A Brief Early History of the Durban Society of Model Engineers

(Originally by Brian Lester from notes prepared by the late Mr Theo Gooden)

The Society was one of the first model engineering clubs outside the UK and had amongst its aims: 

the promotion and challenge of modelling; designing, making and or operating small versions of machine engines, tools, etc.; to encourage accurate craftsmanship; to convene meetings and hold exhibitions of models for the promotion of these objects.

The founders had the foresight to have their photograph taken (using the old Carbo Process).

This photograph (shown above), with names recorded, hangs in the present clubhouse. Although some records give earlier dates, the publication “Model Engineer and Electrician" of 4 September 1913 confirms that it was established on 2 July 1913.

The first Office bearers of the Society were:

President: C Q Bateman

Vice President: J T Wade (of J T Wade & Co, Stanger Street.): J Powell

Chairman: H Oxenham

Secretary: A C Davidson

Treasurer: C R Struckman (possibly of Struckman's Welding Works in Turners Lane)

There is a foundation stone in the West wall of the clubhouse and this reflects the name of Mr J A Rankin who took over the Brass Founders and Coppersmiths business of W M Emery & Sons and carried on the business until his death. Also recorded on this stone is the name of Mr R Millar who was one of the post war members (past chairman/secretary) who laboured most determinedly for a permanent club site.

To commemorate the inauguration of the Society, a club badge was struck. This was a 20 mm fired enamel Hallmarked Silver badge and depicting an overhead belt drive lathe and marked – 

Durban Society of Model Engineers 1913.

One of the dedicated members who steered the Society from its inception, through the two world wars and severe depression was Harold V Kellaway. He was a man who had an interesting career in the field of engineering here in Durban. He was born in Stafford in the UK on the 20 December 1891 and trained as an engineer and a draftsman and came to Durban on 2 July 1910. He worked for J T Wade (Engineers) in Stanger Street, formed his own business of Kellaway & Hallow. He was also an engineer for a number of years for Shell at Island View and had a brief term with Francis & Graham and when they closed down; he joined the Union Engineering Supply Company.

Mr Kellaway took over as the DSME secretary from Mr A C Davidson in September 1914 and held office as Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer and ultimately President up until 1960.

When Kellaway Park was established it bore his name and when the move to Durban North came and we took over our present site, we again commemorated his name by naming the new building Kellaway Hall.

After some rather low-key periods, new impetus was given to the activities of the club when in 1946, 

Mr R Millar was elected to the chair, Mr Kellaway having kept the wheels turning during the difficult years.

Just prior to the outbreak of the 1939/45 war, the Natal Technical College, situated opposite Botha Gardens at the top end of West Street, let the Society have the use of two rooms on the top floor of the building. In appreciation of this concession a small donation was made to the College. One room housed a comprehensive “O” gauge railway track watched over by the then Treasurer, Mr R B Smit, a Bank Manager, and the other our meeting room. We also had a small assortment of tools, ME taps and dies, a 5" centre height Atlas lathe and a ½" bench drill, these being later sold off to one of the Society’s members. The Society’s portable 3½" standard pattern brass rail track was also housed up here and members of that time will recall the fatigue parties required to lift the track (approximately 40 metres of it) up and down the building stairs, when it was required for exhibition purposes. This exercise soon took its toll and it became necessary to re-build the track, which was undertaken by an enthusiastic membership under the supervision of Basil Palmer at his parent's home in Umbilo.

Unfortunately, not many members made use of the facilities at the College but the past President and life member, Basil Palmer, used these facilities in completing his first loco, a 2½" gauge Dyak.

Public interest was achieved soon after the commencement of the Society by holding an exhibition. 

This was recorded in the “Model Engineer” Vol 31 of 22 October 1914 following a report sent in by Mr Kellaway who commented on its success. Such exhibitions were undertaken on several occasions, both to publicize the Society with a view to increasing membership and seeking funds for the building of a permanent track and clubhouse.

Whilst little is known of these early efforts, it is recorded that an exhibition was held in the basement of the City Hall in 1937 but the war years put paid to further activities until December 1947, when another exhibition was held in the Arthur Smith Hall of the Natal Technical College. 

It was opened by Councilor Boyd, M P C, and a fine catalogue was produced, detailing the event and this was sold at 6 pence a copy. Whilst the exhibition was in aid of the College Building Fund, a donation was made to the DSME for their support.

The next exhibition was held on December 1951 in the YMCA’s Elizabeth Crookes Hall (since demolished). This was an entirely DSME event and was a great success. On this occasion, Mr Palmer, Basil’s mother and Mrs Kellaway should be mentioned for their enthusiasm, particularly in the effort of ticket sales. Revenue from this event was 221 Pounds.

Again in December 1951, a second exhibition was held in the Arthur Smith Hall and whilst the revenue accrued is unknown, mention should be made of the fact that the portable raised track was set up on the West Side of the Hall veranda, where several locos under steam hauled children and created considerable interest. The drawback of this arrangement was that care had to be taken not to run off the end of the track and locos had to reverse back to the starting point.

There were a few exhibits deserving special mention:

1) Dr Cohen was well known for his artistic acumen in producing characters from all walks of life, religion, theatre stage in bonding sea shells in a most beautiful and artistic manner and these were on show in an illuminated cabinet.

2) Les Ellison noted for his masterpiece in Naval Boat modelling had his superb model of HMS Birmingham on show.

3) Also worth singling out from a very comprehensive display of boats, cars, aeroplanes, yachts, locos and stationary models, a Mr Flowers had a very fine example of a Congreve clock on display.

In December 1958, yet a further exhibition was staged in the Arthur Smith Hall, where the exhibits were generally the same as the previous exhibition and it was recorded that the revenue from this event amounted to 419 pounds.

The DSME participated in yet another display and this was in conjunction with an Industrial Exhibition in what was then known as the Woolmart, a very large building opposite the old electricity Power Station at Congella. This exhibition was however a disaster. Unfortunately, security was very lacking and one night vandals broke in and 7 models were stolen and a number were damaged when they were thrown out of the window in the two story building. Also, Basil Palmer’s 3½" gauge "Sylvia" was damaged by an overzealous member lighting a fire in it before filling the boiler with water. This was financially not a very successful effort.

There were other occasions when Messrs Millar and Fisher took the portable track for use in conjunction with exhibitions in Pietermaritzburg.

Through these efforts, sufficient funds had been accumulated so that consideration could be given to a permanent site and discussions with the Durban Municipality were held to establish a suitable site.

The DSME in the early days included amongst its membership, a yachting and boating Section. There was also a Section for speed boats, racing cars and aeroplanes, so a site which allowed for model cars (generally tethered at that time), space for flying model aeroplanes (where noise would not be a problem) and a pool for the model boats would be required.

A site was offered at the Bluff Bird Sanctuary which had water available for boating. This, however, was considered as being too remote for the rail requirements and a site at Blue Lagoon, alongside the Umgeni River, was finally offered by the council and agreed upon.

Messrs Millar and Palmer laboured long and hard in bringing an agreement to fruition and a lease was finally signed on 18 December 1959.

The site was conveniently situated and was sure one to behold. About 10% was long grass and the balance Lantana and Reeds. Bush clearing commenced on Sunday 13 March 1960, as did the fencing in the same month. The hard core members rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in clearing, whilst the wives kept all going with copious quantities of suitable refreshments. The clubhouse building site was ready by April of that year and contractors commenced work in May. To save on costs, members did all the roof structures and there was not a single carpenter amongst them. Coronation Brick and Tile were also persuaded to provide all the tiles free of cost, as long as they were given a free hand to choose the colours and style and to be able to use this construction as an advertisement.

It was decided that an elevated track would be constructed and the concrete work for this commenced at the end of May. The extruded aluminium rail was organized by Laurie Wakemen as he had at one time worked for Huletts Aluminium in Pietermaritzburg. This was delivered to Union Engineering Supply Co of Durban for safe keeping.

The actual track laying started in the first week of June and the first trial run took place on Sunday 17 July 1960 and the unveiling of the foundation stone bearing the names of Rankin and Millar was on 23 July 1960.

The opening ceremony was a real grand affair and a great day for the Society and this was undertaken by the Honourable, A E Trollip, administrator of Natal. He duly drove in the last spike and an engraved plaque was fixed to the track at this point.

Mr George Perrem from Johannesburg, addressed the club members and guests and named the site, Kellaway Park. Mr Trollip then drove Basil Palmer's 3½" gauge gold medal winner, smartly decorated “Britannia” around the track. This opened the way for an additional 9 locos which had all been steamed up and ready to also move around the track, much to the joy of the 400 guests who had been invited.

In appreciation of the Administrator, in giving up his time to attend the opening ceremony, George Fisher presented him with a pair of gold plated, slip joint pliers, suitably inscribed and presented in a beautiful red ivory box.

Over the years it has been the practice of presenting trophies, in order to stimulate competition and to encourage good workmanship. In the latter years however, this exercise has been discontinued but mention should be made in recognition of the donors of the following trophies –

Championship of Exhibition - J A Rankin

Best Loco - R Millar

Marine Section - Road Society Trophy

Stationary Section - R B Smith Trophy

Junior Section - Hobbies Fair Cup

Workshop Equipment - Ladysmith Challenge Cup

Over the years, numerous visitors have made a point of looking up various officers and members and there has been a healthy exchange of interesting letters, all too numerous to detail with the one possible exception. In 1967 we had a visit by a Mr Moore, the founder of the Myford lathe, who kindly addressed the club at a Special meeting at the home of Laurie Wakeman.

Some premonition of the fate of Kellaway Park must have stirred in the mind of one person, who had laboured so long for its establishment, for Basil Palmer was transferred to Johannesburg. However, before he left, he arranged for the first and most enjoyable Christmas dinner at the Astra Hotel. The Society was soon informed that the Kellaway Park track site was required by the City Council for the construction of the new Athlone Bridge. What a sad and tragic sight it was to see all the efforts over the years, bulldozed to the banks of the Umgeni River. 

In fact, to the very area where years before, club members had dumped all the Lantana and reeds from the clearing operation.

So, after several years of some very enjoyable running on our first continuous track, we had to start the process all over again. The old clubhouse was however spared and this was handed over to the model yacht club for their sole use.

This Division soon became strong enough to become independent of the DSME and they formed their own association. They however, supported the Society over the years, whenever exhibitions were held.

This is a potted history of the DSME prior to the construction of Kellaway Hall. 

Used by kind permission of Theo Gooden and Brian Lester. Thank You.

Some Notes on the Construction of the Miniature Railway at Hinton Grove by Stan Nixon.

I arrived in Durban on transfer from Salisbury in January 1967, just in time to take part in developing the track site for DSME at Hinton Grove. Very soon after getting my families accommodation arranged, I contacted Norman King, who welcomed me to Durban and gave me a lift to the next meeting of the Society, which was the last to be held at the Athlone Bridge site and there, I met several other members and arranged membership. The new clubhouse had been finished and handed over and other work completed by a contractor, including brick pillars and the tunnel. Elsewhere, the ground had to be levelled and growth removed. It is difficult now to recall just what a mess the area was and my thoughts on first sight of it were “how on earth can we ever build a track here?” But hard labour by members and some wives prevailed and it eventually took shape.

John Elston was chief surveyor because he had access to a theodolite and knew how to use it. There were some good scroungers around.

Norman King was the leader, the king-pin, planner and overall boss. His slogan was “do it my way – the right way” and whilst he was not the easiest person to work with, nonetheless his methods were practical and generally correct. The results have stood the test of time.

We hit it off very easily from the outset and our friendship never faltered. My first visit to a work party landed me the job of making the bookcases and display cupboards in the clubhouse. Norman had heard that I knew which end of a chisel to hold so suggested I might like to do these. I agreed thinking that this would be my contribution to the new track; little did I know.

After installation of the bookcases and cupboards one Saturday morning, I took a walk around to see what was happening and found Norman and Denny Trueman starting on the retaining walls. As I had some experience of brick-laying I picked up a trowel and laid a few blocks. Once Norman had seen that I could do this to his satisfaction, he left me to it and so for a long time thereafter, I was building the retaining walls. The Council got involved here as it had to be satisfied that they were sufficiently strong and adequately reinforced to do the job. Last time I looked it seems that they did so well enough.

It became apparent that the development required regular work parties to complete it in a reasonable time and just to turn up for a Saturday afternoon once in a while would not do. So it became an every Saturday occupation for a few of us from 8:30 to 4 pm, assisted by a number of workers recruited from Mount Edgecombe Sugar Estate. They had to be collected and returned to their hostel. Some other club members worked Saturday afternoons but the regulars were Norman King, Denny Trueman and I for those three years or so.

However, as time wore on and track laying began, there was a much stronger help from a larger number. Of course other work was in hand in the background e.g. George Fisher and Bill Smith were largely responsible for the club engine “Netta”.  As both worked for SA Railways, it was suggested the engine should be named Sarah but this light hearted suggestion was not followed up. George was also our photographer and the records he left speak for themselves. Bill built the traversers and the rolls for curving the rail. Theo Gooden was a regular Sat PM worker and chief negotiator.

One thing we failed to keep was an attendance Register.

We made regular appeals for support from members, stating the length of time the project was taking. Following one such appeal, Eric Angus said “hold on – what is your hurry – Rome was not built in a day.” The response to that remark was that it might have been if Norman King had been there.

Work on the track involved casting foundations to a pre-set level and this proceeded well. Due to the sandy nature of the ground, digging holes was not difficult. A pre-cast slab on top, completed the found and then the pillars could be set with slips of packing (courtesy of Theo Gooden) in between. Pre-cast beams were then laid.

With the main work on the ground almost complete, attention was given to the BRIDGE. The area to be spanned was waterlogged in those days as Durban North did not have a water borne sewerage system so much water from soak pits seeped its way downhill to that low lying area as well of course as natural rainfall. As a first step, I had a civil engineer friend give an opinion following a test of the area to be spanned. This involved a probe with a length of sharpened 3/8” reinforcing rod pushed into its limit. His advice was that our idea of 6” treated poles driven in as far as they would go would be satisfactory. So now let me recall a typical scenario.

I am in my workshop one evening, when Norman King rolled up.

Norman: “What are you doing Stan?”

Stan: “Well as you can see I’m working on my loco.” (A 3½" G GNR Atlantic – LBSC’s Maisie)

Norman: “Stop that. We are going to build a Pile Driver.”

Stan: “A pile driver – What for?”

Norman: “To drive piles – what else – for the Bridge.”

Stan: “Why pick on me – can’t you make it at your workshop?”

Norman: “No – you have more space.” (His shop was a built-in balcony off his 1st floor bedroom. Mine was ½ a double garage.)

Stan: “So what form will this pile driver take?”

Norman: “Think of a capstan. A drum, say 4” revolving very slowly with 3 or so turns of a rope around it. The rope to a ……….. wheel on top of a shear legs attached to a cube of concrete on a 2’ 6” length of steel borehole pipe. Place our wooden pole in position with the top inside the pipe, tighten the rope around the drum, up goes the weight, release the rope, down comes the weight on the pole, do that a few hundred times and in goes the pile. Get the idea?”

It was about this time I first heard him use the expression “KISS” (Keep it simple, stupid).

So, a pile driver was built compromising a 1HP electric meter with a small bicycle sprocket on the shaft which had a small “A” section vee belt pullet on the other end to the larger drum shaft. This drum was salvaged from a B & W W.I.F Boiler tube in my scrap box, as was all the other bits and pieces. We probably had to buy the plummer blocks and shafts.

The motor came from my 10” belt/disc sander and it is still there giving good service after 40 years or so. The thing worked and one of our local labourers became adept at operating it. I can’t recall the number of piles driven in as far as they would go, then the surplus sawn off at ground level and a concrete foundation cast around the top. Denny Trueman had great fun in the mud sawing off the tops. Theo was heard to say “he was as happy as a pig in muck.” We did have many a good laugh.

George Fisher’s photo record of this operation (available on DVD for anyone interested - Ed) is particularly good but on viewing it now, I wonder what a present day “Occupational and Safety Officer” would say of our efforts.

The pre-cast supports were cast into the foundations and then the shuttering placed on top. The pillars and side rails completed the job and when last seen nearly 30 years after, seemed to have stayed firmly in place. Does anyone want the former I made to roll the bends in the railings? I’ve still got it. Theo had them galvanised of course. The area dried up considerably since a water borne sewerage system was installed in the surrounding suburbs and I expect this was much to the benefit of Kings Bridge.

With the bridge complete, we could give attention to the track and work was started on this. But there was still the steaming bays and station so we could not relax. Fortunately many more hands turned up for work parties and track laying was a hive of industry. The alloy rail in 30’ lengths was rolled as required through Bill Smith’s excellent rolls and fixed on wooden sleepers to the required radius using a steel tape from the centre point. To ensure even tension, a spring balance scale was attached to the end of the tape and always pulled to the same mark. Pulling this lot fell to Denny I recall, perhaps because it was his idea. The straights were much easier.

A date was fixed for the official opening but there was still much to be done in the way of tidying up the site, build the station, make the traverses and cast the concrete ends of the track to them. This involved the making of shuttering from donated packing cases and much concrete. The station was laid out and foundations cast, incorporating the pre-cast pillars but as time was running out, I took a week of my annual leave to do the brickwork around them.

At last all was done and the official opening took place on 30th May 1970 with guest of honour the Mayor, Mr Trevor Warman, officiating and driving Norman King’s 3½" G sugar cane loco “Umoba” on the first lap to break the tape. All went well and we hosted visitors from MR Societies all over SA.

This completed a major effort on the part of a few people and in concluding this article, I have to say that despite criticism from some members who contributed nothing else, without Norman King the track would certainly have taken longer to build and would probably not have been so substantial. For myself, I gave a lot of time and effort to the development and was well satisfied with the result of our work.          I suppose the satisfaction of making something is a major part of model engineering.