Remote Control Pioneer

By Abdool A. Aziz
THE school was next door but he didn’t attend it. Instead, he littered his mother’s one bedroom apartment with scraps of wires, glass, tin, old bulbs and batteries.

His tools were scissors, a pair of old plyers, a screwdriver, his electronic brain, his clever hands and unlimited patience. From morn to night he sat in the midst of the ‘garbage’ creating some genius invention. Though folks brought their old clocks and pocket radio for repairs, he was more keen on creating.

One day, he saw a picture of the world’s luxury liner, the Queen Mary. He decided to make a replica of it. Not just a model but a real one that could sail. He went to a local sawmill and collected a piece of silver ball, and carved out its hull. He was a master sculptor. Then he made her four funnels followed by the anchor and propellers, all from salvaged scrap. I would go and sit on his front step and admire his Midas touch.

A young man so imaginative and skilled, from sculpting, to foundry, to engineering. It’s time for the black stone engine, and the genius produced one. I’ll never forget the moment he placed his prized work in a wooden tub of water and switched on the engine. It was a marvel to see those twin screws churn the water and send the unique vessel sailing. Then he switched on the lights and blew the horn. It was a masterpiece- unbelievable!

Now he busted his 52 ounces of grey matter. He must maneuver this magnificent craft by remote. His mental brilliance produced the first remote control gadget in British Guiana in the year 1950. He became the pioneer. What an accomplishment for the young illiterate lad! Simple, humble and productive, equipped with an electronic brain.

The elite, white management appointed a special day for him to display this crafty creation. The whole estate turned out to watch and marvel Maxwell, humbly set the vessel on the placid water. It drifted to midstream, all wanted to know how he would retrieve it. Then a murmuring sound, the engine began to idle, the light came on. The horn blew and suddenly the propellers kicked up water. The ‘Queen’ began sailing and Max got her to sail in circles. All were amazed.

When Her Royal Highness visited Guiana she saw the luxury liner on the canal. She was so impressed she offered to buy the super ship with no sail. Polytechnic in London, he ignored it. To him, the creation of an electronic and electrical gadget fulfilled his ambition, and he made good money. He was par excellence – unique.

He was handsome, a wizard and hero to many, well respected and admired. When his mother died he became heartbroken and took to the bottle. His cottage was cluttered with radios, clocks and other equipment waiting to be repaired. He lost interest in the profession.

The ‘gold diggers’ took his money. He died a pauper, all wondered about the ‘Queen’ who had it? Where it disappeared? Rumour has it that one of his paramours took it to London and scored big, financially, by selling it to the Royal Museum. If so, then we salute Max – A Guianese masterpiece in high society, but more so our pioneer of remote control. So sorry for a gifted brain to go down the drain.

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