A little about me

Graduate metallurgist, PhD in surface science, and donkey's years in the research group of a major oil company, though now retired. Hobbies include all industrial archaeology, old engines (steam and IC), as well as modern engines and related technology. Well versed in physical effects related to safety in petrochemical industry, especially as regards deflagration compared to detonation, and effects of congestion on explosions.

I found an interesting article on early gas engines (1886), and looked on the web to find nothing more, and just a two-line stub in Wikipedia, so was finally prompted to contribute something in November 2011. My collection of old books and magazines hs allowed me to add some more information as time goes by, especially as more out of copyright information is being scanned and coming onto the web. I have now been an author for many years, and many new entries are because I look up something in Wikipedia and find barely a stub (if that), and so decide it is time to do a bit of a literature search to fill the gap. Most of my entries will cite references contemporary with the item where possible, references many years later from the "Bumper book of ..." tend to be less reliable, though it is realised that a contemporary newspaper article may occasionally also have false information.

Steve Richardson