Back in 2016 a discussion took place on Fozzer’s Forum about early Lister J type engines; as I have a very early Lister 2 ½ hp, I was interested and took part in the discussion. I have always had an interest in Lister engines, having nine in my shed, all of which are restored, except a spec 52 Lister A. I had never delved into the history of these engines as I considered that just about everything was known about them, through the work done by the late David Edgington, and information is readily available.
Lister engines were imported into New Zealand by Levin & Co Ltd., a firm that was established in 1852 and which became incorporated in 1896. The company imported products from all over the world, and held agencies for many products and services. The agencies include Shipping companies, Insurance companies, Stock and Station agents, and for many other products, including blasting and gunpowder, sewing machines, beer, whisky, gin, brandy and champagne, tea, coffee, Lea and Perrins sauce, potash, rat poison, kerosene, Reapers, Binders, Wolseley shearing machines and of course Lister cream separators, sheep shearing equipment and Lister engines.
Research indicates that Levin & Co started importing Lister separators and sheep shearing equipment prior to 1911, with the first shipment of engines taking place in January 1911. The importation of Lister engines continued until at least the mid 1950s. In 1911 some 102 engines were imported. In 1912 there were 213 engines imported and in 1913 the number was 301. Of the 616 engines imported in those first three years, at least twenty-one are known to have survived, of which nine are known to be from 2011.
Lister did make minor changes to its engines during that period, but to the untrained eye Lister engines all looked the same until 1920, when the flick magneto was changed to rotary type magneto. There will be more engines of this early period that haven’t shown up yet; their owners may not have realised just how early they are.
Different models
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Denne historien er fra April 2018-utgaven av Stationary Engine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Lister Conundrum?
Back in 2016 a discussion took place on Fozzer’s Forum about early Lister J type engines; as I have a very early Lister 2 ½ hp, I was interested and took part in the discussion. I have always had an interest in Lister engines, having nine in my shed, all of which are restored, except a spec 52 Lister A. I had never delved into the history of these engines as I considered that just about everything was known about them, through the work done by the late David Edgington, and information is readily available.
Rogues' Gallery Pt2
Some engines have remained unidentified for a number of years – unless YOU, the reader, know differently….!
Coventry Victor Stationary/Marine Engines
Following a comment in the January edition of Stationary Engine, that Coventry Victor engines were rarely seen on our rally fields and as I have a liking for these engines (and flat twins), I have put together a short article based on my three examples.
Turner Manufacturing Co- Simplicity Engines
Having seen the little vertical Simplicity engine on the front cover of the October 2017 issue of Stationary Engine, where the name Western Malleable & Gray Iron Company, Milwaukee cast into the flywheel rim, is clearly legible, I decided the manufacturer required further investigation
Christmas Crank-Ups Riccall
Winter crank-ups and open days have become increasingly popular in recent years and one of the biggest I have ever attended was held in the village of Riccall, near York on Saturday 30th December.
Petter Standard Oil Engine
I am sure that the Petter Handyman engine will be a familiar sight to many engine enthusiasts, but the same cannot be said for the ‘Petter Standard Oil Engine’; the engine on which the Handyman engine was designed.
Clarendon Rally- Australia
Whilst on a recent trip to visit my family in Australia I took the opportunity to visit, with my son, the well known Clarendon Classic, Machinery, Truck and Hobby Show, which has been held for many years at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds, on Racecourse road, Clarendon, NSW on the weekend of the 16/17th September 2017.
Blackstone Compressors
Blackstone Compressors
The Warwick DC Generating Set
I was recently invited to inspect a small generating set belonging to Colin Williams from Horsham in Sussex.
Unusual Lister Engines
With the West Oxon Steam Rally 2017 drawing out a large collection of Lister Engines, here are a few of the more unusual models seen.
