Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Engine turned engraving

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Training issues: There are very few craftspeople still practicing engine turning at a professional level. Even fewer are willing or able to transfer their knowledge to the next generation.
  • Training issues: There are very few apprentices or trainees entering the craft. The Birmingham Jewellery School has a couple of machines and someone comes in to show show the students what can be done.
  • Market issues: Engine turning is extremely time consuming and is therefore very expensive for consumers. It is very difficult to make a living from engine turning – most people do it part time. It is hard to encourage people into a craft where it is difficult to make money.
  • Methods of working: Historically, engine turning was done in a trade-work context, with engine turners doing the work for other people. Today, there is very little demand for turning for others and the trade work is disappearing, so craftspeople either need to find new ways of turning alongside other things, or become designer-makers who make the whole item. Furthermore, engine turning is horribly unforgiving which can put people off, especially on gold and silver trade-work – it’s very easy to ruin a piece after many hours of other people’s work.
  • Public awareness: There is little public awareness of engine turning.
  • Changes in manufacturing: stamping and some CNC manufacturing techniques can produce a poor approximation of engine turning at a lower cost.
  • Shortage of equipment: The manufacture of engine turning machines came to an almost complete halt in the mid-twentieth century. Many machines were melted down for the war effort, and so those machines which survive today tend to be quite old. There are very few spare parts available, so people need engineering skills in order to make what the parts they need. Rose and straight line engines are incredibly rare machines and only a few working examples exist in the UK. This prevents anyone from learning the craft along with the fact that these patterns can be reproduced by modern CNC and laser machines.

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

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Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.