As an apprentice, I had the privilege of working at Leyland Gas Turbines back in the early 70’s. It was based at the Rover factory in Solihull, and engaged in the (now) hopeless task of producing a gas turbine truck. The oil crisis killed off the idea; the mpg was dire.
Anyhoo, we had the pleasure of housing the two Le Mans successors to Jet 1, at least very temporarily. These were real masterpieces of British engineering. As a mechanical engineer in the making (only a 2.2, sadly), I was in awe. Whatever happened to this spirit and enterprise? Too many Mickey Mouse degrees?
"Whatever happened to this spirit and enterprise? Too many Mickey Mouse degrees?"
That's it, there was an enterprising spirit and it wasn't uncommon, people were fascinated by new ideas. I think it was the Eagle comic which had cutaway drawings of motorbikes, submarines and all things mechanical to show how they worked.
Engineering and engineering were not thought to be valuable. Experience counted for nothing. Companies and governments knew that any old engineer could be replaced with a fresh , cheap, one just out of university. Government bought stuff from USA, Japan, EU and allowed UK manufacturing and research institutions to be bought by the same. Now we cannot make ships, trains, aeroplanes, steel, aluminium, electrical power stations - nuclear, hydro, or the green stuff., medical eqiupment, and on and on. Our institutions, police, education, military value a First in some easy degree rather than a Second in something useful. End of rant.
dearieme - yes we did and we still see Meccano sets and Meccano models in antiques shops. I once saw a huge model of a railway engine.
Doonhamer - there has long been an element of crude snobbery I reckon, old money never was interested in chaps with technical ability and enthusiasm, always saw them as outsiders. Plus that First in some easy degree, the easy degrees reinforced it all.
Then there was the Labour Party, the unions and the highly unattractive prospect of managing that lot as a career.
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As an apprentice, I had the privilege of working at Leyland Gas Turbines back in the early 70’s. It was based at the Rover factory in Solihull, and engaged in the (now) hopeless task of producing a gas turbine truck. The oil crisis killed off the idea; the mpg was dire.
Anyhoo, we had the pleasure of housing the two Le Mans successors to Jet 1, at least very temporarily. These were real masterpieces of British engineering. As a mechanical engineer in the making (only a 2.2, sadly), I was in awe. Whatever happened to this spirit and enterprise? Too many Mickey Mouse degrees?
Cheers Yet Another Chris
Chris - thanks, that's very interesting.
"Whatever happened to this spirit and enterprise? Too many Mickey Mouse degrees?"
That's it, there was an enterprising spirit and it wasn't uncommon, people were fascinated by new ideas. I think it was the Eagle comic which had cutaway drawings of motorbikes, submarines and all things mechanical to show how they worked.
And Meccano - we all had Meccano.
Engineering and engineering were not thought to be valuable. Experience counted for nothing. Companies and governments knew that any old engineer could be replaced with a fresh , cheap, one just out of university.
Government bought stuff from USA, Japan, EU and allowed UK manufacturing and research institutions to be bought by the same.
Now we cannot make ships, trains, aeroplanes, steel, aluminium, electrical power stations - nuclear, hydro, or the green stuff., medical eqiupment, and on and on.
Our institutions, police, education, military value a First in some easy degree rather than a Second in something useful. End of rant.
dearieme - yes we did and we still see Meccano sets and Meccano models in antiques shops. I once saw a huge model of a railway engine.
Doonhamer - there has long been an element of crude snobbery I reckon, old money never was interested in chaps with technical ability and enthusiasm, always saw them as outsiders. Plus that First in some easy degree, the easy degrees reinforced it all.
Then there was the Labour Party, the unions and the highly unattractive prospect of managing that lot as a career.
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