Last year this engineer asked for and received some lubrication in the form of a good single malt. Joints are beginning to squeak again.
Tony Holme, Derby
A lightsaber! It will bring out the child in me.
Amarjit Matharu, London
I would give The What on Earth? Wallbook of Science & Engineering. It doesn’t matter what age you are, there is something new to learn about our engineering history.
Heather Clarke, Lincoln
Money no object? I have always fancied my own steam engine – albeit in miniature – so a lovely live steam locomotive for the garden railway would be awesome! Even better if it was coal (rather than gas) fired.
James Hilton, Cheshire
I’ve been asking Santa for an electric car every Christmas for at least a decade. C’mon Santa, I’m getting impatient. Top speed of the legal limit, range of 160km, price the same as diesel. Charge at home overnight. Pleeeeeeeaaaaase!
Stewart Brown, St Andrews, Fife
Oh man, I would love a big box of Meccano or Lego Technic to play with. I’ve also had my eyes set on a petrol-powered remote-control car for years, which would be great to assemble! There’s something special about assembling parts – the connection between man and machine and then being able to claim the creation as yours.
Russell Burton, Pennsylvania
Last year I got a Crookes radiometer and a few years before that I was given a little Sterling engine. I rather fancy one of the Sterling engines made by Bohm this year. I might buy a copy of Minecraft for one of my younger relatives. I’m certain that the engineers and draughtsmen of the future are currently playing it in creative mode.
Chris Greatrix, Gloucester
I have always been interested in canals, so a narrowboat holiday taking in the Anderton boat lift and the Falkirk Wheel would be much appreciated.
Paul France, Telford
Fischer Technik construction kits: for my nephew (to have the same fun as I had at his age) and for myself (to rapidly visualise my latest ideas to my non-technical colleagues).
Joachim Neff, Birmingham
Raspberry Pi or an Arduino electronics kit. Modern society is expecting more from the items in our lives and by playing with such simple things you can learn how to make something much more interactive/intelligent (much like the internet of things). The integration of technology systems into whatever we engineer will grow in future and such a gift could keep our younger generation ahead of the curve.
Dan Law, Oxfordshire
I would desperately like to replace my old hi-fi amplifier in the lounge with one that has a streaming facility so that I can enjoy wireless music in the conservatory before I get too deaf to enjoy it.
Ken Stonehouse, Chelmsford
I would like to receive a well-trained and programmed robot specially skilled in opening wine bottles. This would enable me to sit in a comfy chair with feet up, avoiding wasting precious energy going forwards and backwards to the wine store.
John McFarlane, Uddingston, Glasgow
I’m going to buy my three-year-old grandson a Build It starter set from Early Learning. It’s a Meccano-type construction toy but with large, safe plastic parts. Good fun for grandad.
Bill Pinfold, Wolverhampton
Meccano, obviously. Just need sufficient components to build a three-quarter scale Spitfire.
Paul Williams, Welshpool
Robotic arm, internal combustion engine kit, Meccano (old-fashioned ‘design it yourself’ rather that single-purpose kits) – toys that grandchildren and fathers will enjoy and illustrate how much fun engineering is.
Bill Loth, Reigate, Surrey
I would like to give all the hard-pressed industrial heritage charities across our country whose very survival depends on thousands of unpaid volunteers and ‘friends’ groups a tax-free ‘no strings’ cash bonus as a big thank you... but I don’t have the money.
Peter Barnett, Trowbridge
I would like to receive a gadget that can restore time and wind back the 2014 calendar, as it only seems like yesterday I was pondering what Christmas presents to buy.
David Mee, Newcastle
I would like to give all my friends a portable power consumption meter that can be clipped on any power cable to measure the amperes going through it. It will help them to appreciate the cost of energy consumed by appliances in their houses. A lot of people don’t know that keeping appliances like TVs on standby or mobile chargers plugged in drains energy from the mains.
Mehdi Raza, West Molesey, Surrey
Not quite engineering, but a shovel for my work as an engineman on a heritage railway.
Paul Russenberger, London
I am receiving a small steam engine, manufactured to my specification, for driving Meccano models. This will be used to appease my creativity which is frustrated by working in the nuclear industry. It’s also a great opportunity to have fun with the kids.
Roger Best, Kingsclere