Without going into too much detail quite a number of motors actually came with these features, showing my age here
, and Mike was only repeating what was the common thinking of the time. If you come across John H Ahern's "Miniature Locomotive Construction" (published 1947 - the year before I was born
) you may be able to pick one up as I did last summer for holiday reading, for a couple of pounds second-hand. He shows quite a number of techniques and motor/gears sets as used in is locomotives and includes flexible drives and tender drive units using all the features described.
Many of us have much to thank Mike for as he was only too happy to produce wheels for less known prototypes, he did quite a number for Scottish engines and simply added them to his range. Anyone having met Mike and his wife, who was just as happy to run trains and chat at exhibitions, will know what a nice couple they are and appreciate what a great modeller he is. His models are quirky and interesting and inspired any number of modellers.
There is film of his layout on the internet, if you want to go looking.
Technology continues to impress and is changing the face of modelling, making it easier to gain perfection and building from scratch becoming rarer. Mike was an excellent scratch builder and it all worked which must say something for his ability in a different era.
This, of course should not be seen as any criticism of Bill as we all know with pleasure just how much Bill has enabled many fine models to be built by means of his own skills and is truly appreciated by all those who have used them - two great enablers using their individual skills. How lucky we have been to have both men.