Category Archives: Mr Watt Goes to the Museum

Grumpy Man of Metal

Battery Cycle ( converting a 1939 bicycle to electric)

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Jon

I used to ride this 1939 Royal Enfield Ladies Loop frame bicycle around Brighton back in the Eighties, before putting it out to pasture and hanging it up from the workshop roof . So when the desire for an electric … Continue reading →

Posted in Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged battery bike, craft, make electric bike, metaljon, metalwork, old bicycle electric, swytch | 2 Comments

Going Loco

Posted on May 27, 2017 by Jon

12 months ago I was asked to propose a design to embellish a ‘pavilion’ structure conceived by architect John Whiting as a focal point for a new housing estate by Croudace Homes in Ashford, near the site of the old … Continue reading →

Posted in Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged ashford, Blastreat, coffee pot train, croudace, hastings class, john whiting, locomotive, metaljon, metalwork, public art, victorian workers, works | Leave a comment

The Pear-ly gates

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Jon

Back in the day, the Marquis of Bristol, who lived in Brighton’s Sussex Square, had a penchant for pears. He experimented and hybridised them in his market gardens on Manor Road (behind the square), his work being acknowledged and supported … Continue reading →

Posted in Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged artist, artists in schools, brighton, grumpy man of metal, public metalwork | 3 Comments

MISGUIDED MAN RESTORES POINTLESS VEHICLE!

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Jon

STOP PRESS!! Read all about it! This week’s Classic car buyer magazine – Out now!!

Posted in childrens book, Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged austerity vehicle, blacksmith, childrens books, girder fork van, grumpy man of metal, jon mills, lost industry, metalwork, Mr Watt, public art, reliant | Leave a comment

“Watt’s in his head”

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Jon

So I have spent my time writing a new Mr Watt story and ended up with 50 objects that were required to illustrate it. The story is about Mr Watt’s dream – the loss of his sparkle and the subsequent … Continue reading →

Posted in jon mills, Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged art, artists in schools, blacksmith, childrens books, craft, education, grumpy man of metal, lost industry, metalwork, Mr Watt, public art, sculpture, welding | 2 Comments

Wiston Steam Rally Ahoy!

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Jon

Wiston Steam Rally Ahoy! Again with thumping heart I set off on the negligible mileage to Wiston Steam rally – 40 mins away (15 in any other vehicle). Sooo relieved to get there, and straight away the conversations start. Old … Continue reading →

Posted in engineering, jon mills, metaljon, Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged austerity vehicle, classic cars, girder fork, Mr Watt, reliant, steam rally, van, wiston, Wiston Steam | Leave a comment

A bridge (not) too far

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Jon

Thanks to Sian Edwardes-Evans for recently sending me some photos of ‘my’ Dyfi Bridge in Machynlleth, Wales – 15 years on and they brought back mixed memories – nightmare deadlines/penalty clauses/ anxiety over technical & dimensions issues/ welding certificates and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged artist, bridge, dyfi, Dyfi Bridge, jon mills, metaljon, metalwork, public art, sculpture | Leave a comment

A short film…

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Jon

and it’s all about moi! Thanks to Echo Video for wanting to make it:

Posted in Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Leave a comment

Kids in the Shed!!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Jon

60 kids from Hertford Infants School at the workshop. Mr Watt’s shed gets it’s first occupants! Wonky metalwork explained…. …to an attentive audience: then the walk back to school, and they’re all exhausted! See the Kingfisher class blog at: http://kingfisherclassblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/visit-to-jon-millss-workshop/

Posted in childrens book, craft, engineering, jon mills, metaljon, metalwork, Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged art, artists in schools, blacksmith, childrens book, craft, education, metaljon, metalwork, Mr Watt, public art, school visits, schools | 1 Comment

Hey Kids!!

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Jon

Here’s me giving a talk to Hertford Infants school assembly. A quick history of my career to date, from automata and furniture, to public art and demo’s of the Mr Watt eBooks. What a receptive and appreciative audience! (with thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in artist in schools, childrens book, craft, engineering, jon mills, metaljon, metalwork, Mr Watt Goes to the Museum | Tagged animation, art, artists, artists in schools, blacksmith, childrens books, craft, design, grumpy man of metal, infants, metal man, metalwork, Mr Watt, schools, talks, technology | 2 Comments

	Mr Watt on Battery Cycle ( converting a 1…
	E Cycle on Battery Cycle ( converting a 1…
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	Mr Watt on E.V.-jeebies
	hibbertlou on E.V.-jeebies