Old Glory February 2015

DO YOU REMEMBER STEAM SPHERE? Britain’s Best seller for

27

years

FEBRUARY 2015

All I ever WAN TAGE One of just two survivors

ISSUE 300!

The

Alex Sharphouse Collection

1000 SMILES AN HOUR The National Fairground Archive RARE SCHNEIDER WAGON in a Sussex barn

Early Aveling & Porter engines to America Britain’s ‘most ornate’ tram shelter celebrates its centenary in fine style

Contents No 300 | February 2015 NEWS 6-21 News & Events 85 Old Glory in Miniature News

FEATURES 22

Remember Steam Sphere?

We look at a newspaper published in 1971-2, before Old Glory was conceived, that was just for steam and vintage enthusiasts.

26

The Alex Sharphouse Collection Alex and his wife Charlotte collected so many steam and vintage items that they opened their Cumbrian farm to the public.

30

The National Fairground Archive On its 20th anniversary, a look at the historic significance of The National Fairground Archive, held at the University of Sheffield.

from Rochester that were exported to America in the 19th century.

38

Making Progress Part 2 The restoration of John and Brenda Newton’s 1924 Burrell showman’s road locomotive Progress.

76

Rare Schneider in Sussex A rare Schneider wagon chassis located in a Sussex barn is currently on the market.

52

Relocated and Restored An iconic West Midlands post mill at Avoncroft openair museum of buildings is now back in fine fettle.

80

The Wantage engine One of just two surviving traction engines from this small Oxfordshire builder is alive and well in Ireland.

54

The ‘Salt King’ and the Droitwich Canals Salt entrepreneur John Corbett played a big part in the now-restored Droitwich Canals.

66

70

All change at Battlefield Rest As Europe’s ‘most ornate tram shelter’ celebrates its centenary, we find the ‘fayre’ on offer is a little different from the ‘fares’ of old.

Early Avelings in the USA Derek Rayner tells something of the machines

4 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

52

News updates at oldglory.co.uk www.facebook.com/ OldGloryMag

76

REGULARS 45 46 58 62 98

Enginelines Helpline Vintageworld Steam Archive ‘Tail Lamp Tom’

READER SERVICES 36 93

Save money with a subscription to Old Glory Advintage – The biggest Steam & Vintage Marketplace

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See page 36

26

70 48 Front Cover: Wantage 7nhp traction engine No 1522 of 1908 Pioneer takes to the arena at Ballybrit, Co Galway, Ireland, in June 2014.

ROGER HAMLIN This issue was published on January 15, 2015.

The March 2015 issue of Old Glory (No 301) will be on sale from February 19.

Having trouble ďŹ nding a copy of this magazine?

Why not Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month?

30

Meet the team Derek Rayner

Colin Tyson Editor

Technical Advisor

Mike Dyson

Steve Dean

Correspondent

Correspondent

Colin Smith

Roger Hamlin

Advertising Executive

Correspondent

Malcolm Ranieri Photographer

James Hamilton Photographer

OLD GLORY FEBRUARY 2015 | 5

News&Events A Fair offer

JOBY Carter of Carters Steam Fair is offering the opportunity for an enthusiast to acquire a set of circa 1910 six bay 12ft leg swing boats.

Joby operates three sets already and said: “It would be nice to see this set in use.” They are unusual as they have six outside legs on the end and middle legs, and come with original top boards. They need some attention but are fundamentally very sound and are being offered at £3000. Tel. 07889 775715 for more information.

Hellingly at 40 THIS year marks 40 years of the Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Club and it is also the 40th anniversary of the Hellingly Festival of Transport in East Sussex, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend and run by EHVC. As part of its celebrations, organisers would like to have present in 2015 as many vehicles as possible that took part in the early shows of the 1970s, also vehicles manufactured at the time.

Some detail is known from original programmes, but with vehicles changing hands, etc. many contacts have been lost.

If you have a vehicle that was at the early shows or was new in the late 1970s and would like to attend, please contact David Bone, tel. 01323 843186 or email davekbone47@gmail.com

Swindon engineers HATCH Steam Engineers of Swindon has signed up as a ‘partner company’ with the new University Technical College (UTC) situated at the town’s old GWR works. The listed buildings were formerly the works fire station and timber processing sheds. The buildings retain their historic significance to inspire students.

The college, for 14-19 yearolds, focuses on studies in all aspects of engineering, with workshops containing equipment for a hands-on approach.

Colin and Ian Hatch’s involvement includes mentoring, hosting site visits and work experience.

12 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

Destined for a revival? CDR No 5 Meenglas sits outside the Foyle Valley Railway Museum in July 2013.

The Foyle Valley Railway in its heyday as ex-CDR railcar No 12 pulls No 18 just outside Derry in June 1992. The line could make a comeback. BOTH: HUGH DOUGHERTY

Charity makes bid to take over Foyle Valley Railway DESTINED – a Derry-based, learning disabilities charity – is bidding for the city’s Foyle Valley Railway Museum, currently owned by Derry City Council, writes Hugh Dougherty.

The charity wants to establish a disability learning centre at the museum, described in its bid for £840,000 to funding agency Space and Place, as “virtually disused” and subject to high levels of antisocial activity.

It wants to retain the museum and exhibits and revive the associated 3ft gauge Foyle Valley Railway, closed since 2000 following a dispute involving Derry City Council and the North West of Ireland Railway Society. The revived railway would be one of the first heritage and narrow gauge lines dedicated to helping those with learning disabilities.

Destined chief executive Dermot O’Hara said: “We aim to provide a high-profile resource and include a cafe, training facilities and sports hall, while retaining the railway museum and its exhibits. We plan a community garden, farm and a pontoon for river Foyle boat trips. At the third stage of our project, we want to return the railway to running order, connecting with the boat trips. Running the railway would provide employment and training for the people we work with and assure its future.”

A Derry City Council spokeswoman said councillors will review the usage after March 31.

The museum currently houses ex-CDR Class 5 steam locomotive Columbkille, diesel railcar 12, two coaches, a railcar wagon, Lough Swilly coach 17 as well as smaller artefacts.

EATES 60th anniversary plans unveiled THE East Anglian Traction Engine Society has announced details of its 60th Anniversary Road Run. The run will be held on August 1-2 and based

around Sudbury, Suffolk.

The Webb family has kindly offered its yard as the base and the route will largely follow that of the highly successful 2012 Sudbury

Steam Tour. The Saturday will feature a 14 mile road run, including a museum visit and an afternoon stop at Long Melford, where enthusiasts and spectators can join the celebrations.

For miniatures, there will be a separate short run from Acton to Long Melford.

All vehicles, whether steam or not, are welcome to take part in the celebrations.

The society wishes to thank the National Traction Engine Trust for its most generous contribution towards hosting the event.

For an entry form and further details call Adam on 07540 589 039 or email adam.m.brown@hotmail.co.uk Left: The anniversary run will follow the route of the successful Sudbury Steam Tour of 2012. ADAM BROWN

Got a story? Tell Old Glory 01507 529306 | ctyson@mortons.co.uk

Review: Pioneers of the Street Railway...

By John R Stevens and Alan W Brotchie, 152pp, 164 illustrations, maps and drawings, paperback, £20 from Stenlake Publishing Ltd, 54-58 Mill Square, Catrine, Ayrshire KA5 6RD. Tel: 01290 551122 www.stenlake.co.uk THIS informative new book, despite its long title of Pioneers of the Street Railway in the USA, Street Tramways in the UK… and elsewhere, goes back to original sources to chart the birth and evolution of the horse tram, the forerunner to steam, cable and electric systems.

Both authors are well-known for their previous works on trams, and this attractive, scholarly and readable volume unearths new information and sets the existing record straight on the early days of the horse tram in two sections, covering both sides of the Atlantic.

The first street railway in the US, the New York & Harlem Railroad of 1832, is well recorded in the book, as is the first street tramway

in the UK, which set wheel to rail at Birkenhead in 1860, with the famed tramway pioneer, George Train, bringing that first tram to Britain.

The authors have left no granite sett unturned to look at the design and construction of the early horse tram. That information explains much of what was handed down to early electric tramways from horse days as standard practice, and restorers of the surprising number of early horse tram bodies that seem to surface even today will find this section useful in their work.

As well as the redoubtable George Train, all the pioneers of the lines are brought to life, with well-known names such as

George Starbuck Junior and John Stephenson – whose New York tram factory provided many early US lines with horse trams, and built vehicles for export to Britain and beyond – appearing with their life and business stories on the well-illustrated pages.

This book brings to life the exciting, pioneering and, at times, downright dangerous era of the early horse tram, when the limits of the technology of horse-power, wooden bodies – which borrowed much from contemporary horse bus design – and cast and chilled iron wheels on early designs of street track, were explored.

At a time when the Isle of Man authorities may or may not be renewing their precious Douglas

Horse Trams, this volume should be essential reading for them, if only to stress that they are the guardians of a piece of transport heritage which is one of the last active links with the age of the horse. HD

Historic ferry escapes scrap man and is Galway-bound THE future of Naomh Eanna, the former Galway-Aran Islands ferry, which has been languishing at Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock since withdrawal from service in 1989, has been assured. This is thanks to the intervention of the Naomh Eanna Trust and captain Sam Field Corbett, a director of the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication Co, which has acquired the vessel.

Captain Field Corbett said: “Waterways Ireland, which owned the dock where the vessel was berthed, was keen to scrap it, despite the historic importance. The boat’s former owner, CIE, the state-owned transport company which had operated it, was also keen to see the last of this heritage ship.

“The Government had no interest in the vessel as part of our maritime heritage and that’s why we stepped in to save it from the scrap man. A £2m restoration project is now under way and we are tapping into private finance.”

The diesel-powered, 483 ton Naomh Eanna, was built between 1956 and 1958 at Dublin’s

JANUARY

18 Spalding Model Truck & Construction Show Springfields, Spalding, Lincs PE12 6ET Enquiries Tel. 01775 713253.

31 Lincoln Autojumble Former RAF base, Helmswell, Lincs DN21 5TJ Enquiries Tel. 07816 291544 www.lincolnautojumble.com Opens: 7am.

An artist’s impression of the restored vessel.

Liffey Dockyard, and is one of the last allriveted ships built in the world.

It plied its trade across the rough waters of Galway Bay, providing the remote Aran Islands with a lifeline service, carrying islanders, tourists, food and essential supplies, livestock and motor vehicles, for 30 years and became part of the lore of the area.

Now the company plans to carry out essential repairs to make it watertight, before

FEBRUARY

1 Steam Toys in Action Abbey Pumping Station, Corporation Road, Leicester LE4 5PX Enquiries Tel. 01162 995114.

Opens: 1pm.

15 Model Tractor, Plant & Construction Machinery Show

sailing it to Galway under its own power.

“We’ve surveyed it and the original engines are fully serviceable,” said captain Corbett.

“We have plans to fully restore the boat, possibly as a floating restaurant moored at Galway Port, but equally possibly as an operating vessel to sail on Galway Bay and return to its former route. The tourist and heritage potential is huge and local interests in Galway and the Aran Islands are fully supportive.”

Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, The Fosse, Leamington Spa CV31 1XN Enquiries Tel. 01926 614101.

Opens: 10am.

20-22 Brighton Modelworld Brighton Centre, Kings Road (seafront) www.brightonmodelworld.com Opens: 10am.

OLD GLORY FEBRUARY 2015 | 13

VINTAGE COLLECTIONS

The

ALEX SHARPHOUSE Collection

Agricultural contractor Alex Sharphouse and his wife Charlotte, collected so many steam and vintage items that they opened their Cumbrian farm to the public as a means of showcasing how things used to be done.

And it’s a real family affair, writes Barrie Woods

26 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

This massive Garrett semi-portable, No 31164 of 1912, worked at a Middlesex laundry and a Cumbrian bobbin mill before entering preservation with Alex.

Get the show on the road: At the Cumbria Steam Fair on July 26, 2014, Alex had several of his vehicles on show including the Ruston Bucyrus RB17 loading shovel, Aveling & Porter roller The Duke, a living van, Fowler ploughing engine No 15563 and his Morris pick-up truck. ALL: BARRIE WOODS Inset: Charlotte and Alex Sharphouse aboard their vertical-boilered Henry Coles steam crane.

The Chicken Shed tea room at Old Farm, note the hand-washing facilities for visitors before they eat, along with mangle and old tin bath all adding to the atmosphere.

O

ld Hall Historic Working Farm – the name is comforting and sounds delightful. Run by Alex and Charlotte Sharphouse with assistance, to a greater and lesser degree from their sons Joe and Alfie, it’s a real family business.

Located just off the A590 in the village of Bouth, and only a stone’s throw from the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway at Newby Bridge, near Ulverston, Alex is deeply involved in the railway as well as handling his own farm and fascinating museum.

VINTAGE FARMING

Alex, together with Charlotte, has over the past eight years, developed the farm into an amazing cameo of numerous aspects of vintage farming activities while still getting on with the job of being farmers. Their first job was to renovate the large ‘Old Hall’ threestorey farmhouse and then set about developing the farmyard buildings. These are fascinating in their own right, but to complement that, the family has gradually accumulated a huge variety of ancient machinery together with numerous animals and chickens.

On entering, you step back in time into what is now a historic Lakeland farm, where traditional methods are carried out daily, allowing the visitor to appreciate the complete historic farming process. Where to start is a big problem. Because Alex has retained the old buildings and pathways, things are not in nice neat lines as at some locations. This is exactly how it was and there are many nooks and crannies to investigate, minding your head as you do so – especially in some of the barns.

Their excellent explanatory leaflet is a handy guide to the nearly 40 points of interest around the farm.

Leaving the car park you are greeted by a huge Garrett semi-portable industrial engine, No 31164 of 1912 which was new to Hamilton & Co of Wealdstone, Middlesex, believed to be a commercial laundry. It was later purchased

by Mr Brocklebank of Staveley, near Kendal,

Cumbria, where it drove his Bobbin Mill from the 1930s to the late 1960s. Alex acquired it from there.

Next is the Chicken Shed cafe, which is just that. A shed complete with mangle and old tin bath outside, it beckons as you arrive. Inside it’s warm and friendly, your tea is served in delightful flower-patterned cups and saucers – and you get a real teapot. Wooden beams, stone floor and Gingham tablecloths with little pots of real flowers make it a sheer delight! A member of the family or either of the three staff or similar number of volunteers will be delighted to serve you tea and coffee with home-made fare from soup to jacket potatoes and even burgers and sausages made from their own stock as well. Purely in the name of research I recommend the beef and chilli version. The pile of home-made scones on the counter served with their own Jersey cream and jam are, well, you can imagine. The menu varies accordingly as to what is available on the farm. No mass-produced items here. If you don’t have time to eat in, their shop sells all these items as well as eggs, from their own chickens, and various other examples of homegrown produce.

SHIRE HORSES

While foraging in one of the barns I heard some movement in the yard outside and on investigation I found Skye and Troy, two beautiful Shire horses, harnessed to a cart with a number of visitors aboard who were off to the village for a run out, no doubt calling in at the White Hart pub while there, which apart from local food and good ale, comes with accommodation for its Lakeland visitors.

The toilet block is a converted shepherd’s hut, which marries in nicely with the rest of the buildings. (Don’t worry, the inside is very modern!) Alongside is a complex local stonebuilt barn on two levels. This is the corn grinding shed, threshing barn and calf shed.

Keep your head down in here and watch where you’re walking, remember this is an operational farm.  OLD GLORY FEBRUARY 2015 | 27

Enginelines

Got somethinG to say? old Glory, Po Box 43, horncastle, Lincolnshire Ln9 6JR | ctyson@mortons.co.uk

Burrell showman’s Progress

I NOTE in OG 299 and the Burrell showman’s engine Progress feature that the spelling of Mrs Edith (Edie) Symonds is shown as ‘Eddie’, in reference to the engine leading her funeral.

Seeing that Barnaby Newton is having a plate manufactured to place on the engine in her memory I thought that I should point out this error before its committed to brass!

The lady standing in the door of the caravan on page 32 of the three Edwards’ Burrells is my mother, Mrs Edith Symonds. When she was a little girl, she would sit on the seat on the footplate of Progress and grandad had to tie her to it because she was so small.

Diana Green, via email.

Paying the rate for skilled engineers is so important I HAVE every respect for Tony Bond’s views in respect of his comments in OG 299 (regarding recruitment of a qualified engineer for the Severn Valley Railway) but was trying to point out that engineers are looked upon as ‘greasy people’ who just keep the stuff running and should not be seen.

I am not sure of Mr Bond’s position in the organisation but if not an engineer and he only has a financial interest, he will not agree with this response.

Our engineers of today are qualified to a level of which we could never have envisaged in my time. Many are graduates leaving university with exceptional skills.

These engineers past and present are our lifeblood. We look at our great engineering fraternity which looks after our preserved vehicles and locomotives and I feel that many are exploited. I myself am in a

privileged position to give time and experience free of charge. But when a position is advertised as a full time position this is different.

I was stating in OG 298 that we need engineers to carry us forward; these young persons should be paid a working wage, or they will go abroad to seek their fortunes.

Just pay our skilled engineers what is required to make this an attractive position in industry and preservation.

We should not differentiate between them.

Preservation is a business these days and should not be portioned apart. Many a heritage line nowadays makes an ‘operating surplus’ and I realise that overheads are huge, but give a thought to those that put the metal on the rails.

To recruit the best will show dividends, reducing delays with meeting regulatory authorities.

Tony Hicks, via email.

ISAAC LEVERDICK

Catalonian road train I HAVE only just read OG 297 as in Australia we receive copies of Old Glory several months after they are published in the UK and Europe.

The tractor in the Catalonian Dam photo is of a Renard road train, hauling three shaft-powered articulated trailers. The large radiator appears to be a local modification.

The November 2008 issue of Old Glory contains an article I wrote about the remains of two Renard

road trains in Australia. One was used on Isis Downs sheep station in the Central Queensland outback. Three powered trailers survive intact but not the prime mover. A private museum at Quorn, South Australia, has a surviving prime mover and one powered trailer. The prime mover is fitted with an International engine – not the original sleeve valve engine.

Andy Plunkett, Australia, via email.

Building Tower Bridge AN EXCELLENT magazine. The variety of articles is amazing and always interesting. I think I have every issue.

I was particularly interested in the photos of Building Tower Bridge (OG 299) having spent my life in the construction industry, apart from restoring and running a variety of old motors.

But, with great respect, I wonder whether the lower picture on page 54 is actually Tower Bridge. The construction of the arch (which seems to be parallel with a river bank rather than at 90� to it) is clearly wider than in the other pictures, and the very close proximity of a brick built warehouse (seemingly to be retained) makes no sense as the ‘towers’ of the London bridge are on ‘islands’ well away from the river bank and buildings.

Could this, possibly, be the base for a ‘hammerhead’ or similar very large crane? It is an amazing picture – well before ‘health and safety’ was invented: notice the men working on a rough scaffold about 40ft above the deck, without any guard rails or protection and the incredibly long pole ladder for access.

I am probably wrong suggesting this. I am not a Londoner, having spent 99% of my life living on the Isle of Wight.

Keep up the good work.

John Golding, via email.

All we can say is that the photos were found in a batch all together and then donated to Tower Bridge Museum. Ed.

by Pete Wilford

OLD GLORY FEBRUARY 2015 | 45

Helpline readers ask...

SponSored by National Traction Engine Trust

www.ntet.co.uk

...readers reply

Locomotive identification CAN anyone identify the locos in the attached photos?

The first (undated) photo (bottom left) purports to be of the first loco to run on the Khone Island Railway in southern Laos, which opened in 1897.

It was named Paul Doumer after the GovernorGeneral of French Indochina and was reported to weigh seven tonnes empty.

It would have been 600mm gauge and may have been acquired second-hand.

Secondly, can anyone identify this substantial 0-6-0T loco in the photo bottom right, taken c1920 in French

Cochinchine, now Vietnam. It could be one of two unidentified 23-tonne locos working on the 23km metre gauge forestry line of the BIF (Bièn Hoa industrielle et Forestière) and listed on that company’s 1922 rolling stock inventory.

The company was formed in 1910.

Mike Pass, Steam Today, Southeast Asia.

Email Michael.pass@hotmail.com Both of these photographs provide a fascinating view of overseas narrow gauge steam traction and would guess that the photo bottom left is the opening train. Editor.

EditOriAl

Editor Colin tyson technical Adviser derek rayner C Eng, Mi Mech E design Anita tams-Waters reprographics Simon duncan Publisher Julie Brown Archivist Jane Skayman Group Production Editor tim Hartley By post: Old GlOrY, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, lincs lN9 6Jr tel: 01507 529306 Fax: 01507 529495 Email: ctyson@mortons.co.uk

rEAdEr SErViCES

General queries and back issues tel: 01507 529529 Fax: 01507 525263 Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk Web: www.classicmagazines.co.uk Subs online oldglory.co.uk Subscription Full subscription rates (but see page 36 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) - UK £47.40. Export rates are also available - see page 36 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added tax.

AdVErtiSiNG

Advertising Executive Colin Smith Email: csmith@mortons.co.uk tel: 01507 529357 divisional Advertising Manager Sandra Fisher By post: Old GlOrY Advertising, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, lincs lN9 6Jr tel: 01507 524004 Fax: 01507 529499

PUBliSHiNG

Purporting to be the first loco to run along the Khone Island Railway.

One of two unidentified locos on the BIF forestry line in French Cochinchine, now Vietnam.

Steam crane photo request

I HAVE started the research and the writing of a manuscript which will become a published book on the histories of the North of England’s steam crane manufacturers, including makers of locomotive crane tanks.

To illustrate the book, I am seeking photographs and old engravings of steam cranes from the under-listed North of England manufacturers. Any photographs supplied will be acknowledged in the book.

Alan McEwen, email: lankyboilermaker@btconnect.com North East Steam Crane manufacturers Black Hawthorn & Co (loco crane tank engines) R&W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd (loco crane tank engines) John Abbott & Co Ltd. Park Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne Clarke Chapman & Co Ltd. Victoria Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne Pickerings Ltd. Globe Elevator Works, Stockton-on-Tees Robert Roger & Co. Ltd. Stockton-on-Tees Richardsons & Westgarth Ltd. Hartlepool Lancashire & Cheshire Steam Crane manufacturers Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron Co Ltd. Openshaw, Manchester Thomas Larmuth & Co. Todleben Iron Works, Salford, Lancashire Craven Bros Ltd. Manchester C&A Musker Ltd. Liverpool Rushworth Bros. Ltd. Colne, Lancs James Taylor & Co Ltd. Birkenhead, Cheshire John H Wilson & Co. Cornhill, Liverpool Dunlop, Bell & Co. Albert Engine Works, Liverpool E. Borrows & Sons, Providence Works. St. Helens, Lancs William Fairbairn & Co. Manchester Cumberland Steam Crane manufacturer Cowans Sheldon & Co Ltd. St Nicholas Works, Carlisle

46 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

Yorkshire Steam Crane manufacturers Thomas Smith & Sons (Rodley) Ltd, Rodley, Leeds Joseph Booth & Bros Ltd. Union Foundry, Rodley, Leeds Balmforth Bros Ltd. Peel Ing Foundry, Rodley, Leeds Isles Ltd. Prospect Foundry, Stanningley, Leeds John Butler & Co Ltd. Stanningley Iron Works, Leeds Samuel Butler & Co. Albion Works, Stanningley, Leeds Whitaker Bros. Horsforth, Leeds Tannett, Walker & Co. Leeds.

Bramley Engineering Co Ltd. Leeds Smith, Beacock & Tannett, Victoria Foundry, Holbeck, Leeds Smith & Parker. Regent Foundry, Leeds.

Thomas Broadbent & Sons Ltd. Central Iron Works, Huddersfield William Bradley & Co. Gooder Lane Iron Works, Brighouse Priestman Bros Ltd. Holderness Works, Hull Rose, Downs & Thompson Ltd. Old Foundry, Hull

Subscription Manager Paul deacon Marketing Manager Charlotte Park Production Manager Craig lamb Circulation Manager Steven O’Hara Publishing director dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Published by Mortons Media Group ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, lincs lN9 6Jr tel: 01507 523456 Fax: 01507 529490

SUBSCriPtiON AGENtS

Australia Greg McNiece tel 3 5824 1734 denmark Keld Christensen tel 45 8696 8328 Germany Busso Hennecke tel 0211 251679 email f.b.hennecke@feflo.de Holland W van Gulik tel 05486 10542 New Zealand White Bus Family Productions tel 064 03 327 6585 Scandinavia tore Blom tel 46 511 51189 Switzerland dampfwalzen-Club Schweiz tel 061 905 1111

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the March 2015 issue of Old Glory (No 301) will be on sale from thursday, February 19.

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SteAm trActioN

Early Aveling products

to AmericA

Our technical editor, Derek Rayner, is well known for his great love and interest in Aveling & Porter machines, having owned one of the company’s steam rollers for more than 50 years. Here he tells OG something of the machines from Rochester that were exported to America during the 19th century

t

he first steam roller produced by Thomas Aveling was the 30-ton Batho type machine, constructed in 1867 for Liverpool.

Hard on the heels of this, William Sellers & Co of Philadelphia was the first firm to have such a machine in America; it having been despatched from Aveling’s Rochester works on October 12, 1868. This was serial number 391, a somewhat smaller but similar design 8hp, 20-ton roller. William Sellers, the principal of this firm, was involved in the American Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 and his firm presented an exceptional display of machine tools there, as we shall see later.

Reference to Sellers’ roller was found in the pages of the Scientific American of November 11, 1868, where there was an article entitled Road Making by Steam. At the end of this, mention was made of a powerful roller which The‘new’design of roller, almost like the ones we know today but with bevelled front rolls, that followed the Batho type of machine.

Aveling & Porter cAtAlogue

70 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

had been constructed in England and which was to be used in the grounds of the United States Arsenal in Philadelphia – this clearly being the Sellers’ machine. On trial it was found to work admirably.

The next roller was that supplied to the New York Central Park Commissioners; this was No 445 and was probably the most significant.

It was one of a pair imported on the basis that a steam roller had been used to great effect in London’s Hyde Park and it was despatched from the Rochester works on February 1, 1869.

This 15-ton roller was reported in the American press at the time (Scientific American of June 19, 1869) as having been trialled on June 4 at the corner of 115th Street and 6th Avenue in New York. This report went on to say that: “It weighed about 15 tons, having four rollers, two front and two back, so placed that the hinder ones cover the ground not rolled by the front ones. 

Below: The very well known engraving from Engineering, dated October 29, 1869, showing a Batho-type steam roller working in Central Park, New York. Aveling & Porter No 445, the fifth such steam roller and the first 15 ton version, was supplied to New York on February 1, 1869. Aveling-BArForD ArcHive

A Batho-type Aveling roller, with a very ornate cab, in use on improvements to the Bloomingdale Road in New York during construction of the Grand Boulevard. Its identity has not been established. Frank LesLie’s iLLustrated newspaper

An advertisement from Manufacturer & Builder of December, 1871. This was one of the first such promotions for Aveling & Porter products in America.

OLD GLORY FEBRUARY 2015 | 71

ADvintage

the place tO buy and sell post: ADvintage, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ, England online: oldglory.co.uk

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for sale, insulated, built in bed, two windows, choice of draw bar or horse shafts, very clean inside, Tel. 07595 698787. Hants

Living van, new build, tongue and grooved, fully insulated, wired for 240 volts, 16ft/8ft, on 19.5 wheels, wood burning stove included, £9500 ono Tel. 07765 787028. W Yorks

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22ft, 1982 Marshall Supreme, bedroom, living room and kitchen, cut glass mirrors, needs restoration and repair.

Tel. 07906 694721. Leics

The only remaining Star Truck, discovered in UK, fully restored using orig parts except engine, featured in TV series Heartbeat, stored in museum for past 14 years.

Tel. 07718 365100. Co Down

approx 3 1/2 foot high, 6 inch dia, brass and bronze, £1600; also traction engine whistle, £425 Tel. 01256 862261; 07717 834262.

Hants

4” scale, c/w s/steel water tank, removable padded seat and canvas cover with hoops, length approximately 60” + draw bar, Tel. 01823 663957 for details.

Somerset

3’’ Wallis & Steevens 6nhp road loco (major components of), started approx 1910 by employee at W&S, however he left before completion.

More pics/details on request. POA Tel. 01425 471074. Hants

VICTORIAN COACH LAMPS

VINTAGE VACUUM PUMP

3 CORGI COMMERCIALS

CARRIMORE LOW-LOADER

DINKY LEYLAND TANKERS

Pair, in brass, 2ft long, glass sides, £150 Tel. 0208 6414238. Surrey

from milking machine, unnamed, looks like a De Laval, bought 20 years ago to use in workshop to provide vacuum circuit, but never used, belt drive pulley attached, £50 ono Tel. Jon 07710 080739. Gtr Man

Commer brick wagon with load Commer Walls ice cream delivery van and ERF KV flat wagon, all boxed, £45 each; £130 the three Tel. 01829 733969. Cheshire

Vintage die-cast Corgi scale (1100) and detachable axle machinery carrier (1104), both boxed and in excellent condition, £65 each or best offer Tel. 07973 870322. Middx

two, superb, £135 each or £250 for the two Tel. 01829 733969. Cheshire

DINKY MODELS

DINKY TOY 980

FODEN CHAIN WAGON

FODEN STEAM BUS

FODEN STEAM LORRY

1950, Dinky Commer and Bedford breakdown lorrys, all cranes work, £65 each inc post Tel. 01829 733969. Cheshire

horse box, in r/box, years 1954-60, Express horse box, hire service on side, £135 post free Tel. 07968 659967. Surrey

Based on 41⁄2” ‘C’-type, unique model, steam test till May 15, hydraulic till May 16, reg for road, full re-tube this year, £25,995 offers considered. Delivery may be possible.

Tel. Derek 07411 110552. Lincs

4 1/2”, built 07-09, boiler and hydraulic test cert, excellent cond, £16,750 Tel. 07889 342346. Norfolk

FUEL PUMPS

HORNBY CLASS 7MT

ISLE OF MAN LOCO

MINIATURE TRAIN

MODEL STEAM ENGINES

approx 13 cms, 20 cms and 13 cms. in height, two die cast and one resin, £35 inc p&p Tel. 01256 862261. Hants

OO gauge, Morning Star, unused, in original box, tender inc, £60 plus £10 p&p Tel. 07717 834262; 01256 862261.

Hants

5” gauge, part built with new Cheddar boiler, most parts to complete, full set of drawings, £1500 ono Tel. 01780 764317. Lincs

7 1/4” gauge, inc locomotive, coal wagon, fruit van, coach and guards van, full boiler vert, passenger carrying continuous vacuum brakes, quality built, £9500 Tel. 01723 882243. N Yorks

approx 16cms high, make unknown, similar to Stuart, £220 Tel. 01256 862261; 07717 834262.

Hants

SCAMMELL LORRY

TWO DINKY COMMERS

WANTED TOYOTA HILUX

STATIONARY STEAM ENGINES

WANTED FORD RANGER

Two 1950 breakdown wagon@artic, £65 each; refund if not satisfied Tel. 01829 733969. Cheshire

Pick-up, petrol or diesel, clean or rusty, good price paid, Tel. Daff 07831 589763. Staffs

steam pumps, boilers, fittings, lubricators and governors wanted.

Cash paid. Let me know what you have.

Tel. 07411 190660 anytime. London

pick-up, any condition, petrol or diesel, can collect, Tel. Mel 07818 432101. Essex.

Meccano, 38” long, £575 Tel. 01256 862261. Hants

96 | FEBRUARY 2015 OLD GLORY

1949, good order, £120 Tel. 01829 733969. Cheshire

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