PART FOUR - 1922 Power Boat Engine Repair
Malcolm explains the event in his March, 1971 Memoir. There are three
significant points worth recording. The first is Malcolm's claim that
Scott Bonnar had the "first electric welding plant in South Australia."

The second point goes to monopoly competition - and it's time-limited
advantage in this case. The Company did well for about three years, but
then, "the Engineering firms found they could purchase a plant and teach
their men in a few months to do all their steel work".

This is consistent with my evidence: the last welding advertisements
ended in late 1922. They do not appear again in newsprint advertising.

The third point is an observation. Malcolm's engine repair memory does
make it clear that electric welding did not save this broken engine casing.
It was foundry work! Malcolm was not trained in foundry work - but brother
Scott was ... I wonder who really saved the day ...?

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I mention this for the record because the event was clearly memorable to
Malcolm Bonnar half a century later. It would have gained the company publicity
- and work - for the welding side of the business. The March, 1922 article below
gives us detail about the early history of power boat racing, the Rymill brothers,
and the Van Blerck engine ...

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TO BE CONTINUED ...