CATEGORIES

Something Rather Unusual

After submitting a report on the 2015 Giverny engine show in France (see issue 503 Feb 2016) I was asked by our Editor if I could provide information and a few pictures of what is a most unusual engine, built by the firm Arsene Mahiet of Bourges, (Cher) in central France sometime in the late 1920s.  

Encouraging The Next Generation

This nicely restored and presented 1½ hp Petter Universal (M type) serial number 6846 was supplied new on 26th November 1999 to dealers Crimm of Cornwall and subsequently married up to a bilge pump, and together with a second identical set-up installed in HMS Foudroyant. Details of HMS Foudroyant, the only surviving wooden Frigate afloat can be found on the Internet. In 1987 the vessel was renamed HMS Trincomalee.  

Meece Mill Stationary Engine Rally

Meece Mill Stationary Engine Rally

Fairbanks, Morse & Co Jack Of All Trades

I have the pleasure of owning an early 2hp Fairbanks, Morse & Co “Jack of all Trades” engine, serial number 35455, that was supplied new in 1904 by Messrs R H Bunner, Ironmonger, Montgomery, to a Mr John Mountford, Malster, Bacheldre Malthouse, Churchstoke, nr Newton, Powys; who used it to power a crushing mill.

Petter Paz1

I have just finished the restoration of another Petter PAZ1 engine; this particular engine, serial number 4104996S, was sold in 1956 to Workman, Reed & Co Ltd of Beacon Works, Hewish, nr Bristol and used as the power unit for one of the company’s 1.5 Kva lighting sets.

Ulster Auction

I had been visiting a friend to look at some of his engines, and when I was about to leave he asked if I was going to the auction sale being held at Rasharkin, between Ballymena and Kilrea, Co Antrim the next day, Saturday the 10th June.

Engines AT Newby Hall 2017

The annual rally at New by Hall is now in its 11th year, and looks to be going from strength to strength. The show was held over the 2nd weekend in June and despite heavy rain in the days leading up to the event, and some rain on the Saturday morning, it did not dampen the spirits of the exhibitors. The field held up well, and I am pleased to say that the weekend saw record visitor numbers.

Engines At Work

The drag-saw – a revolution in the timber recovery industry

The Sandwich 1½ hp Engine

In recent times we have seen a great many small American-built open-crank engines being imported into this country for preservation to satisfy our desire to own and rally an engine that is different from what was available in the days when this type of engine was in daily use.

My PH1050 Crossley Brothers 'Bedford Engine'

This engine, a type PH 1050, found in bits on a pallet in a warehouse in Dundee, was built by the Crossley Brothers Ltd at the Elstow Engineering Works in Bedford in circa 1926.

Demise Of An English Electric Mammoth

It is with a broken heart that I write this about the demise of an English Electric Type 16 SV engine, serial number 1H 2796.

Learning About Diesel Engines

The recent article about air-cooled engines reminded me of when in 1967, in my early twenties, I was offered the job as Deck Engineer on P&O’s TES Canberra, a 46,000 tonne ocean liner.

19th Kingsfold Steam & Vintage Rally

The 19th Kingsfold Steam & Vintage Rally, held over the weekend 23rd and 24th September, very nearly did not happen.

Rare Deyo Air-Cooled Engine

In 2016 I received an email asking if I would be interested in an early air-cooled engine. I replied saying that I was interested, but could they send me a few photographs so that I could see exactly what was being offered.

Lighting Plants of the Austin Motor Company; Its Subsidiaries and Successors

This year Chris and Dennis Barnes plan to have a special display of Austin Lighting Sets most appropriately at Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum and host to the National Austin 7 Rally.

An Unusual Lister D

At the recent Scottish Lister D celebration rally which took place on 16th October, a Lister D with a difference made its rally debut. Gordon Muir of Aberdeen brought along his gleaming D type serial 1/19955 Spec 28DH. The engine drew a great deal of attention with Gordon’s usual high standard of restoration and the imposing spoked flywheel; however on closer inspection all was not as it seemed.

Restoring An Early Stuart Turner P4 Engine

Yes, I’m back again with yet another slightly unusual Stuart Turner story; this time it is a fairly early P4Y, my 4th P4 in all.  

End of Season Event at the Internal Fire Museum of Power

Following the sad passing of David Edgington earlier this year, the theme for this event was a celebration of his interest in stationary engines. With this in mind, curator Paul Evans planned on opening a new hall, and what better person to officiate than Doreen Edgington.

Scole Common Garden Crank-up 2016

I woke up at 5am on Saturday 22nd October 2016 to the sound of rain hammering at the bedroom window. My first thought was “great!” I had checked the forecast before going to bed and it was suggesting we would have a dry day, but just for a change the weather had other ideas! However, with the engines all loaded on the trailer from the night before, I was already committed, so I crawled out of bed, rubbed my eyes, and prepared myself for getting wet.

Bristol Wagon & Carriage Works Co Victoria 5hp Engine No 617

An appraisal of some of its interesting features

A Nice Find

I was visiting the shop where I go to have my old car generators or other ignition items repaired; while the owner was looking for some parts I saw on a table covered with old electrical items, a cylinder with fins, which looked as if it came from a two-stroke engine.

Wolseley-Powered Concrete Mixer

I had not attended the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show for a few years, but with a new found interest, writing reports and articles for Stationary Engine, I decided to visit on Sunday and take a few photos for possible use in the magazine.

Newark Tractor & Vintage Show 2017

Traditionally held on the weekend of remembrance Sunday, the Newark Tractor & Vintage Show is an event that I had never visited before.

Lister H Type Engines

Firstly an apology as someone can’t count! I wonder how many readers realised that I got the number of Lister H types on display at Ducklington wrong, in fact there were six.

My Bernard WO Generating Set

I purchased this Bernard WO generating set via that well-known auction site on the Internet a couple of years ago.

S&KWSEG On Tour

The Sussex and Kent Weald Stationary Engine Group went on its annual coach trip, (Autumn 2017), this time visiting various sites in the Midlands.

Joseph Reid Gas Engine

One of the engines housed at the Coolspring Power Museum, not featured in Stephen Goodfellow’s article in the March issue, was a Reid gas engine, built by the Joseph Reid Gas Engine Company of Oil City, Pennsylvania, USA.

Crossley Brothers O117 Engine At Klondyke Mill

The North Staffordshire and Cheshire Traction Engine Club was formed in 1958 and soon after acquired the Klondyke Mill site at Draycott in the Clay, Staffordshire. The mill ground locally-mined gypsum to make plaster; the mill building was demolished about 1953, although the workshop and some ancillary buildings were retained.

A Visit To The Manchester Museum Of Science & Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester has been somewhere I have wanted to visit for a number of years. Based in the centre of Manchester, the museum is home to a large collection of internal combustion and steam stationary engines. These are housed in the museum’s Power Hall, with some of the engines run on a regular basis.

Making Life Easy

Making Life Easy