Phuffff...Phuffff....Phuffff.....I'm quickly blowing off all the cobwebs so I can see the vintage keyboard.....(last used in June '23). Greetings, it's me. Yes, your Uncle Albert back with our Little Walt. Both of us survived Covid. In fact wasn't Covid a load of old bluster compared to the world problems now? Anyway I'm gonna make an effort to stay with the main theme and not ramble off track.
Recap from '23 - In the last post Little Walt was granted an age related registration number from the great powers that be. (Vehicle Licensing H.Q.) Neat to have an age related plate which is a number that could well have been given to a motorcycle in the 1920's..Obviously it wasn't but it's been lying in a file unwanted till now. So got the number and related paperwork but progress didn't follow quickly....The highly polished engine cases slipped back into dull normality, looking like they always did. The rolling frame still under an old sheet in the workshop, just like it always has been...The sand slowly running through the year glass clocking another and then another year off. Little Walt appears to be sleeping undisturbed towards his 100th birthday.
But...behind the scenes a massive raid on the Crackle-piggy bank was in operation. It's very sad that the original crankshaft is destined to be forever a boat anchor, what's the plan now? For Little Walt to have any chance of burning some petrol and seeing the countryside again the only alternative was to call the best crankshaft specialist in the UK for help. Alpha Bearings in Dudley. yes, down in the black country, one of 'Britains' engineering areas left over from when old blighty ruled the world!! Yep, that's where there's still old skool guys that can work with their hands and turn iron ore into working steel.
A visit to their works...and a chat about my needs in the old board room that possibly hasn't changed since the 60's. The long solid oak table coated with a thick layer of dust, the glass fronted display cabinets fastened to the walls containing trophies from race wins over the last 60 years..It's times like this I knew I was experiencing REAL time travel. Hey!!! Don't anyone tell me that they wouldn't go back if they could!!!!!!!
Took quite a few months for the 'Wizards of Lathe' to work their magic.. Quite a few emails and hand drawn sketches changed hands...forever checking....doing their best to replicate a broken, misshaped and abused (by previous owner) near 100 year old Raleigh part.
The cost of skill didn't come cheap, and why should it? Do you work for nothin? I'm about to present to you a 'work of art'. Best bit... It's a one off and it was commissioned by me, made by proper engineers!!!!! It's my 'Work of Art'. As good as any Banksy.
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