This is the best holiday video ever. I share it with you today with the feeble Christmas excuse that Ellen Willmott once owned such an engine.

It’s well known that Ellen owned a Holzapffel lathe. She was not alone in this, it was something of a craze among the aristocracy – who were the only folk who could afford them. Ellen bought hers in 1891 as, presumably, something to do while her sister Rose dallied with her new fiancé Robert Valentine Berkeley, and responsible for some very beautiful items in ivory and wood, few of which survive today.

By far the most of what is left of Ellen’s turned objects may be found at the History of Science Museum, Oxford:

…and I am currently the holder of one other item, a reading stand that is, alas, a shadow of its former self…

…shown displaying a print by fabulous artist Jane Fredericks who I will write about in depth soon.

When this poor old reading stand was found in – shall we say ‘a location’ – it had had a hard life. Its ornamental page holders had been wrenched out

and what was probably a leather or felt pad pulled off, but Ellen’s turning work is still clear on it.

There is no doubt Ellen was extremely skilled – this was not just a fly-by-night hobby.

Many of her ‘science-y’ objects ended up at the MHS Oxford for reasons I’ll explain in another post. I’m in the middle of some deep-diving in that respect, watch this space.

I always knew the items held by the museum included that Holzapffel lathe. Alas, I’ve never seen it as it’s in storage and too big to get out so I confess I’ve temporarily ‘borrowed’ this image from the splendid Ornamental Turning website where you will find all things ornamental and turned.

…and I always assumed that it and the rose engine that I’d seen mentioned were one and the same.

I was astonished to find, however, that they are, in fact, two different items. The museum has TWO of Ellen’s turning machines. I’ve not seen the rose engine either, but it will look much like the ones in these videos:

The rose made for much more detailed work than the holzapffel, mainly decorative and for fine engraving. Just look at that machine turn – I’m the least technical individual on earth and I found the videos mesmerising.

I am very keen to track down more of Ellen’s turned items, so if you know of any that ancestors may have acquired – either as presents from Miss Willmott herself or as booty from the 1935 auction, let me know…