LTEC Journal November '13

The Journal of

The Lancashire Traction Engine Club

November ‘13 www.lancashiretec.co.uk www.facebook.com/LancashireTEC

NEWS Front Cover Picture Taken by Richard Fairhuirst at the Llangollen railways sheds in April. He was there in the course of his work, and they happened to be getting ready for a gala at the time. This photo was the winner in last year’s Photo competition. More information about this year’s even is on page 6.

Following this year’s AGM, when Aiden Fisher was voted on to the club committee, the first committee meeting after the AGM included allocation of jobs. There have been a few changes made, mainly Membership Secretary and Treasurer. All up-to-date details can be found on the list on the back cover.

Facebook

Have I Got Your Details?

In case you didn’t already know, the club has a facebook page which it kept up-to-date with news and events that will interest members. You will need a Facebook account to view the page but, if you have one, please search for www. facebook.com/LancashireTEC and click the ‘Like’ button.

FOR SALE 1)

Old Glory issues Premier to number 77. All in good order with just the odd bent corner. Not in binders but have been stored flat for the last 15 years! Will haggle at £25

2)

A near pristine copy of R H Clark’s book The English Traction Engine. This is a 1960 edition.The dust cover is very battered but the book is excellent, even the errata sheet is present. Will haggle at £75

Delivery to club meetings or buyer collect or carriage at cost--which for Old Glory will be a lot!!

Contact Aidan Fisher 0161 748 2590

Changes To Committee

Do to the even increasing cost of postage, we would prefer to email as many copies of the journal as possible.

If you don’t already receive your journal by email, but would be happy to do so, please contact me on lancashiretec@aol. com and I will add you to my list. Thanks.

engine notes

By George Coles I am indebted to Bill Briggs for the details of what actually constitutes a Burrell ‘Devonshire’ engine (see page 7). I confirm that Rob Houghton’s ‘new’ engine is No 3135 of 1909. His Aveling traction engine made its final public appearance at the Acton Bridge steam party as it has been sold to club member Chris Adamson of Lymm who will take possession of it in November.

At Acton Bridge I was delighted to see Bill Briggs’ old Wallis and Stevens traction engine ‘Myrnagh’ again. It was brought over from the Isle of Man during the summer by Will Dakin and is now being based at premises in Cheshire. Bill tells me that there are few opportunities to take it out on the island and his two ‘right hand men’ the Dibnah brothers have both relocated to England. It is to stay in Cheshire and Bill hopes to take it out each year to several events.

Will Dakin has acquired yet another Davy Paxman. This is a 6hp single cylinder portable No 12729 of 1905 in full

working order which he bought at Kivel’s Auction earlier this year.

I hear that Alan Thwaites of Warrington has sold his Aveling tractor to the Southampton area but I have no further details.

A further new engine in the area is Foden tractor No 13266 in full working order. I do not know the owner but it is in the care of Johnsons of Banks and is being taken to events by them. It recently appeared at the annual ploughing weekend at Dunham Massey at the end of September.

At Acton Bridge Bryn Mallion was asking all the older engine owners if they could remember when the first Astle Park Rally took place in order to determine when the 50th rally would be. Bill Briggs was of the opinion that it was 1966. I have been searching my old copies of ‘Steaming’ for information on this. In the Autumn 1966 issue of the North Staffs and Cheshire Club notes appears the following: ‘Unfortunately the club’s July rally at Bellamour Hall had to be cancelled so an alternative steam party was held at a very fine site at Astle Park, Chelford, Cheshire on the same date July 16/17th.

Some twenty engines took part together with two fairground organs and two threshing machines.’ So as usual, Bill Briggs was right!

OLIVER VALVES TRIP Thanks are due to Roger Dibnah and his collegues Tony and Lee, for the time they took to show us around the incredible collection of vehicles Michael Oliver has gathered over the last few years. Here is a small glimpse of some of it.

CLUB MEETINGS Club meetings are help on the first Sunday of the winter months (November to April) in the upstairs room of Flixton Conservative Club, 193 Flixton Rd, Urmston, Manchester M41 5DF. Meeting commence at 8.00pm and usually finish at around 10.00pm The November meeting will be held on Sunday 3rd November. Evets for the evening to be confirmed.

The December club meeting will take place on Sunday 1st December, As tradition dictates, this will be a meeting photographic competition and quiz.

To enter the photographic competition all you need are three photos, preferably in digital format, brought to the meeting

on the night on memory stick or CD. The winner is decided on by vote.

Last year’s winner can be seen on the front cover of this journal, taken

by Richard Fairhurst at the Llangollen railways sheds.

This year’s quiz will be presented by last year’s winner (as usual). There was a tie for first place last year so the quiz will be jointly hosted by Aidan Fisher and Peter Flitcroft.

January’s meeting will be on Sunday 5th. Our guest that night will be a representative of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society who will speak to us about the ongoing preservation of that well known vessel

Mike Bozson It is with great sadness that we report the death of Mike Bozson on 23rd September after a long illness.

Mike married Chris Fitter, daughter of the late Walter and our own LTEC President, Betty Fitter and, becoming firm friends with Chris’ brother, Billy, very soon became involved in the running of the family’s Foden traction engine, Elizabeth (named after Betty), the two of them travelling to all the local Cheshire rallies by road. Mike later went on to become Fred Dibnah’s right-hand man enjoying many long road trips and rallies with him on his roller ‘Betsy’ and was, from time to time, a willing volunteer when George Coles was looking for crew. He also owned a vintage car which he brought to

many north-west rallies.

At his funeral the minister spoke fondly of the happy home in which Mike lived with his family; a home always busy with visitors and where there is always a cup of tea on offer. Mike did not allow his illness to prevent him from attending the rallies he loved and the affection with which he was always greeted by the scores of friends he had made over the many years he had been attending events spoke volumes.

Our thoughts are with his family, especially Chris, who had cared for him throughout his illness, Betty, his sons Andrew and Martin and his Grandchildren.

I

More on Burrell ‘Devonshire’ Cylinders

n George Coles’ Engine Notes, like so many people George uses the term ‘cylinder block’ twice in the same paragraph. May I make a plea for avoiding this term, as it was never used by the engine manufacturers when describing their products. The term cylinder was used to describe the whole casting be they single or twin bores.

Cylinder block came into use when the monobloc petrol engine appeared, as before that date car manufacturers followed steam engine terminology.

George goes on to suggest that the Burrell ‘Devonshire’ engine had a 6 NHP cylinder on a 5 NHP boiler. This was not the case but the true history is slightly complex. When the ‘Devonshire’ engine was introduced in 1890 as a single crank compound (later referred to as the ‘Light Compound Traction Engine’) it had 5½ ” & 9” x 10” cylinders on a 2’ 2” diameter boiler and was rated 6 NHP. At the same time the standard 6 NHP traction engine had cylinders 6” & 10” x 10” and had a 2’ 4” diameter boiler. After 1903 the term ‘Devonshire’ was reintroduced and the NHP rating for

this engine was deleted from catalogue descriptions, the cylinders continuing to be 5½ ” & 9” x 10”.

I believe Mr Houghton’s engine is no. 3135 which has cylinders of 5½ ” & 9” x 10”, the contemporary 6 NHP e.g. no. 3134 and 3136 had 6” & 10” x 10” cylinders.

There were also Double Crank Compound ‘Devonshire’ engines again with cylinders 5½ ” & 9” x 10” and a solitary single cylinder engine with cylinder 7½ ” x 10”.

Bill Briggs Ramsey Isle of Man

Others

Insurance Officer

Webmaster

Journal Editor

Social Secretary

Membership Secretary

Treasurer

General Secretary

Vice Chairman

Chairman

Harold Sanders

Dale Riley

Malcolm Hartley

Diane Carney

John Heselwood

Allan Hickson

Richard Fairhurst

Hazel Bregazzi

Neil Carney

Aidan Fisher

Peter Flitcroft

Neil Carney

Neil Carney

George Coles

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Whilst every care is taken that information contained herein is true, accurate and fair, the publisher, editor or the Lancashire Traction Engine Club Ltd cannot take any responsibility for events araising from the use of this information. Any statements or opinions given in the journal are not necessarily those of the publisher or the club.

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Hazel Bregazzi address as above email - journal@lancashiretec.co.uk Hazel Bregazzi Creative Design, Todmorden

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