Up at the crack of dawn, I sped up the M1 to Newark this morning to catch the aerojumble at the air museum. I was convinced that someone would have a dusty square cardboard box with a new old stock Hercules piston! The ball joint from the sleeve I’d find in a box marked "miscellaneous – any item £5". I’d be driving home with all the parts I needed by half 10 🙂

It didn’t quite go down that way! I had a few detours on the way so I arrived later than I wanted. I was cursing my luck, imagining the bloke on the piston stall telling me he’d just sold a pair! As it turned out I needn’t have worried.

The jumble was interesting but mostly aircraft instruments and memorabilia. Some great stuff there and a friendly atmosphere, but it was fairly obvious that I wasn’t going to find anything on my list. I was all set to leave when I decided to make one last circuit and ask everyone, just in case.

Most of the stall owners had nothing, as I expected. But I did track down a gentleman who has three Hercules engines in various states! He was quite busy so I took his card and said I’d be in touch. It might come to nothing, but it’s always worth asking!