By Master Harry R. Wickline
Jimmy Thornton’s dad had been an engineer at a great steel works in his native town of Bridgeville, but a fearful accident occurred one day, resulting in his losing his life along with several other workmen. Jimmy helped to support his Mother and little sister and was employed as an office boy with a firm of motor vehicle manufacturers. He was very much interested in engineering and in his spare time would go into the shops and
watch the expert mechanics assembling the motors. Engines, transmissions, gear-boxes and differentials grew from a collection of parts into the splendid and powerful ‘Forward’ motor trucks under the efforts of the workmen.
In his leisure hours at home Jimmy would get out his Meccano Outfit and build many models, striving to imitate in miniature the ‘’Forward” truck. The lessons he had learned in the assembling shop were well remembered, for as he wanted to be a motor engineer, he had done all that he could to learn the fascinating business. Henderson, the foreman, took an active interest in Jimmy, giving him many hints and other assistance. Every man on the staff, from the chief draughtsmen downwards, was a friend of Jimmy’s. He soon knew the “Forward” truck by heart and was able to explain everything about it that an ordinary person could wish to know and in addition many things that only an expert would think of enquiring about.
At the time this story is written Jimmy’s attention was centred on the big Meccano Competition, and his great desire was to win a prize. He often thought eagerly of the cash prizes that would mean so much to him, for his father, good and kind though he had been, had left them little with which to fight the battle of life.
At his home the model on which he had been working was now completed and Jimmy had the satisfaction of seeing it work just like its great counterpart.
One day he took his model to the works and showed it to Henderson who looked at it and said :—
“Lad, you are a genius. It is indeed the ‘Forward’ truck in miniature.”
After having received this commendation, he hopefully filled up his entry form for the Meccano Competition and despatched it wishing that it might receive the first prize, for that would mean a great deal to him and his Mother. Meantime he worked hard, and day after day dreaming of becoming a motor engineer. His dreams did not stop at that, however, but soared until he saw himself chairman of a Motor Company of his own!
Some weeks after the great Competition had closed the results were published and then one day Jimmy received a long official looking envelope, bearing the inspiring name “Meccano Ltd.” in the top left-hand corner. Eagerly he tore it open and found inside a cheque for £15. When he read that he had won the second prize with his truck his joy knew no bounds. His success in this, his first competition, did not “turn his head” however, but he continued to work as hard as ever, every day considerably improving and adding to his knowledge.
One day just after he had taken in the letters to the private office, he noticed that Mr. Knight, the Managing Director, seemed to be very excited. Such expressions as “That order cannot be lost” and “Where is Dobson ?” filled the air. [Dobson was the Sales Manager for the “Forward” Company.] “The boss must have important business on hand to be so excited” thought Jimmy as he went about his duties. Later in the morning he was summoned to Mr. Knight’s office and sent with a telegram recalling Mr. Dobson, who was travelling in Scotland. On coming back Jimmy saw that the Managing Director was pacing the floor and the Works Manager and two other Directors were in consultation with him.
Passing the door of the office, Jimmy
heard Mr. Knight saying:
“We cannot lose this deal. It will bring us more business, for the firm from whom this enquiry comes are the largest wholesale grocers in the country. To sell them a fleet of a hundred ‘Forward’ Trucks will bring our firm to the favourable notice of many other truck buyers. Mr. Addison is to be here in the morning and if Dobson cannot be here to talk to him, the deal is off. We must have some one to explain the working details of the truck to Mr. Addison; Henderson is sick and Williams is on holiday.” [Williams was the general engineer for the Company.] “We simply cannot lose this deal and our rivals across the way are after it also.”
Jimmy waited to hear no more but very timidly opened the door of the office and said in a weak voice:
“Perhaps I can help you.”
“You!” exclaimed the three in chorus, “What do you know about trucks ?”
“Very little,” said Jimmy, “but I do believe I can explain the truck to Mr. Addison. I won a prize for a model of it from Meccano Ltd., Sir, and it worked just like the real truck. Henderson also taught me a whole lot about it. Please, Sir, do let me try.”
“H—m—,” mused the Managing Director, and then turning to Jimmy, asked: “Meccano is the engineering toy for boys, isn’t it?”
“Yes Sir,” returned Jimmy with pride,
“you can make anything with Meccano.”
“Before we give you permission,” said the Managing Director, “we should like to see this model of your’s.”
So Jimmy went home to fetch his model. He explained it to the Managing Director in whose mind no doubt lingered. It was the “Forward” truck in miniature.
“Wonderful! You are a real mechanic,” said the Managing Director. “You shall talk to Mr. Addison.”
The next morning Mr. Addison called and Jimmy, dressed in his best, was ready to receive him. Jimmy showed his Meccano model of the “Forward” Truck and explained it so well that in an hour’s time the Managing Director had the firm’s order for a hundred trucks.
After the interview Mr. Addison, talking to Mr. Knight, asked:
“Where did you get that lad ?”
On being told, Mr. Addison said: “He knows your truck from A to Z.”
“Yes,” said the Managing Director smilingly, “he is our youngest engineer.”
From that time Mr. Knight took an active interest in Jimmy who learned the business so thoroughly that to-day Mr. James Thornton, though only twenty-six years of age, is Assistant Manager of the “Forward” firm and bids fair to reach a higher position before long. In speaking of his success to his friends he would say “It is all due to Meccano. Without my Meccano I wouldn’t be where I am now. Boys, if you want to be something, get a Meccano Outfit and with it study the principles of engineering.”
He was only voicing the sentiments of a million other happy Meccano boys many of whom will surely become enrolled amongst the world’s greatest engineers.
Wickline, H. (1922 December). How Jimmy Thornton Made Good. Meccano Magazine, Vol 29, 4