Vin

Vin Callcut (professionally Eur Ing V. A. Callcut, CEng, FIM, MIQA) had many years of work with copper, brass and other copper alloys. Leaving Sir George Monoux Grammar School, Walthamstow, he started his working life in 1952 with the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association and qualified as a metallurgist by part-time day release study as did many others at that time. Research work was connected with the analysis, fabrication, properties and application of coppers and other metals.

In 1966 he moved to industrial life with Enfield Rolling Mills, a 40-acre site producing many thousands of tons of copper, brass and copper alloy sheet, strip, plate, rod and wire each year. As Quality Assurance Manager he was able to help ensure that the materials were fit for the customers' purposes. A keen member of the London Metallurgical Society at a time when there was still plenty of metallurgical industry in and around the Capital, he was elected to the Council and did an enjoyable spell as Chairman.

Representing the Birmingham-based British Non-Ferrous Metal Federation on British Standards Institute Technical Committees gave him the chance to meet many other members, makers and users. As Chairman of Committee NFE/34 ‘Copper and Copper Alloys’ for many years, he helped work towards common British, European and International agreements on copper and copper alloy specifications. The International work gave him the opportunity to meet and hear the ideas of people across Europe and the rest of the world.

In 1979 he joined Copper Development Association to help industrial designers make best use of copper and copper alloys in general, electrical, mechanical and marine engineering applications. During this period he authored or co-authored over a hundred articles, papers, books, videos and datadiscs. When attending International Copper Association meetings he was able to meet the directors and staff of many other copper development organisations world-wide and many of their manufacturing members. After pioneering the use of floppy discs and CD-ROMs to distribute copper information, he instigated the use of a CDA website to make available the entire contents of all 56 of their publications. He was awarded The Institute of Materials ' Sir Ronald Prain' Medal in 1999 in recognition of his services to the copper industry.

Now retired from the position of Director, he has been able to concentrate on appreciating the many functional and attractive items of domestic metalware in use or to be found in attics, collectors fairs, at auction, and in second-hand dealers shops and malls. He produces website articles for the 'Innovations' Page of Copper Development Association Inc. in New York. In spare time, Hilary and Vin enjoy travel in America and Europe, photography and also find time for modelling Colorado narrow gauge railroads. They are keen members of the Broseley Local History Society.

The book being written on domestic copper and brassware will fill a long-felt want for a comprehensive introduction to the subject that covers mostly the items made after about 1850, the year where the good books on antique items have left off.

Technical publications, articles and videos

Non-technical articles

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