editor@oldcopper.info “Vin Callcut has devoted his professional life to copper, first with the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association, then Enfield Rolling Mills and for the last 19 years at Copper Development Association. Vin was appointed CDA Technical Director in 1995 and more recently Director and has worked closely with the CDA Chairman and Managing Director, first … Read more
Introduction COPPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION was a non-trading organisation sponsored by the copper producers and fabricators to encourage the use of copper and copper alloys and to promote their correct and efficient application. Its services, which included the provision of technical advice and information, were available to those interested in the utilisation of copper in all … Read more
Enfield Rolling Mills was in Millmarsh Lane, Brimsdown, Enfield, Middlesex on a 40-acre site set up in the early 1920s with a copper refinery (Enfield Copper Refinery), rod mill, wire mill, brass cake foundry, hot and cold rolling mills, ‘Encon’ continuous casting plant for bearing alloys, billet casting foundry and forge for high conductivity copper … Read more
continued from Wilkinson Copper King Wilkinson’s Steam Engines One of the first Boulton and Watt steam engines made was the one installed by John Wilkinson at the New Willey Ironworks, Broseley, Shropshire. Every effort was made to ensure success in order to impress neighbouring ironmasters. It was custom to outsource the castings for such large … Read more
© Vin Callcut 2002 Summary The steam turbine was invented about 150BC by Hero, a Greek physicist in Alexandria, Egypt. It was a stationary engine driven by jets on the rim of a sphere. He wanted to put it to good use as a locomotive engine. He was advised by Phoenician traders to go to … Read more
Vin’s Articles, non-technical “Three Men in a B”, V. A. Callcut, Bentley Drivers Club Review, 1967, April, No. 84, pp123-128.‘Callence Preservation’ Model Railway Constructor, 1970, 37, 433, May pp132-137 and cover.‘Englische Spotters in Deutschland’, Railway World, 1972, 33, 387 August, pp 360-363‘How to Make More Brass’, NMRA Roundhouse, 1987, Nov, pp13-14.‘The Bowser Turntable’, NMRA Roundhouse … Read more
Vin’s articles, books, videos and discs in chronological order Articles for the website of Copper Development Association Inc., USA Introduction to Copper An introduction to copper, describing the many ways in which the metal is so useful. The article also touches on copper’s invaluable contribution to the health of plants, animals and mankind. It provides … Read more
Summary A review of published literature has shown that John Wilkinson had significant interests in many aspects of the British copper industry and was very influential in its development and prosperity. His activities are surveyed in the context of the economic status of the industry. For comparison, there is a brief summary of the activities … Read more
A few of the photos are of similar vehicles BKT 563, Francis Barnett (Cruiser), 1935, 150cc, 8/6/54 – ?/6/55, ‘The Maggie’, towed home for rebuild. Bent in accident. Rebuilt. Used for commute to central London for a year. DXH 517, Calthorpe (Ivory), 1937, 250cc, 1/6/55 – ?/4/65, Bought in Cornwall to beat rail strike. Main … Read more
(with apologies to Jerome K. Jerome) Edited from original published in B.D.C. Review, April 1967 A 1966 holiday tour by 1930 6 ½ litre Bentley by Vin Callcut Use it for a Continental tour? We just don’t do that now…You’re mad and ten years behind the times. That was typical of the encouragement received when … Read more