Moss Engineering

33 Kings Lane
South Croxton
Leics. LE7 3RE
UK

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about us

Moss Engineering (A short history)

Experts in precision automotive re-engineering

Roger Moss spent over thirty years in the Special Purpose machine tools industry as part of the Leicester company 'Moss Machine Tools' , with customers in the Automotive, Aerospace, Defence and domestic appliance sectors.

The family company, started by his father Frederick Moss in 1946, was internationally reknowned for its insights into new manufacturing solutions and the very high quality of its products.

Its work with Rolls Royce in the 1980's to develop jet engine blade manufacturing technology was considered by their project manager to be central to the success that led to Rolls Royce winning the Queens award for innovation in 1989.

Moss Machine Tools was a victim of the decline in Manufacturing Industry, and finally closed its doors in 1991, not before manufacturing one of the most innovative special purpose machine tools that was created at the time for Ford Motor company.

Roger was cited by many as having been central to the success of Moss Machine Tools, and in his roles of Works Manager and Technical Director he was able to go some way to bring the realities of the shop floor metal cutting experience into the drawing office, to achieve designs that were both ground breaking and elegant in their simplicity.

To see a 20minute piece about some of the last machines made by 'Moss Machine Tools' : please click here (20 meg)

Roger Moss

Always had a love of practical and logical things. First worked machines at age 9 at fathers small factory at weekends. Could work most machines by 14 and after leaving school, worked as apprentice on toolmaking, and defence jobs.

Was works manager of family business at 24 and was involved in changes to produce special machines.

Was responsible for fitting out new factory and subsequent production of transfer machines and special projects for such as Ford, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Daimler Benz.

Had first Scott in 1967 and started to make Scott spares when it broke its crank the same year. Supplied Tom Ward and George Silk with Scott items for resale. Started racing in 1970 with vintage Scott and modern production bikes of the period such as Laverda and Ducati. Was president of British Formula Racing Club for many years and a member of VMCC racing section organising committee.

With demise of Moss Machine Tools Ltd in 1993, I considered what I would most enjoy in my later life.

I decided to have a modest cottage with a workshop and work “hands on”.

Moss Engineering make laser beam manipulator and workpiece manipulator and EDM rotary spindle modules for aerospace machine tools for work on aero engine components. We have produced batches of high strength crankshafts for Scotts and now have started to produce copies of the upgraded Scott type components that I had made for my own use over a period of 36 years.

Marina Moss

My Wife, Marina, is a Tatar lady from Russia and spent her adult life in Tashkent in Uzbekistan. She qualified to investigate inventions and obtain patents for those meeting the criteria. When Soviet citizens were permitted to run their own private company, she formed a company to provide USSR wide air freight services using hired military transport planes and crews. Marina also ran a theatrical agency which staged concerts.

Marina is happy to undertake any challenging and interesting project especially those where a knowledge of Russian systems are an advantage. Marina speaks Russian, Uzbek, Tatar and English.

he has not changed

Richard Moss

Richard is my son and trained as an engineer.He currently does work full time for Moss Engineering.

He has travelled some.

Richard returned to the UK to assist with the installation of a new machine tool at our plant and to join us in our Scott and other projects. Richard has raced also and owns the original Scott Racer i began Racing with in the early Seventies that he rebuilt over a matter of twenty years! and the 1939 Tiger 100 he is pictured on here.

He has also spent time living in the South West where he worked doing sustainable construction, using straw bale as insulation for timber framed buildings.

In the past Richard worked as Chief Engineer on a coral reef research ship in South East Asia and has sent the last couple of years making environmental documentaries for an organisation which focuses on 'sustainable' education.

He is upgrading his equipment currently but has plans to produce a film about Scotts ... and the reasons that people are fascinated by them ..

Ted Hills Design Guru

Ted Hills. Designer

We are very lucky to have the technical design support of an engineer like Ted.

His experience ranges from the largest dragline excavators, to special Spark erosion, Electro Chemical machines and Laser machines. A lifetime of unique knowledge is now applied to the refining of Alfred Scott’s creations. I am sure Alfred would approve

For Ted’s story click here.

Paul Dobbs Test, Development and race duties

Paul Dobbs

Paul is from New Zealand and has the resolute attitude to succeed that his countrymen are famed for. He trained and qualified as an automotive technician and went on to work for prominent main agents in New Zealand, Australia and UK. Paul also had a spell as test rider and technical writer for Performance Bikes magazine before becoming a test and development rider / mechanic for Triumph Motorcycles.

Paul has been racing with success for twelve years in company with such as the late Joey Dunlop at major circuits wherever he was living. Paul was intrigued at the concept of riding a vintage bike and used his knowledge to resolve a handling problem with our Scott, that had existed since 1970 and was thought to be insoluble. Thanks Paul!

Pic courtesy of Russel Lee shows Paul battling with vintage ace Ian Bain on the ex Jimmy Guthrie Norton.

email roger@mossengineering.co.uk or richard@mossengineering.co.uk