During the holiday, Shire went to the aircraft manufacturing plant.
He wasn't there to see Uncle Eric; Shire had heard that the alcoholic had turned into a henpecked husband ever since he quit drinking, going straight home every day after work to accompany his wife and teach his children, busy as a bee. Shire decided not to disturb their peace.
He went specifically to the research department of the aircraft manufacturing plant, where talent from Britain was gathered for engine development.
The research department looked more like a factory, or even a warehouse, with equipment, machinery, and workers everywhere. The workers were immersed in their tasks, using various tools to tinker with machines Shire couldn't understand.
Disassembling, cutting, welding, busy happily, without noticing Shire as he approached.
(Note: True welding appeared in 1881 as carbon arc welding, and electroslag welding emerged by 1915, though manual arc welding, invented by Sweden in 1910, was mostly used.)
