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The Café (There is no Topic)
17 Jul 2026 13:54 - 17 Jul 2026 13:56 #18109
by Quorneng
Replied by Quorneng on topic The Café (There is no Topic)
This morning whilst looking for something else I had to open a drawer, no easy task as the wood had swollen, from my Dads workshop bench.
After nearly an hour of careful prising I discovered it was full of what most would describe as junk however there were two objects that I did immediately recognise.
A piston wrist pin from a Bristol Jupiter 9 cylinder radial.
And an exhaust valve from the same engine.
How am I so sure of their lineage?
In 1932 my Dad went to do an engineering apprenticeship with Saurer Ag then in the German speaking part of Switzerland and best known making trucks with their own diesel engines renowned for being able to run at full power all day when climbing up Alpine passes. They also built the 500hp Bristol Jupiter 9 cylinder radial aero engine under licence.
As an apprentice his main interest was in the design of diesel engines but it did not stop him from "acquiring" some Jupiter parts! Both the pin and valve appear to be unused but may have had manufacturing defects.
Although he was never a truly fluent German speaker he did understand the meaning of German technical engineering terms. A skill that was put to use both in the UK and USA when deciphering German technical drawings captured after the war particularly when relating to high performance anti tank guns.
As a Brit in Switzerland he both learned to ski and climbed mountains, I even have his old wooden skis and ice axe! He also drove a an MG TA sports car. During this period he dated my Mum including a road trip in th MG to Switzerland!
In a rare moment after his death she commented that as an athletic 6 footer with a sports car "he cut a very dashing figure".
Not what you tend to think of your parents!
After nearly an hour of careful prising I discovered it was full of what most would describe as junk however there were two objects that I did immediately recognise.
A piston wrist pin from a Bristol Jupiter 9 cylinder radial.
And an exhaust valve from the same engine.
How am I so sure of their lineage?
In 1932 my Dad went to do an engineering apprenticeship with Saurer Ag then in the German speaking part of Switzerland and best known making trucks with their own diesel engines renowned for being able to run at full power all day when climbing up Alpine passes. They also built the 500hp Bristol Jupiter 9 cylinder radial aero engine under licence.
As an apprentice his main interest was in the design of diesel engines but it did not stop him from "acquiring" some Jupiter parts! Both the pin and valve appear to be unused but may have had manufacturing defects.
Although he was never a truly fluent German speaker he did understand the meaning of German technical engineering terms. A skill that was put to use both in the UK and USA when deciphering German technical drawings captured after the war particularly when relating to high performance anti tank guns.
As a Brit in Switzerland he both learned to ski and climbed mountains, I even have his old wooden skis and ice axe! He also drove a an MG TA sports car. During this period he dated my Mum including a road trip in th MG to Switzerland!
In a rare moment after his death she commented that as an athletic 6 footer with a sports car "he cut a very dashing figure".
Not what you tend to think of your parents!
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17 Jul 2026 14:22 - 17 Jul 2026 14:23 #18110
by THE BLACKBIRD
Replied by THE BLACKBIRD on topic The Café (There is no Topic)
Quite a man your dad Simon,
Yes we were all dashing young figures in our young days, mine with my teddy boy outfits and DA hairstyle with large sideburns and the 5oo cc Matchless twin with the factory megaphone exhausts, they were great days
Yes we were all dashing young figures in our young days, mine with my teddy boy outfits and DA hairstyle with large sideburns and the 5oo cc Matchless twin with the factory megaphone exhausts, they were great days
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