Three of his designs are displayed in the window. Initially, shop opening was restricted to Saturdays and a few hours in the evening but once my father was confident in the future of a model shop he left the motor trade and ran the shop full-time. These premises were small but sufficient to stock building materials and the few kits that were available. I am pleased to include a photo (we think pre-war) of my father standing outside Super Model Aircraft Supplies, 220 Wellingborough Road, Northampton. This led him to design a range of sailplanes and rubber powered models and establish his shop in Northampton in 1937. Full-size flying was out of the question but modelling gave him the chance to design, construct and fly his models. Meanwhile his interest in aircraft had flourished into the hobby of aeromodelling. However, by the mid 1930s he could foresee the impending threat posed by mass production and the possibility of losing his job and so decided to open a model shop. This was a good trade to enter in the 1920s and he upholstered seats for various car manufacturers including Rolls Royce. His career path was initially determined by his father who was a coach trimmer in the motor trade. His engineering skills were put to use in other areas and he rapidly learnt the mysteries of watch making and soon found he was capable of repairing all types of clocks and watches. He built a Stuart Turner Beam Engine from a kit of cast parts and then went back to his old engine and built a governor for it. This model still works perfectly today and the photograph shows it after he fitted a Stuart Turner fly wheel in 1966 – the original was never satisfactory.ĭuring this time he bought a lathe and learnt how to use it. After acquiring the piston and liner he set about producing all remaining parts by hand. He was only 16 at the time and had no access to lathes or any power tools. One of his earliest projects was the construction of a working model steam engine. My father was fascinated by anything mechanical but particularly cars, aeroplanes, airships. This photo was taken in his home town of Leighton Buzzard where he was born in 1906, and we assume he was about 19 or 20 at the time. He was one of the foremost designers and builders of model aeroplanes from the mid thirties until he retired from Wakefield Competitions in the early 50s. He was truly multi-talented: aeromodeller, high-diver, metal worker, water colour painter, and expert ballroom dancer. This is a brief story of his life and how the business developed. The shop was established by my father, Ted Evans, in 1937.
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