldays. A flat bed Drummond lathe with central leadscrew and electric motor belt drive to a flywheel, with a disconnected treadle, took pride of place in my first Workshop in the Isle of Man in the attic under the rafters of a Victorian family house. This workshop was dismantled in 1963, the lathe emigrated to Australia with its new Owner, and I left home to start a lifetime career in Peterborough as a Mechanical Development Engineer with Perkins Diesel Engines remaining there until retirement in 2007. I arrived in Peterborough with an Austin A35 car and a portable workshop in the boot. In photo 1 you can see a small twin cylinder steam engine, at that time it was only part built (ME 1953 No 2736 Oct. article was inspiration)

The portable workshop, and later an EW lathe, were incorporated into various garage arrangements following house purchase in 1974.