The New England Model Engineering Society has received the following press release from the American Precision Museum regarding their upcoming show.
AMERICAN PRECISION MUSEUM
196 South Main Street Windsor, VT 05089 (802) 674-5781AMERICAN PRECISION MUSEUM HOSTS
6TH ANNUAL MODEL ENGINEERING SHOWWINDSOR, VT The American Precision Museum's sixth annual Model Engineering Show will take place at the Windsor Municipal Center, Union Street, Windsor on Saturday, October 29th, 2005 from 9:00 am-4:00pm. A fee of $6.00 covers admission to both the show and the nearby American Precision Museum.
This year's show features Brady Ward of Manchester, NH who will discuss the craft of making fine-art automobile models at 10:30 am and
2:00 pm. He will have several of his scale models on display as well. Museum Trustee, Bill McCarthy, will return again this year to demonstrate cutting metal on one of his historic lathes at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.Model automobiles have been an integral part of American life since the Henry Ford and his Model-T. As automobiles evolved, so have model cars, moving beyond the plastic kits which have challenged many youngsters over the years. In recent years models of increasing complexity and refinement of details have become available. The Swiss firm, Pocher, used to produce very expensive kits for the collector only, containing hundreds of intricate parts and requiring patience and great skill to assemble. Although Pocher is no longer in business, in its place are gifted artificers whose work is rightly considered a form of art. Recently several rare automobiles were sold at a Christie's auction in California for over $l million each, and craftsmen in England and France are producing exacting miniatures faithful in every detail to those historic vehicles.
American Precision Museum -2- October 13, 2005
A member of this select group of fine-art model automobile makers is Brady Ward whose work reflects the most knowledgeable enthusiast's insistence on precise detail. "I never planned to build model cars for a living," says Ward. "After some training in art and design, I spent my spare time working on my own full-size cars (non-classics), having more and more fun with the mechanical troubleshooting and rebuilding. At the same time, classic cars began to look more like art rather than old vehicles to me. Not having access to a full-size classic, I built my first 1:8 scale model. Eventually my customers convinced me they wanted more models than I could produce working nights and weekends, and they pushed me into this business full time. It is very fulfilling, using my hands to create cars that are both mechanically and aesthetically beautiful."
Bill McCarthy, Museum Trustee and founder and owner of Restoration Millwork in Riegelsville, PA, has been supplying custom architectural woodwork for restoration and new construction since 1975. Using antique tools from his Riegelsville restoration millwork shop, he will demonstrate how cast iron is machined. McCarthy was the hit of last year's show, making window sash by hand using methods and tools similar to those in the museum's building.
Dean Merrill from Queensbury, NY will have his portable steam engine set up and operational outside the Model Engineering Show.
Model Engineering Show hours at the Windsor Municipal Center are 9:00 am-4:00pm, and the museum's hours are 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Both sites are wheelchair accessible. Please call for more information,
802-674-5781 - and visit the museum's web site at