Two slightly-different, vintage, 1:20 scale models of the large (~3 m wide by 6 m tall) mechanical presses used in the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Branch at Chalk River. The presses, originally manufactured by the Hepburn Engineering Company in Toronto in the 1960s, were extrusion presses made to fabricate the fuel rods used in the National Reactor Universal (NRU) reactor. The two working models, which stand 40 cm in height, were made as retirement gifts designed for use in the compression rather than extrusion mode (as nutcrackers).
The 1992 model, presented to Peter Purvis on his retirement, used mild steel bolts and shows signs of rust while the 1993 version has stainless steel bolts and stands on a wooden base. The plaque for Peter reads ”Peter Purvis, 1957-1992, In Appreciation from NFFF” while the plaque on the unit presented to Ross reads “ ROSS – THANKS FROM THE GANG AT NFFF, 1989-1993”.
