Do you need to deal with that, Ben, or do you want me to request permission?

Mike 

Ok Ben, I'll sort that tomorrow.

Mike 

It is great to see a man on a mission! Especially when that mission is to bring inspiration to the masses (with the membership figure so high it has to be "masses") and not for own self gain.

Well done Mike and we wish you well with getting the permissions required.

Respectfully, Rob.

Thanks Rob.

By the way, have you finished that helical stair yet? It would be nice to see a "finished" photo.

Mike 

Sparky,

I have had an email from the gallery in the States and they are happy for us to use their images......but more than that, they are going to ask Mike Cooper to contact me directly. I am hopeful that we will soon be able see some more of his amazing work!

Mike 

Mike , you are the first person to call it by it's real name! I gave up due to the funny looks I kept recieving. The stair was the last of three (each different) installed one above the other for a prestigeous job in London. The confines of the location makes it very difficult (impossible) to get a good photo even with my wide angle lense.

For those reading this who wish to know the terminology:- A Helical stair describes a helix around a central void and a Spiral stair describes a helix around a central post or column.

A Helix is that described by the thread part of a screw or bolt (or a spring). Or a constant rate of rise around a cylinder. ( bet I missed something out).

Well Rob, my understanding of the terms is just slightly different to what you have just described.

I don't think that there is such a thing as a "spiral" staircase at all.

Looking in plan view.......a true spiral has a continually varying radius, with each rotation being bigger than the preceeding one. Think of a snail's shell, flattened. The radius of the first whirl is tiny, and the radius of the outer whirl great in comparison.

OK, words fail me.......bad sketch follows:

Consider the outer handrail of your stair (OK, I know it doesn't have one!!!, but if it did.....). In plan, it would look like the right hand sketch, which isn't a spiral at all. For it to be a true spiral, the handrail would have to follow the plan of the left hand sketch.

Any "spiral" stair is the geometric equivalent of a wire wrapped around a cylinder, rising the same amount on every revolution. That is actually a helix, not a spiral. For it to be a spiral,the wire would have to be wrapped around a cone.

Therefore, in my judgement, the term "spiral stair" is a misnomer......it doesn't exist. (It actually couldn't exist under the Building Regs either, but that is another story). I think this is irrespective of whether there is a central column or not. 

Now, who was it who accused me of being pedantic.......?! 

Mike 

Actually, on re-reading yours, I see that we agree on almost everything. You even describe a spiral stair as a helix around a central post......tacitly acknowledging that "spiral" is just the wrong word. As you said, this subtlety does produce some quizzical looks!

Anyway, it would have been nice to have seen some pictures....never mind. 

Mike

Mike you make me chuckle. Check out the definitions of part "K" for spiral. I know it makes no real sense but this is what you and I have to deal with , pretty much every day!

I have some pics but the stair is covered with main contractor printed protector sheeting and as they have reneged on payment will not/can not publish said pictures. Untill the matter is resolved. They are not good pics as the area is really too confined, the job was a very interesting and challenging one nonetheless and i have learnt a lot from it.

"Reneged on payment".....much more important than pedantry over the term spiral!! Hope you get your money soon.

Mike 

My sympathies Rob.

Had that trouble myself once, it`s not nice having to point out it would be very beneficial to his health if he paid me. Only happened once in 11 years of self-employment but not nice when it does.

Pisser was building inspector, architect etc were very happy with my work, think he must have under estimate costs.Not my problem though.

Baz.

I have been paid in full for both my design work and build of stairs, the company I am sub-contracted to has not been paid in full even though end client loves the work. The  company I was paid by has had to borrow money and lay off staff because of it, this is something I feel strongly about so will not advertise either the company or the client.

The company I have contracted to and will do so again is a very honourable one , the main contractor only used them because their " in house" workshop did not have the skills to produce the required circular or "geometric" joinery designed by their own people.

Thankyou for your support as the people still employed are very dedicated and nice as is the M.D.

P.S. Rumour has it that it will cost you £8500.00 per year to be a member of the establishment, well worth it to see all three stairs as you leave by the rear! 

Right, a bit of success to report!

The gallery in the US which shows many of Mike Cooper's works has passed our message on to him, and he should be responding shortly........in the meantime, they have passed on details of a new website being built for Mike Cooper.

So, here is the link:

Mike Cooper's site

Have a look. The images are just amazing. This is wood sculpture like I have never seen anywhere else, and all you can keep thinking is "how on earth has he made that?"

The site is a bit clunky still, but is incredible nonetheless.

Mike 

I am still waiting to hear directly from Michael Cooper, but the website is working a lot better now. So, I highly recommend a visit to:

Mike Cooper's site

Have a look at the chairs! Incredible workmanship.......(never mind that sitting on them would guarantee wrecking them!). But the "Gun series" contains the most jaw-dropping stuff.

Mike 

You might all be forgiven for thinking that I had forgotten about this....but I've been perservering.

I have had replies from a number of people close to Mike Cooper.......who all say he is a brilliant artist and woodworker, but doesn't really "do" computers, emails etc. However, they have all promised to extract an answer from him.

In the meantime, before we know if we have permission to use his images directly on this site, please have a look at this stuff here which I still say is far and away the best woodwork I have ever laid eyes on. 

If you haven't seen it, you really must.

Mike