Stationary Engine Magazine No.488 Lister twins Vorige editie

I recently received a very well written letter containing numerous comments on various topics relating to the hobby of collecting/exhibiting stationary engines and the preservation movement in general. However, while I agreed with virtually everything written, his letter will not be published in Stationary Engine magazine as it a company policy that the author of any letter/email printed in one of its magazines must be on record. As the person who penned the letter did not have the conviction of his/her words by providing a name (other than Grumpy) and/ or address, the letter went into the shredder. As Editor it is not my job to censor readers’ letters/emails just because I do not agree with the writer’s views on some aspect or other of our hobby; these do all get published. However, Stationary Engine magazine will not publish anything that is politically motivated, maligning or having a pop at someone. Please and thank you In the last few weeks a number of Helpline participants have commented that they have noticed a growing lack of good manners when it comes to enquiries made via the Internet. It appears that it is no longer considered ‘PC’ to say ‘please’ when asking for help or indeed to say thank you when an email has been answered; after all it does not take but a minute or two and at no cost to send a reply email to let the sender know that you have received the answer to your question.
I feel that I should reiterate my comments made on a number of previous occasions; Helpline participants give of their time freely, and while many queries can be answered fairly easily there are others that require a certain amount of research, so do not expect your email to be answered instantly, after-all they also have a life to live other that stationary engines. (Well, most of them!) Diary of Events 2015 By the time that you read these few words the 2014 rally season will be all-but over and our attention turns to what and where you will be rallying in 2015.