Subject: Re: Questions answered about BAEM

From: Mike Rehmus <[email-masked]>
Date: 21 Sep 1996 17:12:52 GMT

Guess I should have mentioned that we are located in the San Francisco Bay Area of 
California.

Thanks,

Mike

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From: Mike Rehmus <[email-masked]>
Date: 21 Sep 1996 15:59:51 GMT

I've been asked by a number of people to give a few details about our local model 
engineering club.  Here, by way of reply, is at least a partial answer.  What is 
missing is the 'flavor' of meeting with a bunch of people from wildly differing walks 
of life, from Surgeon to Carpenter, who all have a deep love for things mechanical and 
making it for themselves.  The monthly meetings are usually the highlight of my 
modeling month.  I learn new tricks from amateur and professional alike.

For example, the guy who built the table-top milling machine (described only briefly 
below) is a master machinist who built everything but the DC drive motor on the mill. 
He made the patterns, machined all of the castings (this thing weighs over 100 Lbs so 
it does cut very well), made all of the tools to make the tools and even designed and 
built his own table drive.  For those of you who have seen his Curtis V-12 on the back 
cover of Strictly IC, you know Al is a magician with metal.  Much of the V-12 was 
machined on his mill.

BAEM (we held our September meeting last night) is a loose collection of model 
engineers who's interest is focused (but not to the exclusion of anything else 
mechanical) on model IC engines.

The club has 55 members and is Branch 57 of the Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor 
Association. We were EDGE&TAs first branch with a model vice real-sized hardware.  The 
advantage of associating with EDGE&TA is access to other clubs and the regional and 
national shows, we have some force of numbers behind us if we need political clout for 
some reason or other, and we enjoy the liability insurance that covers any official 
function.

BAEM meets most months at Bennetts Automotive in Hayward.  Paul Bennett, club member 
and genuinely nice guy, runs a reproduction Ford Cobra manufacturing activity at that 
location. One of our benefits last year was a wild ride in a 427 Cobra.  0-120-0 in 
less than one city block.  Pressed the old retinas right back where they belong.

Our diversity is best described by the objects presented at the meeting last night{

The club President brought a steam locomotive, fired it up and ran it on its ball 
bearing stand.
An Atkinson cycle model engine, complete but for a few minor ignition details
A 'Little Angel' hit and miss engine, again complete but for a few minor details.
Two adjustable tailstock centers for achieving that perfect alignment.
One of the new 'Drill Doctors' drill sharpeners from Darex.
Two triple-compound steam engines, radio controlled, to drive a member's six foot tug 
boat.
A small milling machine cast and built as one of 7 units by one of our master 
machinist members.  Had a tool-holder base fastened to the table (actually built in to 
the table) that allowed the removal and replacement of the vice with an indexing head 
or rotary table.
A RC model aircraft.
A tubing bender
A fitted wooden case for a set of three Brown and Sharp machinist squares

In the give-away pile were:
A large lot of large syringes with blunt needles suitable for oil and grease 
applicators
Enough tubes of red spotting grease for everyone in attendance.

We also decided to proceed on our plans to hold a greater Bay Area Model Engineering 
show next year at this time.  A Chairman was appointed and, with any luck and a lot of 
hard work, we will be on the way.  Model engineering clubs from around the area will 
be encouraged to participate, both in the management of and participation in the show.
We expect steam, IC, airplane, boat, tank, warship, clock, and even full-sized machine 
clubs to participate.  Sort of a something for everyone mechanical bonanza.  I'd 
expect one or two exemplary automobiles and trucks to somehow make their way into the 
agenda.

Anyone wanting more information or who wants to participate should contact me ASAP and 
I will put you in contact with the show chairman.

Membership in BAEM runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31.  Dues, which will somewhat increase this 
year, were $25 and includes The Crank Calls, our monthly newsletter (pictures in 
color), membership in the national EDGE&TA club (lets you into any function of the 
branches), and the opportunity to meet with an great group of people.

If you would like any further information, please contact me at
408 251-9959 or via e-mail at [email-masked]

Best regards,

Mike Rehmus

P.S.  My service provider is getting out of the business and I will have to find a new 
home for everything including the club Web page containing portions of The Crank 
Calls.  I'll publish the new location when everything is operational.  Meanwhile, they 
'promise' to forward my mail.