He crafts miniature machines, enters Guinness Book

A Nagpur-based engineer has earned a name for himself in the Guinness Book of Records for developing and designing miniature machines, steam engines and models of luxury motor cars, including world-class Mercedes Benz.

Iqbal Ahmed initially hired a mechanic in his early days to operate a lathe machine and then gradually acquired knowledge and began successfully running the lathe to make miniature models of vintage cars and engines, which has brought him global recognition.

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In 2001, the 50-something engineer created a one-inch steam engine and sent his entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, but it was rejected saying they have a record of steam engine whose size is less than one inch.

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Undeterred he continued to make tiny models. In 2004, fame came calling when the government permitted him to visit NAMES show in Detroit, where he went to the Antique Steam and Gas Engine museum.

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Ahmed later participated in the Sherline Mechanic's contest and won both first and second prize with his Sherline milling machine 5400 and Sherline milling machine 4000 at Vista in California that year itself.

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Continuing his efforts, he created a stationary steam engine of 6.8 mm length (0.267 inch) which this time earned him a place in the record books in 2007. This model can be placed on a thumbnail.

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Recently, luxury car manufacturer Mercedes India chief Peter Honegg was in Nagpur in connection with the launch of their show room in the city.

Ahmed, on the basis of photographs, created a three-wheel Mercedes Benz Motorwagen of 1886 (the first model of the luxury car whose rear wheels had spokes) and wowed Honegg.