Eric Brain is a retired Senior Technician who dedicated over twenty-three years to the former Thermodynamics Laboratory within the Automotive Group of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath. During his tenure, he was instrumental in educating engineering students on the principles and operation of internal combustion engines, including petrol, diesel, and compression-ignition systems. His practical expertise and hands-on instruction contributed significantly to the department's applied engineering curriculum.
Eric Brain is particularly recognized for his work on innovative engine technologies. His contributions include development work on the Coventry Climax two-stroke H30 diesel engine, the low-friction Square Four diesel configuration, a series of prototype 900cc two-stroke Ford diesel engines, and a compact 1.8L diesel engine equipped with Electronic Unit Injection (EUI) systems. These projects played a role in advancing research on efficient diesel engine designs during the mid-20th century.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Eric has long held a passion for automotive restoration. Notably, in 1963 he performed a complete restoration of a 1930 Austin Seven Saloon, which he affectionately named Myrtle. The restoration required disassembling the car body and rebuilding all mechanical components from the ground up—a project that exemplified his mechanical skill and dedication to preserving vintage automobiles.
Since 1970, Eric Brain has focused extensively on restoring vintage stationary engines, a type of simple, oil-fueled machinery once used in agricultural and industrial settings. He currently maintains a collection of approximately forty stationary engines, many of which are rare and originate from the UK, the United States, France, and China. Among his favorite models are the Victoria engines, produced between 1906 and around 1920 by the Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Co. Ltd. His restored engines are regularly showcased at shows and vintage machinery rallies across the country.
Eric Brain has been an active contributor to various niche publications dedicated to machinery and engine heritage. His regular features have appeared in Stationary Engine Magazine and Farm & Horticultural Equipment Collector—both respected periodicals in the field of vintage machinery. In addition, he has contributed to Classic Plant and Machinery, sharing technical insights and historical context on restored equipment and engineering innovations.
His writing extends to biographical work as well. Eric assisted with the biography of engineer David Curwen, titled Rule of Thumb, capturing the legacy of a notable figure in engineering history. He has also contributed to the book Old Stationary Engines and published work in the Journal of the British Chelonia Group, illustrating both his breadth of interests and his commitment to historical documentation.
| Net Worth 2021: | 24.3 billion |
