The Eton College School of Mechanics, familiarly known by its attendees as the 'School of Maniacs,' was built in 1879. Contemporary reports give a few details:

'ETON COLLEGE. - An extra week's holiday in honour of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught having been granted, the students will now assemble at the college on Wednesday, the 24th inst., and two following days. The new drill-hall and school of mechanics, situate on the west of the gasworks, is nearly finished. The factory is a fine building of three well-lighted floors, which are being fitted with various mechanical appliances, lathes, and machinery, the motive power consisting of an eight-horse power gas engine, manufactured by Crossley Brothers, of Manchester. Mr. Francis M. Newton, M.A., A.I.C.E., an old Etonian, has been selected as the first instructor in practical mechanics for the college, and he will commence his course with about forty pupils as soon as the students re-assemble.' 'Eton boys may receive practical instruction in all branches, beginning with the rudiments at the carpenter's bench, or blacksmith's anvil, and going up to the higher spheres of the advanced artisan.' (Windsor and Eton Express, Windsor, Saturday, 13 September 1879, p. 4e, Saturday, 19 July 1884, p. 4d)

The School of Mechanics, which at first was thought might be a failure, flourished. In 1915 some twenty boys were recruited from the School to assist in making munitions or working with shaping and drilling machines as part of the war effort in a factory at Slough. Working in two daily shifts and cycling to a from Eton, they were paid the same wages as other beginners. 'The manager of the factory says they are doing excellent work.' (The Birmingham Mail, Birmingham, Thursday, 8 July 1915, p. 3d; Reading Mercury, Reading, Saturday, 17 July 1915, p. 6d)

In 1963 Eton College suffered criticism after an article published in Industrial Safety condemned the wearing of traditional Eton boys' tailcoats and striped trousers in the School of Mechanics as 'stupid and dangerous.' J.O. Peacock, director of the Ministry of Labour's Industrial Health and Safety Centre, added to the controversy by declaring that such clothes in that setting 'makes one despair.' (The Birmingham Daily Post, Birmingham, Monday, 7 January 1963, p. 5e/f)

Eton says Farewell to Lord and Lady Charteris on the '4th of June' 1991. Lord Charteris danced to Bill Hayley's ' Rock Around the Clock" which was played on his leaving present from the pupils; they knew he liked it from the BBC's 'Dessert Island Discs' recorded in April that year.

By 1991, the year in which these coasters were made, Peter Leedham, an expert in woodworking, was the Senior Technician in Eton's School of Mechanics. At the same period Elizabeth Matthews, who during World War II had served with the Women's Royal Naval Service ('Wrens'), was employed as the School's instructor in silversmithing.