Barry J. Jordan was born in Derby, England in 1945. He left Joseph Wright Art School at 15, and secured an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce Aero Engine Division, Derby in the experimental department. After developing a range of ultrarsonic crack detection equipment used in non-destructive testing, he formed his own company in 1977 to manufacture this equipment.
In 1994, Barry was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Fearing the worst, he sold the business to Rolls-Royce and Associates, bought a Myford Super 7 lathe, a Raglan milling machine, built himself a workshop and went back to his boyhood love of model engineering. Fortunately, his tumor has responded well to medication and he is still turning out wonderful models from his home shop.
His first project was a one-inch scale mini traction engine. Then, looking for a theme different from the normal models seen at all international exhibitions, Barry decided to start making miniature classic machine tools. In 1997, he produced his first; the award winning 1/5 scale Bridgeport BRJ mill. This model took Best in Show at Harrogate, England in 1998 and has gone on to win many other awards in the UK. Barry is now working on his eleventh miniature machine, the Swedish made Tricept 805 five-axis machining center—quite a challenge.
