The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

tribune november 30 1988 c13 mechanical mac can get the job done by bruce stapley hes slowed down a step and a recent fall restricts his head movement but at age 87 clare- monts mac middleton still has a passion for things mechanical the lifetime area resident has become known for his intense in terest in steam engines through the years he has built them restored and reconditioned them and still goes out to the shed to tinker with the old waterloo model he is so proud of born malcolm middleton on april 9 1901 mac caught on as a section keeper in the claremont area for the cpr at the age of 17 staying on until he was 61 while his job description did not specifically include working with motors and engines he could always be counted on to fix an ailing jigger those little cars used by railroad maintenance men after retiring in 1961 mac went to work for 15 years as a caretakermaintenance man for a local farmer applying his con siderable mechanical skills to the upkeep of the farm equipment he lives in the same house he has occupied for 49 years the dwelling in which he and his wife who died in 1975 raised his four children while he can still recall the days when he would parade his steam engines and diesel tractors in fairs and demonstrations from brougham to beaverton he con tinues to spend time out in the sh ed with the old waterloo along with a few of his friends of the same era mac goes about the annual exercise of preparing the old steam engine for winter draining the water and greasing down the moving parts i built my own steam car from a 1932 buick he states i took a cutting torch to the back end of it then installed the steam engine when asked just how fast the car would travel he looks up chuckles and teases oh about 400 miles per hour having got the laugh he was looking for he settles down ex plaining that he would run the car at 40 miles per hour oh occasion id drive it into stouffville fill her up with water then head back home to claremont mac would make saws out of old gas engines when he was younger and once took an engine from a stanley steamer to make a steam engine of his own his waterloo was driven in this years claremont sesquicenten- nial parade by brian benson his grandson macs living room con tains a collection of plaques and mementoes acknowledging his expertise with steam engines through the years and he was never reluctant to use his mechanical knowhow to help his neighbors every sum mer he would fix everybodys lawn mower hed work on anything that involved machinery says his daughter grace benson that was his hobby that kept him going but his hobby had to be put on hold following a bad fall in oc tober 1987 that resulted in a broken neck mac spent 10 months in ux- bridge hospital the first six with a halo on his head to keep it straight that device was then replaced by a standard neck brace while his head and neck mobili ty is restricted he is currently able to function without a support apparatus sitting at his kitchen table he recalls the faces and names in most of the old newspaper clipp ings that chronicle his steam engine outings in days gone by why thats bill foxs engine he exclaims smiling it was a lot like mine fine tuning intricate engines has always been a snap for mac mid dleton hes seen here working the levers on a steam engine friends have always counted on him when something went wrong with their machines mac has col lected many memories over the years and has watched claremont grow from a tiny farming com munity to one that attracts more residents each year at age 87 mac middleton still enjoys tinkering with ail things mechanical his pride and joy in past years was this steamdriven automobile that hed often take out for a drive a younger mac middleton posed each picture triggers a mini- reminiscence and more than the odd smile he then recalls the claremont of his youth and com ments on the changing times its a city now he says of his home town but the growth is good as long as the town keeps going thats the main thing he then puts on his coat and heads out to show off his pride and joy taking full note of the positions of the levers and gauges who let this lever down he asks exasperated he knocks it back into place with his cane tests the flywheel to make sure it hasnt seized nods approvingly and moves on to the next piece of antiquated machinery maybe well start it up again in the spring he offers then heads back inside to the warmth of the kitchen proudly here with his machine a lifelong claremont resident mac is still recovering from a broken neck he suffered in a fall last year f vacation time peace of mind lift rspv b0nded m and lnsurelj professionals will provide reliable care and maintenance when you travel pet feeding and exercising why board your pets when ihey are happier and healthier in their own home home security anti maintenance vabdate your insurance policy and pro tect your home with a tvedin ap pearance when youre away colection of mail and flyers adjustment ol light plant care snow removal and more the grandparents program livein or hourly child or senior care provided by mature reliable sitters markhamunionville stouffville 2945425 other offices in toronto brampton st catharinesniagara and oakville and other major credit cards n housesittebs iav your pets plants t h to rue eoncet professionus the new motor vehicle repair act better protection for ontario car owners aotff icfoi we provide estimates and warranties ow all part5 amd la0l3r manag ait- now available jjbjl i driving school i registered and approved tjy trie ontano safety i leaoue to educate ohfisn main nc counts lor an aoes sun etrryecct i shop and compare ioaytvevng saturdays and ataionttar a 25 nowsol classroom nskucton i 15 pin amiq lessons automate 600 rai a i erw about omoaism course jk uetme member hp j mv i regular course fee 279 economist course fee 265 when you present this ad upon application ontario car owners will be better protected through the new motor vehicle repair act included in the new act are the following provisions repairers must provide a written estimate on request customers must be advised in advance if there is a fee for an estimate and the amount of the fee the actual repair cost cannot exceed 10 per cent of the written estimate without authorization the repairer must offer return of removed parts to the consumer when the work is authorized a warranty must be provided on new or reconditioned parts and associated labour for a minimum of 90 days or 5000 kilometres for motorcycles and motorassisted bicyclesthe warranty period is 30 days or 1500 kilometres conspicuous signs must be posted stating repair rates and the methods used to calculate the charges a detailed invoice must be provided to the customer describ ing the vehicle work performed parts installed and their price number of hours billed and terms of the warranty if the vehicle becomes inopera ble or unsafe due to defective repairs while under warranty the customer must return the vehicle to the original repairer unless it is unreasonable to do so if it is necessary to have the vehicle repaired by another repairer the consumer may recover the original cost of the work and reasonable towing charges from the original repairer all car repairers must display a sign directing consumer com plaints to the nearest regional office of the ministry of consumer and commercial relations toronto 41 69630321 thunder bay 8074751 641 london 5196797150 windsor 5192546413 hamilton 4165217554 ottawa 6135663878 sudbury 7056754378 peterborough 7057438782 attention repairers repairers needing additional details may obtain a fact sheet and other information by con tacting the nearest consumer services bureau indicated above ministry of consumer and commercial relations ontario william wrye minister david peterson premier 1 executive offices in historic unionville in the heart of old unionville there exists a rare opportunity to lease you own private serviced office in a landmark building for less tlian the cost of a secretary alone j we provide everything you need an air conditioned designerfurnished of fice some with skylights and each unique reception board room an servery personalized telephone answering copier fax telex and laser wor processing even parking and complimentary coffee j if setting up an office close to tome makes sense to you call lo arrange viewing there are still 11 choice suites available call now to reserve yours offices from s590mth yv identity plans 175mth 4he 4774744 178 main street v t mm insurance satih 3 cswaesvro2nsots income la fu dnjucitte s mcf otes jw ztmwklnltumlhtmtim i l55jmjth35hrtbkthcn 235 hem w june 206wmtoolm 45dhmrtthlliflbntsmmr umptck-ei- 14 kr strike 5322626 op 5323656 f i struct tier art i singer super specials model a 3102 only 149 only 349 over cast button holes monograms free arm stretch stitch 14 stitches 6 decorative stitches automatic buttonholes sews 8 layers denim 1 silk chunky knitter only 249 serders 0nly499 adjustable stitch width retractable blade blind stitch singer approved dealer scarborough town sewing centre 2960444 these prices avcbake only at scarborough town centre uppc level across from pro hardware with presentation of this ad