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NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE CLUB
OFFICERS FOR 1971 President: ARTHUR NAPPER, ESQ., Meadow House, Appleford„ Abingdon, Berkshire. Vice-President: S. J. WHARTON, ESQ., Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford.
Chairman: ANTHONY HEAL, ESQ., Baylins Farm, Knotty Green, Beaconsfield, Bucks. Vice-Chairman: J. CRAWLEY, ESQ., Field House, Turvey, Bedford. General Secretary: G. F. BECK, ESQ., 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex.
Treasurer : J. H. HOBBS, ESQ., 6 Esher Close, Basingstoke, Hants.
Editor: RAN HAWTHORNE, ESQ., 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading, RG8 OSE, Berks. Membership Secretary :
C. C. AYES, ESQ., 15 Milking Pen Lane, Old Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire. Club Ties and Badges Officer: F. G. UPTON, 30 Windsor Road, Maidenhead, Berks. Chairman, Rally Sub-Committee: J. R. BONSOR, ESQ., 6 Rokeby Gardens, Woodford Green, Essex. Technical Services and Spares Officer : BRIAN ORAM, ESQ., Bourne House, St. Mary Bourne, Andover, Hants. (Tel.: St. Mary Bourne 260).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In the production of this issue we would like to acknowledge the help of Affiliated Club and Area Correspondents, F. R. Howling, Esq., Kennett and Avon Canal Trust, Leeds and District T. E. Club, Leyland Motors, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Bill Oswald, Esq., D. A. Rayner, Esq., The Steam Plough Club, David & Charles Ltd., The Turntable and Model & Allied Publications Ltd. FRONT COVER Tom Varley's 3 ton Yorkshire 1'atcnt Steam Wagon, " Pendle Queen ". Works No. 940, built 1917, Reg. No. U4245.
STEAMING (incorporating the "Newsletter")
THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE CLUB
STEAMING SUB-COMMITTEE E. A. FILLMORE, ESQ. 34 Northwick Park Road Harrow, Middx. RAN HAWTHORNE, ESQ. 19 Bridle Path Woodcote Reading, RG8 OSE J. H. Hosss, ESQ. F.A.C.C.A. 6 Esher Close Basingstoke Hants.
Correspondence regarding the content of Steaming—articles, notes, photographs, etc. for publication and classified adverts to Mr. Hawthorne. Correspondence regarding display adverts or inserts to Mr. Hobbs. Correspondence regarding Club Membership, change of address, delivery of Steaming to Mr. C. C. Ayes, Esq. Milking Pen Lane Old Basing, Basingstoke Hampshire Steaming is published by the National Traction Engine Club for private circulation. Copyright held by N.T.E.C. or contributors.
From the Editor's Chair On taking over these duties from John Crawley, my first task is to thank him most sincerely for his editorship over many years. Under his guidance " Steaming " grew from little more than a pamphlet to a Club Journal of which we can be justifiably proud. RAN HAWTHORNE.
The Future ❑bviously no two men are going to edit " Steaming " in precisely the same way, so although the basic layout and coverage will be the same, detail changes will occur. Due largely to increased postal charges the " Newsletter " is now being incorporated in " Steaming ". " Men of Steam " will be retained and we also hope to make brief mention of allied interests such as steam railway preservation, old time fairground and tackle associated with Traction Engines. " Steaming " is now being run by a small team. Our aim is to publish at regular intervals. This can only be achieved by contributors old and new getting their copy in on time. By fixing a date for going to press we hope to be able to include news of events to come as well as those gone by. All contributions, photographs, news items, events to come and classified adverts for the next edition of " Steaming ", Vol. 14 No. 3, should be in the hands of the editor within one week of publication of this edition. We invite the submission of articles, photographs, news items, engine notes, events to come, letters to the Editor, etc. Written matter should be clearly written or preferably typed, double spaced, on one side of the paper only. Works numbers should be included when referring to engines. Photographs should be at least quarter plate size and printed on glossy paper. Name and address and full details, please. Advertisements should be typed or written in block capitals on a separate sheet and not incorporated in a letter.
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ENGINE REGISTER For some years now Mr. Paul Stephens has maintained an up to date list of traction engines, steam wagons and portables known to be in existence. Mr. Stephens now finds he can no longer continue this work. We thank him most sincerely for all he has done for the Club and at the same time we make an appeal for someone to come forward to continue this valuable work. The list is in being but there is the constant task of keeping it up to date as regards change of ownership and, surprising as it may seem, even in 1971 the discovery of engines still arises. We do know that amongst our members there are quite a few who are interested in lists. We would ask anyone who may be interested to contact the editor.
INSURANCE DISCS To acquaint new and remind old members that it is a condition at any rally held with the N.T.E.C's. approval that the organisers must have written proof that every engine entered has a current certificate of boiler insurance. To avoid the necessity of owners having to produce their certificates at every rally, the N.T.E.C. have adopted a system of discs similar to a road fund licence. Those who obtain their insurance through the club's brokers, Messrs. Tennant Budd and Roderick Pratt, will automatically receive one with their insurance certificates. Others who arrange their own insurance through their own brokers can obtain one from me providing they send their insurance certificate or some uthet documental)/ evidence that the boiler has been inspected and that it is fully insured. Do not send the boiler report as this only proves that it has been inspected and not necessarily insured. All documents will be immediately returned.—J. S. Hirons, 98 Hailey Road, Witney, Oxon. Telephone Witney 2356.
SOCIAL MEETINGS LONDON AREA. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at THE COCK TAVERN, Great Portland Street, London. This is adjacent to Oxford Circus on the London Transport Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines. We have a private upstairs room and as well as the " noggin and natter " side, have a programme for each meeting. For the remainder of this winter these are 28th April—Members' slide evening. Bring along your best items from your collection. Projector provided. No meetings during the summer. Re-commence in October. All meetings start at 7.00 p.m. with the formal programme from 8.00 p.m. THE IRISH STEAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY (Ulster Branch). Monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at the Hall's Hotel, Antrim, at 8 p.m. The meetings are an informal mixture of society business, film shows and discussions. Any enthusiast in the area will be made welcome. Mrs. B. Boyd, Bally Windland, Ballymoney, is acting Secretary.
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SOME NEW APPOINTMENTS Several changes have recently been made in the organisation of the National Traction Engine Club. At the Annual General Meeting held on 14th November, two new members, Mr. Patrick Coxall and Mr. J. C. Ford, were elected to the Executive Committee which held its first meeting of the session 1970-71 on 5th December. At this meeting the officers of the Club and the Chairman of the Club's sub-committees were elected to form the Management Sub-Committee. To fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Mr. Peter Barber, who had served as Chairman of the Rally Sub-Committee for many years, Mr. John Bonser was appointed Chairman and Mr. Eric Fillmore and Mr. M. Harmsworth were elected members of the sub-committee. At the N.T.E.0 Conference held in October, Mr. Patrick Coxall was elected to represent the Affiliated Clubs and Mr. J. Cooper the Rally Organisers on the Rally SubCommittee. Mr. John Crawley, who has edited the N.T.E.C. Journal "Steaming" for many years, is in future to be responsible for the production of a number of other publications which the Club is planning to produce. The first of these "Engines at work", was published last summer and the success it has achieved has encouraged the Club to ask Mr. Crawley to extend its range of illustrated books of this kind. Mr. Ran Hawthorne has been appointed Editor of "Steaming" and he will be assisted by a small Editorial Sub-Committee and a network of regional correspondents. Following the retirement of Mr. Alan Martin, who has been responsible for the organisation of the Club's social events, Mr. Eric Fillmore and Mr. Barry Finch were elected to take over this side of the Club's activities. In this way they will be assisted by Mr. C. G. Mileham who is now arranging a series of monthly meetings in London at the Cock Tavern, Great Portland Street, W.I, on the last Wednesday of the month (except December). The "pink discs", issued to engine owners by the Club's insurance brokers, Messrs. Tennant Budd & Roderic Pratt, as evidence of satisfactory boiler insnection and valid insurance cover, are a convenience to engine owners and a safeguard to rally organisers. Those members who arrange their insurance through other brokers may obtain these discs from Mr. John Hirons of 98 Hailey Road, Witney, who has taken over this service from Mr, Paul Stephens. ANTHONY S. HEAL,
Chairman
HISTORIC VEHICLE CLUBS' JOINT COMMITTEE This Committee is made up of representatives of most of the Clubs owning Historic Vehicles. Their principal task is to look at all proposed legislation affecting Historic Vehicles, to advise the Government of the effect of this legislation on our vehicles and to obtain the best possible deal for owners. Two items that are at present under consideration that affect us are: regulations regarding size of trailer (including living vans) in relation to the towing vehicle and the rear marking of heavy vehicles with red and white striped plates extending the width of the vehicles. On the latter quention it is gratifying to report that the H.V.C.J.C. have been successful in getting it written into the regulations that all vehicles first registered before 1/1/1940 shall be classed as " excepted vehicles " and therefore not subject to the regulations. This is just one more example of the value of this Committee and one more example of the value of maintaining a strong national club, through individual and affiliate membership to look after our interests.
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RALLY GOING IN 1970 by BILL OSWALD For as long as 1 can remember I have been a fairground enthusiast and naturally the Showman's engine has always been my first love. It still is and therefore is the main attraction for me when 1 attend a traction engine rally. Before going to a rally I try and find out what showman's engines are booked to attend a certain event and this usually decides whether or not I go to the rally. I am a comparative newcomer to Rally going, attending my first event in 1968, which was the first rally ever to be held in Scotland—this being at Hamilton in Lanarkshire. This town was always a popular venue for Bastable's Amusements and used to be regularly visited by those two famous Scottish Burrells, " Wandering Willie" and " Prince Albert". Since then I have never looked back, and 1970 has been my best yeai so far during which I must have taken close on one thousand photographs. I started off 1970 with a quick visit to the Indoor Carnival at the Queens Hall in Leeds. There were four engines here, two showman's built as such, Dick Preston's Burrell, "Lightning II", cx Emerson & Haywards and L. C, Ryas' Foster, "Success", ex Ribble & Metiers, the ❑ther two were later conversions, but very tastefully done, E. Meadowcroft's Fowler, "Prince of Wales" and W. Payne's Fowler Tractor, " Firefly ". What interested me most here was the trunking arrangements for getting the smoke out of the hall. 'this was achieved by a steel tube extension chimney curving out ❑f the engine chimney top and lying along the top of the awning and then through a window in the side of the hall so that the smoke was discharged into the street. Due to the engines being in a rather dark corner, photography was not a great success, but 1 did get a passable record of the smoke discharging arrangements as well as some good close-ups of the footplate fittings of the Foster "Snceess". it was A great thrill seeing this engine as I hadn't seen a 65 b.h.p. Foster since before the war. "Success" is probably the most beautifully proportioned showman's engine in preservation, everything on the footplate falls naturally to hand, there is no stretching or over-reaching to be done to get at any of the controls, and when one looks at the massive proportions of her flywheel one is left in no doubt as to where the power comes from when she is on the belt. When in Leeds I am usually the guest of that well known showman's engine driver, Bert Barker of B.R.S. fame. One could not be in better company as he is a most interesting and knowledgeable man when it comes to fairgrounds and engines, There was nothing else on the calendar for me until the month of May when Scotland held its third rally, ilie ',cline Loving mice again The only showman's engine here was Mr. Alex Steele's Burrell, " Princess Royal'', which had been used in showland by Messrs. Gillham down in the Southampton area. This engine was not built as a showman's, but never the less was a handsome specimen. She was steamed through to the rally from Culross on the banks of the river Forth, towing behind her an interesting Sentinel Steam Wagon which had been built in Glasgow, whilst making up the rest of the train was a Showman's Living Wagon. I did not have the good fortune to see this most interesting ensemble actually on the road. The stars at Hamilton. for me anyway, were the Foden. " Pride of Leven", an engine that spent most of its working life in Scotland and is now preserved in Sandbach. It was certainly an unexpected pleasure to see a Foden once again and I made the best of the opportunity with both cameras. They had this fine engine driving a Foden Thresher and Baler, probably the only complete Foden set in the world. The other big thrill for me at Hamilton was an engine I never expected to see, this was Jimmy Houston's Single Crank Compound Burrell, "Dandic Dimmont", still on steel tyres, and a beautiful specimen she is. Incidentally she seems to have spent most of her working life in my home county of Fife, though I never ran across her in my pre war travels. Now that the season had started I was kept rather busy. Early in May I attended the Annual General Meeting of the National Union of Seamen as a delegate from Glasgow. This wa^ held 'n Hull and whilst there I
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A. Steele's Burrell No. 3295, "Princess Royal". 1914 Glasgow built Standard Sentinel. Photograph—Bill Oswald
E. Shone's Burrell No. 3884, "Gladiator". J. Downs' Steam Driven Three Abreast Gallopers. Photograph—Bill Oswald.
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took the opportunity of calling on Mr. L. C. Byas to see once again the Foster " Success ". She was under cover but Mr. Byas was most co-operative and had his son haul her out into the open with a tractor. Although it was wearing on in the evening and the light was beginning to go, our efforts were rewarded with sixteen good photographs taken from all angles. I was able to examine in detail the lovely lines of this magnificent engine. Foster certainly turned out a handsome job, one could say a lot about " Success " but space forbids, so after what turned out to be a most rewarding evening we must press onwards. During the following month of June my ship was laid up undergoing her annual survey and this enabled be to pay two visits to Mr. Alan Bloom's Steam Muesum at Bressingham Hall, near Diss in South Norfolk. During both my visits the showman's Burrell " Black Prince " was partly sheeted, this engine is another conversion to showman's type and was used on the fairground by both Fred Gray and Swales Bolesworth, both of the London area. Another interesting Burrell at Bressingham was the former show engine. " Earl Kitchener", which was built for President Kemp. This fine compound is now shorn of all her showman's fittings. but I did hear that they intended to restore her to showman's condition. She is certainly in fine condition.
Nowadays she carries the name " The President " and I wondered if this nameplate came from another engine belonging to the same owner which carried this name but was a single crank compound. On both my visits to Bressingham the centre engine from the three abreast Jumpers was out of the machine, undergoing a complete overhaul, but the the organ was playing a treat, so in this way this made up for not seeing the steam centre. Due to my ship being laid up longer than usual on her survey, I was able to visit Braintree Rally in mid June. This proved to be a very interesting event. Here it was that I saw for the first time the famous ex Pat Collins Fowler, " Dreadnought ", which used to be attached to this firm's Dodgems in pre-war years. At that time it had a Burrell type turret crane and no brass-work. Now the engine is owned by Mr. Arthur Clark and carries the name "Goliath". I prefer the former name, the turret uprights on the hunker have been removed and to my mind the brass awning supports are a bit overdone, but she is still a very handsome specimen. This engine is beautifully painted in the traditional showman's colours.
Those two famous sister engines were present here, I refer now to the scenic Burrell, " Lord Lascelles ", ex Harry Gray of Battersea and " Glad;at,., 9', G ay of t.1“., Yak, Ilicalth, I1a113p31.a11 W1141 spectacle they provided and my loyalty was equally torn between the two of them. " Gladiator" certainly raised a few nostalgic memories. During the war if I happened to be passing through London with an hour to spare, I used to make the trip to the Vale of Health at Hampstead Heath just to see this superb Burrell. She had a rather unusual dynamo set up, made by Boothroyd of Leeds, the exciter being driven by a link chain instead of the
usual belt. She hasn't altered greatly, brass stars have been added to the motion plates and a brass rectangular nameplate added to the rearside tool box over the belly tank which in turn now sports a brass star. A feed water pump has also been added on top of the belly tank, once again the brasswork is nicely balanced and there is that beautiful tall Burrell chimney. The original exciter is still there though the main dynamo has been changed. Repainting would certainly put the finishing touches to her and once again more appropriate lettering along the awning sides. What little time I did
spend on the footplates of these engines was indeed seventh heaven. I can't leave Braintree Rally without mention of the Marshall piston valve Single Cylinder Roller owned by Becher, smartly turned out in apple green livery, what a magnificent sight It reminded me of the fleet of Marshalls which were owned by Heggie & Robertson of Dunfermline, Fife, before the war. All piston valves except one which was a slide valve. In my part of the country Aveling rollers dominated the scene, therefore it was always a
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Arthur Clarke's Fowler No. 14424, " Goliath ", formerly Pat Collins' " Dreadnought". Photograph—Bill Oswald.
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thrill when I came across one of Heggie & Robertson's Marshalls on their travels. Mention must also be made to E. Shone's Sentinel Cement Wagon making its first public appearance at this rally. Another engine I greatly admired was the Burrell Compound G.P'. Engine, " English Hero ". Rally going for me isn't always easy and I have sometimes to put up with quite a bit of discomfort in order to get the photographs I want. The next event which attracted me was billed as a Midsummers Night Steam and was to be staged at Great Towersey, near Thame in Oxfordshire. I had no idea what showman's engines were going to be there, but as the event coincided with my going home for a few days, I decided to take it in on my way home to Scotland. I left the ship on Friday evening and managed to get to Paddington in time to catch the last train out to Oxford. Now I can never be certain when I can leave the ship as this is due to the exigencies of the service, so that this means I can never book bed and breakfast in advance, which in turn usually means sleeping rough. I arrived in Oxford about 1.15 a.m. and started to walk to Thame, a distance I was informed of some fifteen miles. I had iust reached the outskirts of Oxford when I waved a car down, this turned out to be a student out For a run as he couldn't get into the college until after 3 a.m. He very kindly run me all the way to Thame. However my troubles were not over vet as I had about another three miles to walk to the rally field, this journey being made in complete darkness over a road that was strange to me. This is where the AA and RAC signs are a godsend. I arrived on the rally field shortly after 4 a.m., which was better than I had dared hope. In the darkness I could see the white awning top of Ran Hawthorne's Fowler "Renown " and I thought to myself that my journey had not been in vain. I had journeyed to Bloxham the previous year especially to see this Fowler and I was glad to renew my acquaintance with her. I made my way up to the top end of the field where the steam fair was situated and I made myself as comfortable as I could by settling down in a large duck on a juvenile roundabout. This sort of thing is all right and one can usually get a nap until the dawn starts to break, then the air gets considerably colder and one can feel it seeping into one's bones. I was up and about at 7 a.m. and as the light was good enough I started photographing " Renown " at 7.30 a.m. Shortly afterwards her owner put in an appearance and gave me a much needed clip of tea. having recognised me from the previous year at Rloxham. He also gave me the news I had hoped to hear when he informed me that Syd Statham's Fowler " Carry On ". ex Codena's of Glasgow was due to make an annearance here. Now T had to be on my way again shortly after 9 a.m. in order to get home to Scotland that night. The question was—would " Carry On" arrive in time to be photographed ? I was still debating this question with Ran when I noticed " Carry On " mounted on a low-loader arriving for the event. As I was a bit short of time, I set off to take some photographs. I am not going to say much more about " Carry On " as I have described my meetings with her elsewhere, in the form of an article which will be published in the " Model Engineer " during 1971. I very much regretted not being able to stay for the rally, but I may have better luck next season. I had made up my mind to attend Bloxham if at all possible as, like a great many more, I was anxious to see Jack Wharton's Fowler. " Supreme ", ex Deakins, South Wales. However this would depend on whether or not I could arrange an extra day's leave before returning to the shin. This was duly arranged and I looked forward to the occasion as I had very much enjoyed the previous year's event at Bloxham, where there had been no fewer than eight showman's engines. Once again I couldn't make any arrangements before hand and I reached the venue just after 8 p.m, on the Friday evening after a journey of well over five hundred miles.
Thame Rally and Fair, 1970. Williams' Gallopers, Fowler " Renown" and Harry Lee's Steam Yachts.
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My sleeping berth for the night was one of the chariots on Messrs. Edwards' " Noah's Ark "—quite comfortable until the early dawn when you begin to feel that raw cold air getting into your bones. The sun took its time about getting through in the forenoon, but I was able to get into action about 10 a.m. Once again I was up against my old enemy, time, as I had to be off the rally field and on my way by 1 p.m. in order to rejoin my ship in the evening, so now I was beginning to sweat in case I would have to miss " Supreme ". I had been told that she was definitely on her way under her own steam. Meanwhile I photographed everything on the rally field including " George Eves " of Van Talk fame and his miniature engine, " The Kentish Boy ". Finally I saw " Supreme " but it was too late to run up and get some photographs of her on the road, however I did get some good shots of her making her way down the rally field before the crowds gathered round her. One can only be full of praise at the restoration job that has been done on this engine and despite the ballyhoo that heralded her final appearance in public, one can only say that she is truly a magnificent specimen. Mind you she is not my favourite. I have never been a lover of those last four Fowler B.6. Super Lions, to me they have always been something of a hybrid. I like my Fowlers to be Fowlers and my Burrells to be Burrells. In Ran Hawthorne's " Renown " we have the classic Fowler's showman's road locomotive, almost fitted for working with a scenic railway. She had fourteen hard seasons behind her with Murphy's Proud Peacocks before " Supreme " saw the light of day. She has the Thompson & Walton pillar "Feast Crane ", whereas "Supreme " has the Burrell type with the bunker sides built up in the form of a turrett. Though " Renown " never carried one during her years in showland, I feel that if an exciter dynamo were to be fitted on top of the offside belly tank, then in " Renown " we should have an example of the classic Fowler at its zenith as fitted out for work with a scenic railway. Another point I should like to make about " Renown " is, there is no gaudy brass-work about her, all the awning supports are plain steel rods. We had quite a few like this up in Scotland. " Supreme " on the other hand is over done and in her case it is chrome. I have stated before that brasswork does not in itself make a showman's engine. In all fairness one must admit that she was built this way, the only noticible difference in her now as from her original appearance is that the chimney is shorter, a cover has been placed over the chain running off the crankshaft on the offside and she has cocks rods on both sides. I hope that my criticisms will be taken in the spirit in which they are given. They are my own personal views and are in no way intended to distract from the magnificent effort and sheer hard work put into these engines to bring them up to their present condition. Enthusiasts like myself can only owe a deer) sense of gratitude to people like Jack Wharton and Ran Hawthorne and indeed all engine owners whom, because of their efforts we can once again enjoy to the full the glories of steam transport on the roads. A unique event in the season's calendar is the Edwardian Steam Fair held at Strafford-on-Avon. I am concerned here only with the engines therefore I will not say anything about the organs or the fairground attractions. Here I ran into " Carry On ", a classic example of an Onershaw conversion from a B.6 big lion road locomotive to a showman's engine. Charles Opershaw of Reading certainly had an eye for grace of line, he turned many an ordinary engine into things of sheer beauty when he converted them to showman's use. We had our fair share of them up in Scotland. Another favourite of mine was at Stratford, this was Lobbs Single Crank Compound Burrell " Sparkie ", as always beautifully turned out. One can't help but admire that powerhouse of a cylinder block with its graceful curve on the offside. Messrs. Edwards, the Swindon based amusement caterers, had their restored Burrell, " Earl Kitchener " at Stratford. I must say that here again in " Earl Kitchener " the twisted chrome awning supports are overdone. I think fewer of
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them would have resulted in a better balanced appearance. However one can have nothing but admiration for the star which adorns the flywheel, here is a true work of art, a fine example of the coachpainter's art and the showman's flair for attraction. Standing on Edwards' " Noah's Ark " and watching this Burrell at work took my memory swinging back over the years to the great steam days of Kirkcaldy Links Market, this experience alone had made the journey to Stratford-on-Avon well worth while. The major fault at this steam fair was the fact that the attractions were so closely packed together that photography was very difficult. However despite this I came away with quite a few gems. My next outing was to Woodcote Rally. Here again I left the ship on Friday evening and due to delays reached Paddington too late to do anything except spend the night on the hard seats in the station. However, mid-day on a lovely summer's day found me on the outskirts of Reading waiting hopefully for a bus to take me near what seamed to be a very out of the way place—as indeed it was as far as public transport was concerned. However I had not been waiting more than ten minutes when my luck turned as a Sentinel steam wagon came into view, obviously it was bound for the rally so [ waved it down and asked for a lift. They were very obliging and I climbed aboard to join the company of a lady passenger, three men, three youngsters and of all things, a large alsation dog who turned out to be rather docile. I was made very welcome. Have you ever tried photographing the road ahead from a moving steam wagon, its quite a challenge. Despite the smoke and cinders, not forgetting the swaying of the vehicle, I got good results. The trip itself was sheer joy and I wouldn's have missed it for the world. When we reached the rally there again was the prominent white painted awning of the Fowler, " Renown ". She was on her home ground here. We had a formidable hill to climb before gettine into the rally field but as the wagon had become a bit shy of steam we stopped to build uo a head of steam then we stormed up the incline with steam to spare and entered the rally field amid cheers. " Renown " and a Burrell tractor named "Kathleen" were the only showman's examples here though the huge McLaren, " Boadicea ", had formerly been used in showland and the Burrell tractor, " Defiance" had also seen service in showland, though both were now without showman's fittings. I could not help but be impressed by the massive proportions of the McLaren. An interesting feature here was the two circular tubs for coal fitted to this engine instead of the more usual coal bunker. I had a good day's photography here and the problem of getting back to Reading was solved by my old friend, Ran Hawthorne, who introduced me to that ardent enthusiast from Basingstoke, Mr. Jack Hobbs, who very kindly dropped me off right at Reading Central Station. I boarded a late night train at Kings Cross and at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning alighted on the platform at Darlington Station. I couldn't do much at this unearthly hour so I put my head down in the waiting room for a couple of hours. 5.30 a.m. found me outside Darlington Station quaffing a pint of milk purchased from an early morning delivery van. Then onwards in what turned out to be near enough a five mile walk to Croft Aerodrome, where Northern Steam Promotions were holding a rally. This was to be a red letter day, E. Meadowcroft's Fowler, " Prince of Wales" was here, a very nice showman's conversion. Then I was renewing my acquaintance with that lovely Fowler of Monty Thackary's, " Evening Star", and on top of that a real surprise in the form of W. McAlpine's Scenic Burrell. " Ex Mayor". Her name identifies her as being formerly owned by that astute showman, G. T. Tuby of Doncaster, who was a very shrewd man when it came to engines. He was also strictly a Burrell man, this 1 think was his final engine and she was a bit of an oddity being a contractors type with 7 foot driving wheels instead of the usual 6' wheels. She was also single geared which was a case of reverting back to old practice.
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This is undoubtedly a beautiful Burrell with her distinctive blue livery and yellow road wheels and her gold leaf ; she is a bit noisy when she is working which would seem to indicate that she could do with some work being done on the motion. Those big rear wheels certainly make her look very impressive and that big showman's dynamo sets her off. At this rally I made the acquaintance of that well known north country former showland employee, Gerry Caira and his mate, Arthur Homer, not forgetting their Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Suzy. Once the ice was broken did we talk ? The air hung heavy with nostalgia as we cracked away about showmen's engines and their drivers in the halcyon days of the fairground. 1 had promised Mrs. Oswald that I would be home sometime in the evening, though if I didn't show up she would have known that I was engrossed in steam engines again. 1 was surely tempted to make a day of it here and go home the next day. Anyhow, despite the fact that the weather was not nearly so good as the previous day's at Woodcote, the photographic bag was better and the cameras worked overtime. It was rather unfortunate that it was not a day for using colour. Gerry gave me a lift into Darlington to catch my train. I made a date to see Gerry at Harewood Rally, Leeds, and boarded the train for Scotland. It had been a most satisfying weekend. The week was not over yet and I boarded the train to return to the ship on Thursday. L stopped off at Newea.stle as the Annual Summer Exhibition was being held on the Moor and there was a steam fair as an added attraction. I had a couple of hours before the next train for the south. Harry Lee's Steam Yachts were here along with Screeton's Jumpers. I got another opportunity to photograph the Burrell, " Ex Mayor ", which was driving White's big Gavioli Organ, a real musical treat. There was another showman's engine here, a Fowler named " The Iron Duke', owned by Auto Services of Whitley Bay. She was a rather small engine, l should say about 7 n.h.p. and had formerly been a G.P. engine. I believe she had been a two speed engine originally but a third speed has since been added. She will be further improved when the paint work is fully lined out. I couldn't think of a better reason to break a railway journey and spend a couple of spare hours. The end of the same month, August, found me on the way to Bishops Castle to renew acquaintance with a very dear old friend, the Fowler "Supremacy ". I had known her before the war when she was ❑ wned by John Codeine whose waltzer box truck proclaimed him as Scotland's leading carnival promoter. I nearly made a mess of things here, it wasn't until 1 "hi C'."^y, rcachcd S'hrawsbury that real7......1 the rally wrlf;11.1 and here was I on the Saturday. I could only hope that " Supremacy " was already on the field. To make matters worse there was no bus to the rally until the Sunday, so I had to rely on a service bus which passed near the rally field. This I duly boarded. On my arrival there I asked the bus driver what time the last bus was back to Shrewsbury whereupon he told me that this was it and I would have to be back at this point in 40 minutes to catch it on the return journey. As you will see this did not give me much time, so I hared on down to the the rally field and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw " Supremacy ". At least my journey had not been in vain. I set to work straight away and photographed everything on the field. "Supremacy" had been filled up and was settled down so couldn't be moved, therefore I had to photograph the flywheel side in contra jour lighting conditions. Mr. Bishop, her owner, kindly let me on the footplate and opened the throttle so I could watch the motion at work, she was rather quiet and seemed to be in good condition. She certainly presented a very different appearance than when I last saw and photographed her, which was about 1953, and she was then just a heap of scrap lying derelict in Grangemouth Docks. It is really amazing what can be achieved when the restoration boys get going, it seems no obstacle is unsurmountable.
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As it happened I missed the last bus into Shrewsbury and had to get a lift from a car. The next stop was Leeds. I had to change trains at Stalybridge and was amazed to find that here on the station I could still get a a good cup of tea for 7d. amid convivial surroundings. I reached Leeds about 12.30 a.m. and then it was a case of getting your head down on the station seats. At a more respectable hour I made my way to the home of Bert Barker and as usual received a very hearty welcome and a first class breakfast, even although 1 had already eaten at the station. Bert had transport laid on which took us up to Harewood House in plenty of time on a brilliantly sunny morning. Harewood always provides a good rally and this was no exception. " Supreme " and " Renown " were in attendance this time as were Meadowcrof " Prince of Wales " and L. C. Byas's Foster, " Success The other engine here is a gem and a showman's engine proper. This is Dick Preston's famous Burrell, " Lightning II ", ex Emerson & Hazard of Whitehaven. Of all the Burrells in preservation that I have stood on, this one seems to be in the best condition, the motion here certainly works like the proverbial sewing machine. Given time I could spend many happy hours on this footplate. An interesting thing about "Lightning II" is the sight feed lubricator which is fitted astride the motion bracket. I believe Dick Emerson fitted this on the engine when she was still in fairground use. " Lightning II " is painted in a nice apple green livery with yellow road wheels and the effect is quite pleasing. Although she has more brass work now than she carried formerly, she is not over-burdened with it and is nicely balanced. I see she has had brass stars added to the motion plates. She was doing her usual chore at this rally, which is driving White's Gavioli Organ, which in turn always draws a good crowd. The big thrill for me at Leeds was seeing Torn Varley's beautifully restored Yorkshire Wagon, " Pendle Queen ". Here was a gem, she was the first of her type I had ever seen and she certainly looked as if she had just left the works. Another engine I greatly admire every time I see her is the Burrell Road Locomotive, "The Dalcsman ", which is always beautifully turned out and a credit to her owner. I noticed that she seemed to be sporting a different type chimney cap, not quite so graceful as the previous one. I met up with Gerry Caira and his entourage again and what a time we had including a spell on the footplate of " Renown" which was standing on one side of Len Cole's Gavioli Organ, again supplying power, while Meadowcroft's Fowler, " Prince of Wales ", was standing at the other side of the organ. Gerry joined Len Cole and the dancers on front of the Gavioli and gave a dance routine, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. After dark we made our way down the ground past " Supreme ", which provided a wonderful spectacle as she stood driving tights. We filed into a marquee where we were entertained to a film show of past rallies, after which we made our way up to the Harewood Arms Hotel where the remainder of the evening was passed in revelry and drinking of good Yorkshire ale. Then back to Gerry's caravanette where we talked into the wee small hours about fairgrounds and showman's engines. What an atmosphere it was, like balm to the steam lover's soul. Early Monday morning found me most regretfully on my way back to rejoin the ship after what had been one of the most enjoyable weekends I had spent for a long time. The only regret I had was missing renewing my acquaintance with Mr. Jack Wilkinson (Cyclist) of the World's Fair, whom I last saw in 1939. The following Saturday, September 5th, found me at Denham Green Lane, where I once again met that well known fairground enthusiast, Mr. William Keating, from Manchester. Once again I had the opportunity of photographing the scenic Burrells, "Gladiator ", and "Ex Mayor" and it proved very interesting comparing these two. A. Clark's Fowler, " Goliath " also received some more attention from my camera as did Barber's Tasker Showman's, which was a new one to me. There was a superb Burrell Road Locomotive here by the name of " Lord Roberts" and an interesting Wallis Roller rejoicing in the name of " Daisy May " and I must not forget a chain driven Tasker Tractor.
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Mention must be made to the two sets of Jumpers at this event. J. Downs' Three Abreast which was steam driven and which 1 had seen previously at Braintree Rally and the other Three Abreast belonging to Beach, a very ornate machine indeed. A feature which made photography of the fairground attractions difficult was the placing of juvenile machines in front of the larger machines, a point the organisers would do well to correct in future. Iwas one of the people who got the dates mixed up for the Stourpaine Bushes event, by arriving down there a week early. However this blunder led to me being able to see and photograph the Fowler "Carry On" ❑n two different occasions, so this more than made up for my disappointment. I also learned later that two of the engines I specially wanted to see, the scenic Burrell. " General Gotich", and the Fowler, "Super Lion" didn't show up, so I hadn't missed so much after all. Going to a rally for the first time is a bit like groping about in the dark and this is virtually the case in the next event which I was to attend.
The final event for me was the Steam Happening at Beaulieu, billed as an Organ and Engine Festival. As I said 1 was breaking new ground here. 1 hadn't a clue as to how to get there and made the mistake of going to Brockenhurst, landing there about 9.30 on a cold Thursday evening. There was nothing here, I could't even get a cup of tea. I sat in the station until I was turned out at 11.30 p.m. and found a bus shelter down the road where I tried to get a couple of hours' sleep on a hard bench. The coldness of the night put sleep out of the question, it was getting a bit late in the year for this caper. wandered back up to the station and discovered that it wasn't locked up after all. The staff must earlier must have thought I was a bum, heavens knows why, I don't dress like one. I had a couple of hours sleep in the waiting room and at 4.10 asn, decided I would he on my way with my usual form of transport—my feet. Walking through the New Forest in pitch darkness on a cold morning is not everybody's cup of tea. but a love of engines makes some people do some strange things. I hadn't gone very far when I had the feeling that I was on the wrong road. By chance I noticed a light in a cottage and knocked on the deal to ask my way. The occupier never opened up. I can't say 1 blamed him, in all probability he was wondering who was at the door at this time of the morning. From behind the door I was informed that I had taken the wrong turning and to retrace my steps to the cross roads and carry straight on. That was fine, I realised I now had six miles to go having already walked two for nothing. Still 1 suppose I was lucky, I might have been set upon by a guard dog at that hour. On I walked spurred on by the thought of getting "Quo Vadis " and "Lord Nelson " in my camera viewfinder at the end of my trouble. I hadn't gone far on the right road when I realised the New Forest had other occupants in the form of wild ponies, which gave me rather a funny feeling when I heard them snorting as they cropped the grass at the side of the road and I finally realised what they were—never mind, press on McDuff, its all in the game. A van came into sight and I waved him down, but there was no stopping that boy. His ears probably caught fire farther down the road with the names I called him. After covering another three miles I got a lift from a van into the village of Beaulieu. I had arrived at last, there was no hope of a life-saving cup of tea this early, so I lay down on one of those wooden
seats on the common by the river in front of the museum and fell asleep. The cold and daylight woke me up at 8 a.m. and I found that I was being examined by two swans and three ducks, who seemed to cackle away incessantly. There are no prizes for guessing what they were thinking. I would not have been surprised with it in any case. I roused myself awake and after a good stretch I had a walk into the Museum grounds to the the chill out of my bones. I noticed the transport wagons for J. Beach's Jumpers in a field and a very smart tournout they
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Bishop Bros. Fowler No. 15375, " Supremacy", ex J. Codona. At Bishops Castle, 1970. Photograph—Bill Oswald.
E. Hines' Burrell No. 3938, " Quo Vadis", ex W. Wilson. At Beaulieu, 1970. Photograph—Bill Oswald,
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were. In the Museum grounds I found the ex Anderton & Rowland Burrell, " Lord Nelson ". I had seen her the previous year al Bloxham but did not get the opportunity then of photographing her to satisfaction. I was determined not to miss this time. This is a superb Burrell and unlike he majority of show engines in preservation she still carries her original dynamo, and what a dynamo it is. A massive piece of electrical ingenuity, ail done up in complete showman's finish. This was the only dynamo I ever saw in showman's finish. All the dynamos I saw in Scottish engines were a case of handsome is as handsome does though there were some fine examples to be seen, for instance, Frankie Codina's Burrell, " Royal Minor ", carried a 450 amp. ?lathers of very large proportions while John Codina's Fowler, " Renown ", carried a 375 amp. Mawdsley to name only two. Incidentally this engine was a far more handsome specimen than J. Murphy's " Renown ", she was one of Charles Opershaw's later day conversions. The dynamo on " Lord Nelson " is a Mawdsley and bears the following inscription : Anderton & Rowland, Bristol. 140 R 109. 750 r.p.m. 10 volts 300 amps. The big pulley for the belt has a large brass knob in the centre, the whole thing is indeed a work of art and could only be in its true setting on a showman's engine. Another feature of this Burrell, which is unusual, is that in the front of the dynamo bracket she carries, in brass letters, the words Andertan and Rowland Amusement Caterers, in place of
Burrell's name which was the standard practice. Some of Codina's engines up in Scotland had something similar to this, needless to say that during the course of the day, I took a great many photographs of " Lord Nelson ". As I left Beaulieu that evening I shall never forget the sight " Lord Nelson " was framed in the arched doorway all aglow with coloured lights, including those lovely brass vintage oil lamps on her smokebox. There she stood with hardly a murmur coming from her as she rocked gently to and fro spinning that big dynamo effortlessly as she supplied power for the Gavioli Organ. Here was steam power on the road at its very zenith, the light was just getting grey dark and to record the scene truly one would have required colour in the camera and a tripod on which to set it up so as to give a correct exposure. A tripod is a thing I never carry, as has already been made plain, in order to photograph engines I am sometimes faced with a long walk, therefore I keep my equipment as comfortable as possible. However the scene I have just described will for ever live in my memory. What decided my coming to this event was the fact that Mr. Edward Hines' Burrell, " Quo Vadis " (ex William Watson, Peckham, Rye), was attending, and there she was on her low loader, all sheeted up. It had been a tiring night and round about mid-day I got to thinking that I might not see the sheets being aken off " Quo Vadis " and I began to think about catching the 4 p.m. train from Kings Cross and so get home that night. The show didn't open until six in the evening, rather late for photography so late in the year. I decided that if nothing happened in the next half hour I would head for home. In another twenty minutes all thoughts of getting home that night were
dispelled from my mind as there was W. McAlpine's Burrell, " Ex Mayor " coming in on a low loader. By this time the sun was shining brightly and conditions for photography were almost ideal. The result was a series of superb shots of " Ex Mayor ".
Shortly after this the sheets were taken off " Quo Vadis" and what a sight for any steam lover to behold. This was a just reward for all the discomfort of the night before. For appearance this is without a doubt the finest Burrell I have seen in preservation, what a beautiful job they have made of her. The colours are just right and even the holes in the exciter bracket have been encircled with gold leaf, also she carries the exciter. Here again we have the interesting comparison between " Quo Vadis ", a scenic type with 6' 6" diameter rear wheels as against " Ex Mayor ", a scenic type with 7' diameter rear wheels. This latter feature makes " Ex Mayor " a bit of art oddity and therefore she doesn't look as beautifully proportioned as "Quo Vadis ". It would be interesting to know how each performed on the road during the days when they were in showland use. I have often felt
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it a great pity that the technical observations that were made with railway engines were not made with road engines. I have no doubt there would have been many surprises. To fill out the scene at Beaulieu there were a Fowler Tractor and a Garrett Tractor, both with full showman's fittings and well preserved specimens they were. I had a most interesting chat with Mr. Edward Hines and was very grateful for his hospitality by providing a very welcome cup of tea and supplying, of all things, shortbread which his housekeeper had made. It wasn't the genuine Scottish article, but was indeed a very commendable effort for a Sassenach and I certainly enjoyed it. I certainly never dreamed that I would be eating home made Scottish shortbread so far from my native heath. Who knows I may yet partake of a Haggis on some rally field in the future as nothing surprises me in rally going. The rewards of rally going don't end with the close of the season, after that comes the pleasure of mulling over photographs one has taken and of the particular favourites amongst them, such as the two of " Ex Mayor " in the gathering dusk at Beaulieu with her awning lights glowing and the feather of steam at the safety valves as she supplied power for Chris. Edmund's Organ. I have no doubt that had more time been available I could have gone through as much film again. When I look at a half plate of Wilmot's Foster " Star of Bonaccord " which was the first photograph I ever took with an old Ensign box camera in the 1930's and then look back at a 20" X 16" print of " Ex Mayor " taken in 1970, one realises what steps forward have been made in cameras and films. One can only regret that this modern equipment was not available to them when steam was the prime mover on the fairgrounds of this country. What the rally photograph lacks in atmosphere is more than made up for by outstanding definition. I could write a lot about photographing engines but this is not the time or place. Suffice to say that I have evolved my technique to give me good results no matter what the weather conditions. The photographer wages a constant battle with the elements and after perhaps travelling several hundred to do the job one just simply cannot come away empty handed. I am already looking, forward to next season, I hope I shall manage to visit some events different to the ones I visited this year, but I am also hoping that I shall be able to visit next year's rally at Harewood and also the Steam Happening at Beaulieu, which were without a doubt two of my most enjoyable events this year. Then what of the engines, there are some, which still evade my cameras, such as the Fosters " Victory " and " Maude " and the one time Scottish Burrell, " The Bailie ". Also I have not finished with the Fowlers, " Supremacy " and " Carry On ". I see that now that it has changed homes that rare bird the Foden, " Prospector " (ex Shaws, Yorkshire), has now come within my field of operators. The editor asked me to supply three or four photographs to accompany this article. The choice is not what photographs to include, but what to leave out. Finally I would like to say a big thank you to all engine owners and their helpers as it is only because of their enthusiasm and their efforts that the taking of such photographs become possible and one can pursue such an interesting hobby as rally going. Pursuit of this pastime has certainly rejuvenated the writer. In looking forward to 1971 I can only hope that it will prove to be as successful as 1970 has been.
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ALEC IBBOTT'S TRAVELS 1970 by ALEC IBBOTT With acknowledgement to the Steam Plough Club in whose journal, " Steam Plough Times", this article first appeared. On Friday, 22nd May, Mr. Ron Ruff's ploughing engine No. 14383 set out from Wilden, Beds., and travelled via Bedford to join my ploughing engine No. 15336 at Wilstead, Beds. Next morning, both engines with Fowler living van and water cart, left Wilstead at 9 a.m. en route for Pirton, a distance of fourteen miles, in order to attend the Herts. Steam Preservation Society's Spring Bank Holiday three-days Rally. A very enjoyable time was had by all and many friends of the Steam Plough Club attended. The two engines left Pirton at 9.15 a.m. the following Saturday and travelled across country to join the Great North Road at Girtford Bridge, Sandy. At Wyboston, Beds. we parted company. Ron Ruff's engine went back home to Wilden whilst my engine carried on to Pete Coulson's farm at Alconbury, Hunts., where we arrived at 7 p.m. The distance covered that day was 32 miles. On Sunday. 21st June, we set out from Alconbury at 10 a.m. to go to Ryhall for the Stamford Rally. On the way, we saw Mr. Cyril Gale and Mrs. B. Thorn at Sawtry, It was extremely hot and really made the sweat run. I was rather worried about the heat affecting the road, but I am pleased to say that we hardly made a wheel mark all the way. We arrived at Ryhall at 7.15 p.m. very dirty, hot and terribly thirsty, but our friend Pete Coulson soon found us some bottles of beer. We were met by club member Jack Turner and his family. Distance covered was 27 miles. We left Stamford at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 25th July, en route for Moreborne where we attended the Peterborough and District Veteran Farm Machinery Club's Open Day on 26th July. Frank Smith's Mann Steam Tractor and Plough gave a demonstration of direct traction ploughing. On Sunday, 2nd August, at 10 a.m. we left Moreborne on our way back to Alconbury. We really made history that day, because for the first few miles we travelled with myself stearing and, believe it or not, with my wife Daphne DRIVING ! We arrived at Alconbury at 4.30 p.m., after a journey of 12 miles. On Tuesday, 15th September, we travelled from Alconbury to Roxton, Beds. for the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society's Rally. At Roxton we were pleased to meet up again with our old partner, 1iI32 No. 143/13, and we had two very enjoyable ploughing sessions on the Saturday and on the Sunday. We ploughed twelve acres of medium land, 10 inches deep in approximately nine hours. Many thanks are extended to our Secretary and other members of the club who attended and helped as Stewards. During Sunday, 27th September, the engine and plough moved over to Thurleigh, Beds., a distance of 12 miles. Once again, we met No. 14383 and our mates from Wilden. On Saturday, 3rd October, we gave a ploughing demonstration at Thurleigh to members of the Bedfordshire Agricultural Society and the Bedfordshire Young Farmers Club at their open day and ploughing match. The soil at Thurleigh was much heavier than at Roxton and we ploughed approximately seven acres, 8" deep, in four and a half hours. It was on October 4th that we took No. 15336 back to her winter standing ground at Vicarage Farm, Wilstead. We always think of this last day of the season as a sad one. From Thurleigh to Wilstead it is 13 miles. Since then the water has been drained off, all mud plugs and the manhole cover have been removed ready for the boiler inspection. The smokebox and tubes have been cleaned, ash-pan and firebars removed and the firebox has been wire-brushed and cleaned down. Total distance travelled in 1970 was 145 miles. In closing I would like to thank my little band of helpers, without whose help I certainly would not get far. Here's to 1971 !
Alec Ibbott's Fowler No. 15336 at work at Sawtry, 1969.
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RAMSBOTTOM SAFETY VALVES by " TECHNICIAN" The Ramsbottom safety valve, which in one form or another is fitted to the majority of our engines, appears such a simple fitting one might think it posed no problems. Recently I have reconditioned several, which had been misbehaving; the faults found, and their cures may be helpful to other owners. The most common symptoms include—only one valve doing all the work ; a large pressure difference between lift and shut down pressure ; weeping, which can be stopped by tapping the lever ; leakage around the seating ; inconsistent lift pressure. With the valves completely dismantled, the seatings can be inspected. The majority of valves have flat seats, and the width of these should be ". (Angle seatings should be similar.) Widths greater between and than this mean that the area of the valve exposed to steam is increased when the valve lifts, and the valves shut at a lower pressure than they should. The seating width should be reduced to the above figure. If steam has leaked between the seating and the main casting, the seats may be expanded with an ordinary tube expander. New seatings, preferably of drawn bronze are also fitted in this manner. The fit of the valves in the seatings is the next item to check. Excessive side play can allow the valves to tilt, and upset the geometry of the lever with its hinged pressure pin. If the side play is excessive—more than say 10 thou., the wings of the valves can be built up with bronze weld and turned to give this clearance. At the same time, any ridge on the valve face should be skimmed off, and a slight undercut made to prevent further ridge formation. With the valves reversed, the conical depression in the top for the pressure points should be cleaned up to ensure a smooth concentric bearing Coming to the next lever, clean up the fixed and hinged pressure points so that they seat properly and evenly in the valves. The hinge should be free but not sloppy, particularly sideways, as this will give side pressure on the valve, and may cause sticking. The next check is on the symmetry of the lever. Set the hinged point so that the distance between the fixed and hinged points is exactly the centre distance between the valves : the spring attachment point should now be exactly half way between these, on vertical centre lines. These levers have sometimes been bent, or the pressure point filed so that this is no longer so ; a difference of r'6" will make a great deal of difference. The remaining item is now the spring and its attachments. The more common tension spring should have any ridges on the ends oilstoned away, and when fitting, the fixed abutment on the main casting should be rotated so that there is no twisting in the spring, which would force the valve sideways. An easy way to stop the abutment turning is to remove the bottom pin in the safety link and insert a tommy bar, whilst tightening the nut below. With the compression spring type, the central tension rod must be free on its pivot, but not slack sideways, the abutment face on the lever perpendicular to the rod, the spring accurately located centrally on the lever and the ends of the spring true. The same point about twist in the spring applies, but since this type can be set in steam, a wriggle with the spanner will eliminate twist. When all this is correct, you should have a set of safety valves which open and shut promptly and tightly, and which will satisfy the most critical boiler inspector. One point, not always realised, is that a rise of pressure will occur between initial lift and full discharge, and this will be increased if the working pressure has been reduced and the safety valves are otherwise standard. Finally, please don't use emery for grinding in bronze valves ; I know it is slower, but Vim or similar scouring powder won't embed itself in the valve or seat.
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Fowler Class BB1, No. 15336, in ownership of W. Dennis & Sons, Lincs. August, 1949. Now owned by Alec lbbott.
Fowler No. 15337, sister engine to the above. Photographed on the same occasion.
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EARLY WATT ENGINE IN STEAM A Boulton and Watt Steam Engine and Pump built in 1812 and sited in its original pumping station on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire has been restored and is now working under its own steam. Believed to be the oldest working steam engine in the world and using James Watt's famous parallel motion linkage, it brings back the glory of steam power that was such an essential part of the Industrial Revolution. Restoration has been carried out by members of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and volunteers of the Trust's Crofton Restoration Fund. The work is part of a nation-wide campaign to restore Britain's extensive canal network and its industrial architecture for public leisure and interest. The Trust acquired the Pumping Station from British Waterways in 1968. Positioned ai Crofton village near Hungerford, the station was built to keep the upper levels of the canal topped up with water drawn from a natural reservoir. It was originally equipped with two Boulton and Watt engines—an 1801 model (replaced in 1845 and rebuilt .in 1905) and the 1812 engine now restored. Apart from internal improvements to the engines and modifications to the pumps later, the appearance of the whole installation is original and unchanged since 1905. Steam is provided by two massive coal fired Lancashire Boilers. The 1812 engine was last in steam supplying water to the canal as late as 1952. The Restoration Project is generously backed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works and by local authorities and is sponsored by leading figures and societies in the Engineering world. The cost so far is just under £8,000 and has covered structural work to the building, boiler scouring and testing and overhaul of the 1812 engine and pump. Volunteer experts in steam, engineering, boiler making and pump maintenance, the Junior Division of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, prisoners from Aylesbury Jail and countless members of canal societies and public have all helped with restoration The station was officially opened in August and steam open days have been held in September and November. This last steam week-end of 1970, November 7th and 8th, attracted crowds in excess of 3,000 people. Many traction engine owners and enthusiasts came along to see these remarkable engines. One of the first men the writer spotted in the crowd was Jack Holloway, steam organiser of the Seend Rally. Jack was born almost within the shadow of Crofton's Chimney, did steam ploughing in the area with the Fowiers owned by the Fall Brothers of Burbage and in the working days of the canal Jack did steam dredging in some of the reaches adjacent to Crofton. so he was quite at home in the pump and boiler houses where he spends a great deal of his spare time. Basil !tint is an ex naval stoker and now in charge o; servicing :toilets for the Atomic Energy Authority at Aldermaston. Basil and his team have got one of the giant Lancashire boilers into tip-top order. The second is stripped out for boiler inspection. We were given the privilege of a conducted tour of this boiler together with an expert explanation of the work done and still to be done by this enthusiastic boiler man. To anyone interested in steam, a visit to Crofton is a must. Open Days, 1971 are June 5/6, August 7/8, September 11/12 and November 13/14. Opening times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed for 1 hour for lunch. The engine can he steamed to special order on dates agreed well in advance. Charges—one day £30, two days £40 (the cost of the coal I) Crofton is open to the public every Sunday and by special arrangement at other times with the local organiser, H. P. P. Sykes, Bedwyn House, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire. For further information contact N. F. Reynolds, Esq., 11 The Vineyard, Richmond. Surrey. Telephone 01-948 1577 (6-9 p.m.).
NATIONAL TRACTION ENGINE CLUB List No. 1 Approved Rallies for 1971 Regrettably, postal troubles seriously delayed the publication of the list of approved rallies. The following rallies and events are those which have been notified in the proper manner where organisers have applied for approval and at the same time stated that they intend to observe the recommendations of the National Traction Engine Club Code of Practice as far as practicable. and in particular to observe the safety requirements of the Code. Approval is granted only on receipt of a declaration by the organiser that he will ensure that each and every engine admitted to the rally is insured with inspection in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice. 30/1
APRIL/MAY OXFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW, OXFORD AIRPORT. (Exhibition of Traction Engines and I.C. Tractors included.) S. J. Wharton, Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford.
MAY BRISTOL FESTIVAL OF STEAM, ASHTON COURT, BRISTOL. R. A. Lacy, 13 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 lAS. 15/16 MEDWAY STEAM FAIR, GILLINGHAM, KENT. R. Moss, Rally Committee, Rose & Crown, 8 High Street, Chatham, Kent. 22/23 VETERAN CAVALCADE 1971, HAMILTON, LANARKSHIRE. Wm. McK. Steven, 20 Geils Quadrant, Dumbarton. 22/23 COCKERHAM STEAM ENGINE & VINTAGE CAR RALLY, NR. LANCASTER. Mrs. F. M. Carr, 27 Norfolk Avenue, Morecambe, Lancs. 30/31 SAMARITANS STEAM FETE, WEST WYCOMBE, BUCKS. B. M. Fawkes, " Edgerton ", Orchehille Ave., Gerrards Cross, Bucks. 29/30/31 PIRTON TRACTION ENGINE RALLY, HITCHIN, HERTS. Mrs. B. Mayes, 23 Nunnery Lane, Luton, Beds. 30/31 STEAM FESTIVAL, BEAULIEU. B. Johnson, 24 Sheridan Road, Worthing, Sussex. 30/31 WELFORD RALLY, HUSBANDS BOSWORTH AIRFIELD. R. E. West, 4 Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, Leics. 30/31 EDWARDIAN FAYRE & STEAM RALLY, BURTON CONSTABLE, NR. HULL. J. R. Chichester-Constable, Burton Constable, Nr. Hull, E. Yorks. 1/2
5/6 5/6 12/13 12/13 12/13 19/20 19/20 19 / 20 26/27
JUNE BALLOON ASCENT & VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY, EARL SHILTON, LEICS. J. Cooper, 1 Cedar Road, Earl Shilton, Leicester. DEVON RALLY, NEWTON ABBOTT. F. G. Burt, 17 Toronto Road, Exeter, EX4 6LE. CAMERTON RALLY, CLANDOWN, CAMERTON, BATH. D. Cleaves, 60 North Road, Midsomer Norton, Bath, BA3 2QQ. HUNGERFORD RALLY. J. Newton, 6 High Street, Hungerford, Berks. FOSSEWAY RALLY, NEWARK, Non's. H. L. Spindley, 23 Westwood Drive, Swanpool, Lincoln. WELWYN GARDEN CITY, HERTS. Mrs. B. Mayes, 23 Nunnery Lane, Luton, Beds. CORNISH RALLY, NR. WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL. G. Proctor, 20 Queens Park, Wadebridge, Cornwall. RYHILL, NR. WAKEFIELD. W. L. Thorpe, "Eastfield ", 19 Cemetary Road, Ryhill, Wakefield (Tel.: Royston 2631). BANBURY STEAM ENGINE FAIR, BLOXHAM FIELDS, BANBURY, OxoN. T. Sutton, 9 Bowmens Lea, Aynho, Banbury, Oxon.
STEAMING JULY 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4
CHILTERN RALLY, GREAT MISSENDEN, BUCKS.
K. Petipher, 50 Green Lane, Radnage, High Wycombe, Bucks. ARDINGLY STEAM & HISTORICAL VEHICLES RALLY. B. Johnson, 24 Sheridan Road, Worthing, Sussex. REMPSTONE RALLY, LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICS.
J. T. Beeby, Wymeswold Road, Rempstone, Nr. Loughborough. ACME STEAM ENGINE RALLY & FETE AT SWINGE IELD, NR. FOLKESTONE.
G. A. Marsh, School Garage, School Road, Acrise, Nr. Folkestone, Kent. 10/11
10/11 9/ 10 /11 17/18
CHESTER-LE-STREET, CO. DURHAM.
E. Cheeseman, 46 Westmorland Rise, Peterlee, Co. Durham. BURTONWOOD AIRFIELD, NR. WARRINGTON, LANCS.
N. Carney, 2 Catterall Cresc., Bradshaw, Bolton, Lanes., BL2 4AD. STRATFORD-ON-AVON EDWARDIAN STEAM FAIR.
T. H. Wingfield, Avoncroft, Norton Lindsey, Warwick (Claverdon 2771). MIDLAND FESTIVAL OF STEAM, COUNTY SHOWGROUND, STAFFORD.
D. T. Bradbury, High Street, Colton, Rugelcy, Staffs,
17 / 18
HENSTRIDGE, NR. WINCANTON, SOMERSET.
17/18
MASHAM RALLY. W. A. Wise, 8 Leyburn Road, Masham, Yorks. (Tel.: 432).
17/18
APPLEFORD RALLY, NR. ABINGDON, BERKS. R. Jolly, 68 Normandy Crescent, Cowley, Oxford.
24/25 24/25 24/25
R. A. Lacy, 13 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 lAS.
SEEND TRACTION ENGINE RALLY, SEEND.
H. J. Holloway, 29 The Lye, Seend, Melksham, Wilts. STRETTON HOUSE, STRETTON, DERBYSHIRE.
P. B. Goodwin, 18 Cooke Close, Old Tupton, Chesterfield, Derbys. POLEGATE RALLY, LEWES ROAD, POLEGATE, SUSSEX.
A. Hanmore, Wannock Road, Polegate, Sussex. JULY/AUGUST
31/ / 31 J 1
W ESTERGATE LOUN TY FA YKE, FUN l WP.LL FMc.&, Cil turir.n t En, SUJJCA.
M. D. Hyndman, " Friars Oak ", Walberton Green, Arundel, Sussex.
31/1
HOCKLEY HEATH RALLY, EARLSWOOD, NR. SOLIHULL, WARWICKS.
31/1/2
STRADBALLY HALL, STRADBALLY, PORTLAOISE, CO. LAOIS, IRISH REPUBLIC.
P. J. Couls, 79 Arden Road, Henley-in-Arden, Solihull, Warwicks. W. F. Walsh-Kemmis, Ballykilcavan, Stradbally, Co. Laois.
31/1
DARLINGTON.
J. Arnott Brown, 70 Northdene, Birtley, Co. Durham. AUGUST
7 7/8 14/15 14 / 15 14/15
WOODCOTE VETERAN TRANSPORT RALLY, READING, BERKS.
G. R. Hawthorne, 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading, Berks. ROUSHAM PARK, NEAR BANBURY, OXON.
N. Bywater, Water Lane, Steeple Aston, Nr. Banbury, Oxon. ASTLE PARK, CHELFORD, CHESHIRE (A.525 road). J. A. Barber, The Cottage, Chelford, Macclesfield. LIPHOOK STEAM & VETERAN TRANSPORT RALLY.
P. Coxall, Smokey Cottage, Lion Lane, Hazlemere, Surrey. KNOWL RALLY, KNOWL HILL, NR. READING, BERKS.
Mrs. M. Cook, 1 Bottle Green, Littlewick, Nr. Maidenhead, Berki.
AUGUST—Continued. CAENBY CORNER, LINCOLN. 14/15 G. Taylor, 27 Addison Drive, Lincoln. MARKET BOSWORTH RALLY, MARKET BOSWORTH, NR. NUNEATON. 21/22 Mrs. J. A. Lees, 14 St. Catherine's Ave., Market Bosworth, Warwicks. FAIRFORD (GLOUCESTERSHIRE) RALLY & SHOW. 21/22 A. J. R. New, 9 The Plies, Fairford, Glos. 28/29/30 HAREWOOD HOUSE, LEEDS, HARROGATE. L. Fearnley, 27 Whitehouse Drive, Great Preston, Woodlesford, Leeds, LS26 8BP. COUNTY OF SALOP RALLY, BISHOPS CASTLE, SALOP. 29/30 D. W. Smith. 44 Sandford Ave., Church Stretton, Salop. 28/29/30 SYON Auc OF STEAM, SYON PARK, ISLEWORTH. P. Coxall, Smokey Cottage, Lion Lane, Haslemere, Surrey. 28 / 29/ 30 GADDESDEN ROW RALLY, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTS. Mrs. B. Mayes, 23 Nunnery Lane, Luton, Beds. 28/29/30 THE CHEDDAR RALLY, SOMERSET T.E.C. & MENDIP ROUND TABLE. K. M. Vigus, Perkham Field, Barton Road, Winscombe, Somerset. 4/5 4/5 4/5 4/5 11/12 18/19 18/19 24/25/26
SEPTEMBER DISPLAY. BURBAGE, HINCKLEY. LEICS. J. Cooper, I Cedar Road, Earl Shilton, Leicester. HINCKLEY SHAM ENIiINI
WYNYARD, TEES IDE, RALLY. M. Lambert, 491 North Road, Darlington, Co. Durham. STEAM EXTRAVAGANZA, UXBRIDGE, MIDDX.
J. Arnott Brown, 70 Northdene, Birtley, Co. Durham. CORNISH TRACTION PRESERVATION CLUB RALLY, LISKEARD. A. T. Hooper, Trevecca Sawmills, Liskeard. HORSHAM RALLY.
B. Johnson, 24 Sheridan Road, Worthing, Sussex. ROXTON PARK RALLY, ROXTON. PARK, NR. BEDFORD.
C. J. Norman, 16 Rye Crescent, Cople, Bedford.
ANDOVER & DISTRICT MODEL ENGINEERING SOCIETY RALLY.
J. Field, 2 Lansdowne Ave., Andover, Hants.
GREAT WORKING OF STEAM ENGINES, STOURPA INE BUSHES, BLANDFORD, DORSET.
Iv'. F. Olive', Dail yilicad, Child Oktruid, OCTOBER 1/2/3 2/3 9
STEAM HAPPENING, BEAULIEU.
M. E. Ware, Montagu Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst. TONBRIDGE RALLY.
A Hanmore, Woodcote, Wannock Road, Polegate (Tel.: 2464). HEN LEY -ON-THA MES PLOUGHING MATCH AND STEAM WORKING.
G. R. Hawthorne, 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading, Berks. Notification and confirmation have also been received that rallies and events are planned as listed below, but National Traction Engine Club Approval could not be given al the time this list was finalised due to application and declaration forms not having been returned : July 10/1 1—MICKLEOVER, DERBY. Sept. 18/19—PACKINGTON PARK, WARKS. Sept./Oct. 30/1 / 2—WORLD PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS (Nynehead, Wellington, Somerset). Chairman, Rally Sub Committee : J. R. BONSER 6 Rokeby Gardens, Woodford Green, Essex (Tel.: 01-504 9493) General Secretary : G. F. BECK 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex (Tel.: 01-508 4963)
STEAMING
DON'T MISS YOUR COPY OF ENGINES AT WORK
ENGINES AT WORK Price 45p post paid Over 200 illustrations previously used in Steaming between 1959 - 1969
A CHANCE TO ACQUIRE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ISSUES LONG OUT OF PRINT
Available from JOHN CRAWLEY FIELD HOUSE, TURVEY, BEDFORDSHIRE AND
C. C. AVES 15 MILKING PEN LANE, OLD BASING, BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE OR FROM THE CLUB STAND ON MANY RALLY FIELDS
STEAMING
(Left) One of the Boilers.
(Right) Valve Gear.
(Below) James Watt's famous parallel motion linkage on the 26 ft. Beam of the 1812 engine at Crofton. Blocks by the Kennett & Avon
Canal Trust.
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MAN OF STEAM-RAN HAWTHORNE by J. H. HOBBS Ran Hawthorne has edited "The Newsletter" for some years and now takes over "Steaming". A number of members have suggested that we describe his background and "what makes him tick ", so here goes. Ran was brought up on his father's small mixed farm in North Yorkshire. One of his earliest memories is of waiting all day long in the stackyard and looking down the farm road for a sign of the threshing tackle, having been told that it was coming that evening ready for the next day's threshing. The tackle almost invariably at that time consisted of a 6 h.p. Fowler engine and a Marshall 54" drum, owned by Turners of Lazenby. Sometimes the machine would come from a neighbouring farm that could be seen from the stackyard so a watch was kept all day long to see how the work was progressing interrupted only by excursions indoors for meals and to tell mother what time he expected " the billy" to arrive. The pony and high trap that the crew used to get home in usually arrived first. This was driven by Harry the tier man. I-Ic put his pony in the stable for a bite of hay and then prepared what seemed an enormous quantity of timber for lighting the engine next morning. Ran watched this simple job many times so that when he eventually came to light engines of his own he remembered " plenty of wood and up to fence-post thickness ". The Fowler would be close behind driven by a friendly little man known to all except the farmers as "Johnny ". The farmers respectfully called him " Mister Wallace". Johnny and his engine were one. When setting the drum with a push-hole he would say " loose me off " or " hang me on". Drivers had to he one with their engines for although to the young bystander the stackyard looked enormous it is only when he returns now that he realizes what a work of art it was to set the machine in such a confined space. Threshing days were the highlights of young Ran's life. He would get up at 7.30 a.m. to find Johnny, Fred (the feeder man) and Harry having breakfast at the kitchen table. It seemed incredible that since he had seen them last they had been twelve miles home to sleep, had come twelve miles that morning, had unsheeted the machine and oiled round and by the time breakfast was over the engine would be blowing off ready for an eight o'clock start. There were the jokes, the leg pulling about " bagging smoke " and " fetching steam in a wheelbarrow ", all part of the threshing day scene. At the age of five it was a very sad little man that trailed his feet to school just as the first sheaves were going in. Still if he hurried home he might be in time to enjoy " lowance", tea served from a three gallon milking pail with a pot jug and 'lowance cake piled high on a tin tray. The men were back to work and Ran was at the " corn end ". This was the area where " men " worked, where the two-cwt. sacks of grain were weighed off but above all it was where the engine stood. It was with more enthusiasm than had been shown for his school lessons that young Ran struggled to read the brass letters on the smoke box door "John Fowler and Co. (Leeds) Ltd. Engineers, Leeds". Very occasionally Ran would be taken to the fair. The last word on the local fairs at that time was John Murphy's Noah's Ark, but after a ride and perhaps a go with the air guns it was round the back of Noah's Ark to see the engines. Once again he spelled out "John Fowler and Co. (Leeds) Ltd."—what a wonderful place Fowlers of Leeds must be, he mused, they not only made Johnny's engine they made these mighty engines, " Repulse', " Renown ", "Gladiator ", etc., that could make all that electric to drive and light the Fair. In those sunny days of the late thirties young Ran was in the midst of steam. Steam Rollers and Steam Tarsprayers made the roads, Fodens and Sentinels came for the sacks of corn. The Fair was steam. Threshing and woodsawing was steam. It all seemed so normal, but little did he realise then that this was the end of an era.
Ran at work with Fowler Roller No. 14074 at Woodcote, 1963.
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The war came. It's labour shortage soon resulted in young Ran handling a pair of horses and a plough. Days off school were eagerly sought, especially when threshing days came round. He left school at sixteen and for the next year or two he saw a lot of steam for he was frequently sent as a " borrowed-hand " to neighbouring farm's threshing days in the same way as the other farmers' workers and sons came to his father's threshing days. It was on some of these occasions that he met up with the tackle of Dick Preston of Potto who was going all modern with Field-Marshall Tractors and high density balers, but the Foster " Vicountess Rhonda " was often met. As a small boy Ran learned from his mother the art of corn dolly making and at her knee he heard stories of his grandfather Garbutt who had been a farmer and an expert beekeeper. Ran resolved that " after the war " he would keep bees. He had his first bees soon after leaving school and within a year or two he became more interested in bees than farming. All his spare time was devoted to bees and in 1951 he went to Sussex to work for a commercial beekeeper. Sussex was strange but interesting, the south he found much more old fashioned than he expected. His steam bug was laid dormant at this time but was briefly awakened one day when his boss drove through a quiet little village named Horsmonden. There was a yard full of engines ! But the boss wasn't interested, so that was that. The next year saw Ran on another Honey Farm, this time in Gloucestershire. Once again the steam bug was briefly awakened when he and his boss had occasion to drive past Jessie Vines' yard (as he now knows it) at Hardwick. In 1953 Ran was appointed Lecturer in Beekeeping with the Berkshire Education Committee, his work consisting of lectures to students, Beekeepers, Young Farmers, etc., advisory work amongst Beekeepers and fruit and seed growers, bee disease work and beekeeping in schools. In the early fifties Ran's interest was aroused by reports in the local papers of Traction Engine Races at a place named Appleford. In his search for Appleford he found the village of Appleton, but this was not a wasted journey, for here was Berkshire's last working portable, a very old Ransome, Sims & Jefferies being fired on off-cuts in a timber yard. Ran was able to attend the 1958 Appleford Rally. How strange to see threshing engines without canopies he thought, but apart from that everything seemed quite normal, here was, a Foden, here was a Sentinel and down the far end of the line " look dear, - that's a Fair engine.". " I haven't seen one of those since before the war " said Ran. The same afternoon Ran was examining a Fowler engine named "Farmers Friend" that was, at that time, owned by Francis Grover. When they were near the water pocket he grasped his wife's hand and said " smell that " (the steam cock to the water lifter was leaking slightly) " that takes me right back to Johnny's engine in the stackyard at home ". That was it. That dormant steam bug was awake once more. Ran was living in a semi-detached house at that time. He knew no steam men but the chance of a 1927, 7 h.p. Jowett Motor Car was seen as an opportunity to get involved. In 1959 Ran took the Jowett to Andover, Appleford and Northleach Traction Engine Rallies. (Vintage Car Rallies being ignored.) Having a vehicle Ran quickly got to know Arthur Napper, Jack Wharton, John Hirons, Peter Barker and many more. Early in 1960 the chance to buy a Fowler Roller presented itself. When the owner, Peter Barker, took him for a run this was Ran's first opportunity to steer an engine. When they got back to Peter's yard, Ran was left to " run up and down a time or two ". There was a nice wide gateway where the engine had stood so he decided to try the lock. This done he took it a bit further and turned the engine round. Having got on so well with the engine he bought it. Someone was found to drive the Roller to Appleford, Ran steered. Rally day came, two or three promises of help never materialised so Ran, full of nerves, lit her up and got round the ring by himself. Later that day a man who later turned out to be the Roller's ex driver, " Brusher " Sparks, came
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Fowler No. 15653 (1920), " Renown" with, left to right, John, Ran Photograph—Bill Oswald. and Richard Hawthorne.
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up and after looking at the gauge remarked " she ain't got much wind in her ". That was one more lesson Ran learned, keep the pressure up. Brusher and Ran have been firm friends ever since. After the Rally, " Busy Bee ", as 14674 was named, was kept at Arthur's Bridge Farm, Appleford and during the rest of that season Ran let the Roller teach him to drive. He used to go and light up on his own and meander off down the lanes stopping to put a bit of coal on, pick up some water, have a check round and then put her away again. That winter he approached a number of local enthusiasts and early in 1961 called a meeting in Reading which formed the Thames Valley Traction Engine Club. Ran was elected Secretary, Arthur Napper, Chairman and Jack Wharton, Treasurer. Ran soon became a member of the Appleford Rally Committee and was appointed to the Executive Committee of the N.T.E.C. about 1962. The same year he moved to Woodcote which stands high on the southern tip of the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire. The property was in a " run down " state but had plenty of ground for engines. Having the room he then cast his eyes around for another engine and in 1963, while in his native north country, he bought Fowler " Renown ", No. 15653, a Class R3 Showman's engine that had been new in 1920 for John Murphy's Scenic Motors and had been admired by Ran as she stood at the back of the Noah's Ark all those years ago. In this purchase Ran was helped and advised by his friend Dick Preston, who had known Ran ever since he was born. " Renown " was found to be " in a bit of a state ", so after boiler inspections she was despatched to Gowers at Bedford for a new box, new plate to the outer wrapper below the fire-hole and tubes, etc. That Autumn a contractor came to Woodcote to make up the road where Ran lives from the rough track that it was. The contractor asked if he could borrow the roller. Ran said " No ", but offered to do the rolling himself at a charge of 30/- per hour. Only a small gang of men were at work so the necessary base rolling was carried out on Saturdays and the occasional weekday that Ran was able to have off work. Altogether some 68 hours were put in, Ran doing the bulk of the driving himself, but being ably advised and assisted by " Brusher " Sparks. Ran enjoyed this activity and is proud of the fact that, if only for a short while, he had an engine at work commercially. In 1964 Ran assisted John Smith of Shottesbrooke in getting the engines for the Great Steam Fair that was held that year. Between them they got eighteen showman's engines or tractors, two portable steam lighting sets and two of the three steam driven rides that were in existence at that time The Great Steam Fair was a success and many say it has not yet been surpassed " Renown " came back from the boiler works and re-building commenced. In 1965 " Busy Bee " was found to be in need of tubes and tube plate repairs so she was put into store and work was concentrated on " Renown ". She appeared at Woodcote Rally in 1968 and was awarded the "Evening Post " Cup for the most meritworthy privately owned and restored vehicle. The same year Ran received the N.T.E.C.'s " Dacre Lacy " Cup for engine restoration and the Thames Valley T.E. Club's "Golden Gallopers" Cup for the preservation of showman's type engines. In 1956 Ran's beekeeping activities were extended and he now covers Oxfordshire as well as Berkshire. Besides his work in these counties Ran often visits other areas to judge honey or lecture to beekeepers. He has judged at most of the leading shows in the country and has lectured in almost every county and the Islands of Wight, Man and Guernsey. Ran became editor of the N.T.E.C. " Newsletter " and saw this progress from a duplicated to a printed publication. His preservation activities continue. " Busy Bee " is having a complete overhaul, and a little 2 h.p. Fowler stationary engine is also receiving attention. Last season Ran was invited to take " Renown " to the Harewood House Rally. They were honoured by being asked to bring the Earl of Harewood from the house to the rally and by the award of the John Fowler Cup.
STEAMING
R. K. Drury's 10 ton Green, No. 2007 (1920) , at Harewood, 1970. Photograph—Leeds & District T.L.C.
E. F. Whitehead's 10 ton Fowler Compound, No. 16235, " Hercules " (1925), at Harewood, 1970. Photograph—Leeds & District T.E.C.
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HARE WOOD HOUSE RALLY, 1970 AUGUST 29th, 30th & 31st, 1970 A typical weather mixture, with two days of glorious sunshine and two heavy showers on the Monday, graced the Leeds & District T.E. Club's 7th Annual Rally in the spacious grounds of Harewood House, Near Leeds. Although the weather was somewhat unkind in parts, it did not affect the attendance which ran to record level, the final number being over 47,000 for the three days. A very well laid out olde tyme fairground comprised Ashley's & Scrceton's Gallopers, both steam driven, Harry Lee's Steam Yachts, Bishton's Cake Walk, all well patronised, with plenty of supporting juvenile rides and side stalls. In the full attendance of 39 engine entries, Leeds built engines were very well represented. It is the first time that examules of all the five well known Leeds engine builders have attended a Traction Engine Rally in this country —the " Yorkshire " being the missing link until now. With the Leeds Club's very well appreciated policy mentioned in the last issue of Steaming, of inviting two engines frim a long distance away, a total of eight engines were new to the rally field at Harewood. This was quite a high proportion of the 39 entries. This impressive list of eight was headed by two equally impressive engines : Mr. S. J. Wharton's Fowler No. 20223 and A. & R. Hawthorne's Fowler No. 15653. The other new engines were Mr. J. Hardy's Aveling & Porter Tractor No. 9183 ; Mr. J. Whitwell's Clayton & Shuttleworth Traction Engine No. 48385 ; Mr. P. C. W. Rhodes' Burrell Traction Engine No. 1426 ; Mr. E. Whitehead's Fowler Roller No. 16235 ; Mr. W. H. M. Ellesker's Marshall Roller No. 84620 ; and Mr. T. Varley's Yorkshire Wagon No. 940. The other engines attending were a very well balanced selection and comprised : Showman's—Mr. R. Preston & Son's Burrell No. 3526 ; Mr. L. C. Byass & Sons' Foster No. 14632 ; E. & E. M. Meadowcroft & Son's Fowler No. 14948 ; Mr. W. Payne's Fowler Tractor No. 14798. Road Locomotives— Mr. J. Crowther's Burrell No. 3395 ; Mr. W. Chilver's Fowler No. 9381. Tractors—Messrs. I., W., J. & D. Cole's Mann No. 1260 ; Mr. M. Brewer's Robey No. 33957 ; Messrs, A. Mitchell & Son's Fowler No. 15625 ; Mr. P. S. M. Carter's Garrett No. 33632 ; Mr. A. Fearnley's Fowler No. 14405 ; Mr Brooksbank's Foden No. 12782. General Purpose—Mr. C. Rockcliff's Marshall No. 87003 ; Mr. F. Pennett's Burrell No. 3218 ; Mr. .1. J. Ostle's Marshall No. 54492 ; Mr. F. J. & P. Harrison's Marshall No. 32092 ; Mr. E. Myers' McLaren No. 787 ; Messrs. E. & E. M. Meadowcroft's Marshall No. 49725. Steam Rollers—Messrs. Carr & Mettam's Marshall No. 60207 ; Mr R. K. Drury's Green No. 2007 ; Mr. D. A. Rayner's Aveling & Porter No. 8506 ; Messrs. Day & Robinson's Wallis & Steevens No. 7941 ; Mr. R. Oliver's Aveling & Porter No. 14068 ; Mr. G. Porter's Aveling & Porter No. 14070. Wagons—Mr. H. Parkin's Foden No. 12364 ; Mr. W. Fearnlev's Foden No. 13120 ; Mr. R. Fearnley's Sentinel No, 1465 ; Messrs. Brook, Hirst & Marsden's Sentinel No. 9075 ; Mr. G. E. Ashton's Sentinel No. 8694 ; Mr. L. Fearnley's Sentinel No. 9086 ; and Mr. G. E. Liversidge's Sentinel No. 8992. The last two wagons mentioned performed very useful tasks at the rally in that No. 9086 was delivering coal to the entrants and No. 8992 was kept busy topping up their water tanks. It will be noted that, including the Savage centre engine, no less than 15 different makers were represented on the rally field. Instead of the usual rally plaque, the engine men were presented, by the Countess of Harewond, with a specially designed commemorative plate, each being an individually numbered piece, of a limited edition, to correspond with their entry number. These plates will surely be collectors items in years to come
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John Whitwell's 6 n.h.p. Clayton & Shuttleworth No. 48358, " Yorkshire Lass" (1921), at Harewood, 1970, Photograph—Leeds & District T.E.C.
G. E. Ashton's D.G.4 Sentinel No. 8694 (1932), at Harewood, 1970. Photograph—Leeds & District T.E.C.
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AREA NEWS SWINDON, WILTS. Dr. Cam from Purton has had his Wallis & Steevens oil-bath tractor at Fairford Rally this year after two years hard work restoring it after buying it from Mr. Dick Jolly of Oxford. The engine is No. 7872 (Reg. No. OU5247), 5 tons, built 1928. This engine has had a new firebox, tubes, etc., and the rest of the engine has been completely overhauled and painted in a very nice brown and well lined out. The engine was originally owned by The Duke of Wellington for use on his estate near Reading. Another new engine in the area this year and at Purton is a Marshall traction engine, No. 73901, " Princess Mary " (Reg. No. NO1213), built 1920, owned by Hamish Orr-Ewing who has recently moved to Purton, the engine having been kept on Mr. Napper's farm for many years previously. They are going to do some work on her this winter. She may be around some of the local rallies next year, we hope. Mr. Haggard of Swindon once again has done a tour of the Rallies around the area with his Aveling & Porter 8 ton Roller No. 19762 (Reg. No. MF4008), " Ebenezer ", built 1923. Everything has gone well and with some new young crew wanting to learn about Steam. They are very keen too. His other engine, Burrell Traction Engine G.P., is away having a new smokebox and tubes and other boiler repairs. Michael Thexton's Ruston Proctor 7 n.h.p., built 1907, which was used for threshing and haulage in the Eastern Counties until 1960 was brought into preservation by H. Wooding of Yardley Hastings and bought by Michael in April, 1968. The engine is to be completely dismantled this winter and rebuilt over the next two years. Another engine which is going to be re-rubbered this winter is Mr. C. Rickards' Allchin 6 n.h.p. Compound Traction Engine No. 1652 (Reg. No. EB4938), 10 tons, built in 1914. This engine has been to many rallies and has been threshing on his farm and wood sawing too. This is the last time because Mr. Rickards is completely retiring from farming. He has had his farm sale but he is keeping the engine. Three other engines which " live " with the Allchin are all having some work done on them. They are John Plaister's Marshall 6 n.h.p. Compound No. 71837 (Reg. No. DD2007), 10 tons, built in 1919, which is going to have some work done on the motion which has not been looked at since being restored some 8 years or more ago, this engine being an ex Briggs & Rickards engine. The other engine having some small jobs done this winter is Michael Woodruffe's Fowler 6 n.h.p. Traction Engine No. 11698 (Reg. No. NK925), "Edna", of 1908, bought from Mr, Capon of Southill, Beds. this year, one of the last engines to have work done on it by Gowers of Bedford. The other engine is my Fowler 10 ton Roller No. 16100 (Reg. No. FF1779) of 1924, which is also having some work done on her, small jobs only, I hope. The injector is being repaired and items being adjusted too. Another engine at home now after going to Hungerford, then to Seend and on to Fairford and then home is Philip Buffery's Ruston Proctor 5 n.h.p. Colonial 9 ton Single Speed Traction Engine No. 51737 (Reg. NO. EB8164), built 1912. The engine has done many miles on the road this year and has gone well with only a bearing getting a bit warm. This winter he is doing some running repairs and finishing off his new water cart which he got in the year. There are two other engines in this area. A Garrett 7 n.h.p. Traction Engine No. 29027 (Reg. No. HR3924), 91 tons, built in 1911 and owned by Mr. J. Clark. This engine was new to Barnes Brothers of Trowbridge, Wilts. in 1911, restored by Mr. E. Hine of Shaftesbury in 1962 and now has come to another new owner. He has had it out to a few rallies this year. This winter he will be busy cleaning and painting with many other jobs which winter brings. Mr. Roy Grimshaw, who lives at Langley Burrell, Chippenham, owns Aveling & Porter 6 ton Engine No. 11969 (Reg. No. VB1107), " Elsie " of 1926 M.H.
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CORNWALL Two changes of ownership have occurred since the last report. Dr. Dyke has sold his Foden Showman's Road Locomotive No. 2104 of 1910 to Mr. Ansel! of Wisborough Green, where I believe a new firebox is to be fitted soon. The Aveling & Porter Compound Roller No. 10374, of 1922, brought to Cornwall a couple of years ago from Dorset, is now owned by Mr. Oates of Helston. Plans are well ahead in the County for this year's rallies. The Cornish Traction Preservation Club is holding a rally at Wadebridge on June 19th and 20th, and another at Liskeard on September 4th and 5th where it is hoped that many engines will be at work on the belt. The West of England Steam Engine Society is to hold its annual rally, on the same site as last year, near Redruth, on August 21st and 22nd. April 13th, 1971, is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Richard Trevithick. Ott April 10th, the previous Saturday, a parade of engines will commemorate the occasion by travelling through the streets of Camborne, and it is hoped to follow a part of the route believed to have been taken by Trevithick and his steam road vehicle in 1801. Work is in progress on many engines in Cornwall. Near Penzance, Eddie Hillyer continues the restoration of his little Garrett Portable, No. 34193, of 1922. New tubes are at hand and a new smokebox awaits collection. This engine worked in later years at a China Clay Pit and the inside of the boiler is coated in white clay from years of using dirty water. Reg Morses' yard at Mawla Well is the scene of much activity, Messrs. Leath & Pearce's Aveling & Porter Roller No. 10187 is being fitted with a new smokebox while across the yard the McLaren Ploughing Engine No. 1552 stands on two wheels and a pile of wood waiting for a new smokebox. A multiplicity of smokeboxes was found on this engine while clearing the way for the new one and this had increased the smokebox diameter by two inches causing damage In the chimney base. Near the McLaren is John Sawles' Ruston Hornsby, No. 169167, heavy firebox repairs are necessary before she can be steamed again, also in the yard is John's other engine, Ruston Proctor Portable No. 52552, of 1918 which requires a complete rebuild. Next to the Ruston & Hornsby is Aveling & Porter Roller No. 8301, of 1914, which awaits a new set of tubes. Further east near Truro the Clayton & ShuttIeworth Convertible, No. 46817, of 1914, owned by Dennis Solway has recently been rmibed and will be out and about again this year. George James is fitting rubber tyres to his Marshall conversion, No. 77479, which will greatly improve the engine's appearance. The well known Burrell, No. 3816, "Cornish Maid", of 1914, avinc..1 previously owned by dm ithe C. H. PaISLIIM a Si. CI hv her regular driver for many years, Mark Simms. Work in hand is replacement of the canopy and some repairs to the firebox sides. A few miles away some parts ❑f the Burrell Showman's Locomotive, No. 2651, "Challenger ", of 1904, are to be seen. The boiler is however still in Appledore where a new firebox has been fitted and the boiler is complete apart from the stay tubes. Back at home are the rear wheels which have been shot blasted, new brake bands fitted and are soon to have new tyres fitted. Near Gunnis Lake Roger Pridham continues the excellent restoration work on his Aveling & Porter Roller, No. 11220, of 1925, immediate jobs being to lag the boiler barrel and to trace a knock in the all new gearing. Nearby Mike Hynd, owner of Aveling & Porter Convertible, No. 4255, of 1895, is rebuilding the rack bench which he purchased with his engine. As the canopy on his engine is rather low and Mike is tall, he is either going to raise the canopy considerably or remove it altogether. Aveling & Porter Roller, No. 10190, has been busy for several weekends at South Crofty Mine remaking a section of road. She is soon to have some new firebox stays. Does anyone know any details of a Cornish Engine that was in use at Lord Vernon's Poynton Colliery at Povnton, near Stockport, Cheshire. If you do, write to Mr. R. S. Hamngton of Treswood, South Street, St. Austell R.A.D. & C.F.D. and tell him what you know about it.
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THE MORECAMBE BAY TRACTION ENGINE CLUB This club was formed on Tuesday, 17th February, 1970, at a meeting in the Battery Hotel, Morecambe. 14 signed on the first night and since then we have progressed to 36 members. Our President is Mr. O. Robin Bagot of Levens Hall, Nr. Kendal Our affiliation to the N.T.E.C. has recently been approved. Our first official appearance was at Cockerham Steam Engine and Vintage Car Rally held at the Village of Cockerham, Nr. Lancaster, on Sunday, 7th June, 1970. This event was organised jointly by us and the Village Hall Committee and was a very great success. The weather, for a start was perfect ; hot, sunny and cloudless, and the public turned up in their hundreds. Actually we had about 5,000 there. We had several ring events and the following engines took part : Aveling & Porter 12 ton Compound Roller, No. 7600, " Victoria " (1912) —R. B. A. Robinson, Morecambe. Garrett 6 ton Compound Roller, No. 28408, "Elizabeth " (1910)—Anthony W. Chalmers of Wharton, Nr. Carnforth. Wallis & Steevens 6 ton Advance Roller, No. 7687 (1926)—John Armer of Cockerham, Nr. Lancaster. Aveling & Porter 6 ton S.C. Roller, No. 5636, " Old Joe " (1906)—John Armer of Cockerham, Nr. Lancaster. Aveling & Porter 10 ton S.C. Roller, No. 10915, " Sooty" (1924)— G. Oldroyd of Heysham. Fowler 3 h.p. S.C. Tractor, No. 18640, "Enterprise " (1931)—Hal Bagot, Levens Hall, Nr. Kendal. Burrell 3 h.p. D.C.C. Tractor, No. 3862, " Dorothy "—Jack Johnson, Banks, Nr. Southport. Clayton & Shuttleworth 7 h.p. S.C. Traction Engine, No. 46059 (1913)— George Coles, Stretford, Nr. Manchester. 2" Scale Model Traction Engine belonging to the Levens Hall Steam Collection. We also had Mr. George Hayton and his 1893 Aeolian Orchestrelle Mechanical Organ. Inside the Village Hall we had a display of models including a very fine set of model steam gallopers built by W. Stables of Ulverston. We also took part in the Lancaster & Morecambe Agricultural Show and took three engines, the Aveling & Porter " Victoria ", the Garrett, " Elizabeth" and the Wallis & Steevens, all fully described above. This event was televised and is to be shown on B.B.C.2 in the new year. We think the programme will be called "Birds Eye View " and it is to be in February, we are told. F.M.C.
IRISH STEAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY (ULSTER) 1970. On the 25th, 26th and 27th September, the Dorset Steam and Historic Vehicle Club presented for only the second time ever a " Steam Working" at Stourpaine Bushes, near Blandford. This was not intended to be a traction engine rally in the traditional form which has evolved over the past two decades, but an attempt to show the public what the various engines were actually built for. Agricultural engines could be seen belted to threshing mills or saw benches. Also present were showman's engines, steam wagons— which provided a bus service over the huge site, ploughing engines and a steam fire engine. Variety was provided by a display of country crafts, including cider making and blacksmithing, while there was an extensive fair ground and no less than nine fair organs. VISIT TO THE GREAT STEAM WORKING,
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Large numbers were present on all days, making life dillicult for the drivers, who had to use extreme caution while moving through crowds to prevent accidents. It has certainly been a king time since the writer has had such value for 5 shillings admission at a rally, and it is to be hoped that it will not be long before the delights of a Steam Working can again be sampled ( . . . perhaps on this side of the water, who knows ?). NEWS
Since Edmund Flack's resignation after two years valuable service as Secretary, this post has been filled temporarily by Mrs. B. Boyd, of Ballywindland. Mr. Robert Patterson has purchased the only known " Irish " Burrell in the country. This type of engine is understood to have increased grate area to assist the burning of inferior fuels. Mr. Robert Edwards has purchased George Lamney's Aveling & Porter Light Road Locomotive and moved it under its own steam to Co. Down from Glengormley on the 24th October. This sprightly engine exceeded 16 m.p.h. during the journey. H. W. C. SEEND TRACTION ENGINE CLUB The Club Members have been assisting the Crofton Beam Engine Project. Members are helping with the restoration of the other engine and boiler which they hope to get ready for next year's steamings. The Canal Trust are grateful for all that we do to help them. The two portables at Beanacre are now drained off and put to rest under cover ready for next year's events. Mr. Crook hopes to lag the boiler of the 12 h.p. Marshall during the winter months. She runs just like silk under steam and Mr. Crook gets quite a few visitors having a look at the " Old Girl ". He is also getting the Marshall Threshing Drum ready for next year to do a bit of steam threshing. We are making plans for our 1971 Rally. J.H BANBURY STEAM SOCIETY Owing to increased membership the Society has changed its meeting place from the " White Lion " to the Railwaymen's Hostel, Banbury. Cr-loin] night. ho VP
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proved highly popular and a very enjoyable trip to Stourpaine Bushes was arranged in September. Meetings are every third Tuesday at the Railwaymen's Hostel, Middleton Road, Banbury, visitors welcome. On Saturday, 21st November, Chairman Jack Wharton had " Supreme " driving lights and powering John Keeley's 89 key Limonaire organ outside the Post Office at Witney. This was in aid of the " Meals on Wheels " service. Large crowds attended the event that lasted from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and over £100 was collected for this worthy cause. The Banbury Steam Society had six representatives at the N.T.E.C. A.G.M. and Annual Dinner held at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington, on the 14th November. There were many steam enthusiasts from all over the country. Both Jack Wharton, who is a Vice-President, and John Hirons were voted back on to the Committee. At the Dinner the guest speaker was Mr. Scholes, Curator of the Clapham Museum. Mr. Wharton proposed the toast for the ladies and guests ; he was also presented with the Club's premier award, the Toc H Trophy, for the work done in the restoration of " Supreme " Another major award was given, as it was described—for " Wharton & Co. "—to J. Hirons, F. Wilkins, R. Griffin and F. Harris for their contribution in the restoration. F.E
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THAMES, VALLEY TRACTION ENGINE CLUB HENLEY-ON-THAMES PLOUGHING MATCH
The Thames Valley Traction Engine Club organised a display of Steam Engines, Veteran Tractors, Model Engineering, Barn Engines and Antique Farm Tackle at Henley Show's Ploughing Match which was held in beautiful autumn sunshine on October 17th. Bill Tame and Eric Fillmore were using the 100 year old Fowler Ploughing Engine, No. 1368 (Reg. No. AL8468), " Margaret', for mole draining. The mole plough being pulled back between bouts by Mike Harmsworth with his 5 ton Robey Tractor, No. 31657 (Reg. No. AP934I), "The Guvrtor ", of 1918. Sam Love with his Wallis & Stecvens Engine, No. 72.48 (Reg. No. HR3555), " Pedler ", of 1914, was driving his Ransomes Drum and threshed a few dozen sheaves that he had with him. A. and R. Hawthorne and Sons had their Fowler, No. 15653 (Reg. No. CU978), " Renown", generating for the small fair. Fred Simmonds had Fowler Traction, No. 13140 (Reg. No. Y9955), " Volunteer " in steam. Peter Barker steamed from Hurst with Burrell, No. 3458 (Reg. No. AB8795), " Defiance, built 1913. The following veteran tractors were at work ploughing : Jim Long's 1917 Titan and 1941 Fordson • Mick Smith's 1935 Fordson ; Ran Hawthorne's 1941 Fordson • John Keeley's 1919 I.H.C.; Junior and Dennis Hansert's 1927 I.H.C. 15/30. Other tractors present included Saunderson, Lanz Tracklayer, M-M, Nuffield, I.H.C. 10/2 and F12. Some fifteen or sixteen barn engines were popping away, Petters, Listers, Ruston-Hornsby, Amancos being prominent. A collection of horse ploughs, a wide variety of farm tools and an excellent collection of model engineering exhibits completed a grand display. Amongst the visitors were Arthur Napper, President N.T.E.C., Anthony Heal, Chairman N.T.E.C., Ross Johnson of Ontario, Canada, owner of a number of engines and an officer of his local steam preservation society. Ross came with Bernard Ruff of the Chiltern Club and expressed great interest in what he saw and complimented the owners on the high quality of restoration. A similar event is already planned for 1971 when it is hoped to present steam cultivation, steam threshing, steam veteran tractor ploughing, horse ploughing and barn engines at work. R.N.
CUMBERLAND What is believed to be the last Aveling-Barford steam roller supplied to any customer in the British Isles is only five miles from Whitehaven. This engine was delivered to Egremont Station in the summer of 1950 for the Cumberland County Council. The maker's No. is AH425 (Reg. No. JRM996). It is the 10 ton class Single Cylinder P.V. fitted with scarifier and finished work in February, 1964, after having done a lot of hard work in the Whitehaven area. The same council also bought two new Aveling-Barfords in 1946. They were single cylinder P.V. and weighed about 6 tons. Their maker's Nos. were AG757 and AG758 and registered FRM960 and PRM973 respectively. Another very old interesting " Steamer " has recently met its end with the scrap man's torch. It was the last but one Steam Crab (crane) which has worked for many years on the Whitehaven Docks. It was built by Thomas Smith & Sons Limited of Rodley, near Leeds, No. X11770 and was fitted with a C.C. Wakefield's mechanical cylinder lubricator. S.S.
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YORKSHIRE Barry Taylor, better known as " The Pot Man ", has bought a Sentinel Wagon from W. & J. Glossop's of Hipperholme. Two of Brown Bayley's Sentinel Wagons have come into the district. They have been bought by Charrington Breweries, and Ernest Whitehead is making one good one from the pair. A further ex-Brown Bayley wagon has gone to John Richardson who is the Treasurer and Vice-Chain-nan of the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group. This is No. 1960 (Reg. No. AW4131), built 1918 and was one of the two reasonable ones working when steam finished. This wagon was lately in Ian Storey's workshop at Morpeth. Joe Duckitt's Aveling & Porter Roller No. 14090 has recently returned to its home at West Hardwick from a friend's farm in the vicinity of Pickering. It attended Pickering Rally in 1969 but was absent in 1970. John Griffiths has sold his Fowler Roller No. 17585 (Reg. No. U8178) to Malcolm Stirk of York. Malcolm was driving Ted Meadowcroft's Marshall No. 49725 at Harewood Rally. One of the last engines `outside captivity' in Leeds has recently been bought for preservation. This is an Aveling Roller, ex Hennibique's at Farnley. The number is believed to be in the 53xx series but confirmation is awaited. The engine is a bit far shot and Barry Wood, her new owner has quite a job on his hands in commencing restoration work. John Day and Eric Robinson have removed the cab from their Aveling Roller No. 11093 (Reg. No. BT7435). " Mercury ". She looks quite tidy without it. The roof is going to be re-sheeted. Ted Ashton is carrying out experiments with fuels on his DG ' Sentinel No. 8694 (Reg. No. YG746. After Harewood this year, he converted her to oil firing but found it expensive and noisy. Now he is trying Calor Propane and has successfully steamed on it. He hopes, amongst other things, that it will be cheaper than coal. Further modifications are to be done and the results are awaited with interest. Walter Fearnley has retired and now has considerably more time to spend on the rebuilding of his Yorkshire Wagon. Three local engines took part in a protest demonstration in York on the 20th October. These were Jack Whitwell's Clayton & Shuttleworth " Yorkshire Lass ", No. 48385 (Reg. No. BP5463), Chris Rockcliff's Marshall " Surprise ", No. 87003 (Reg. No. TL3612) and Monty Thackray's Fowler Showman's " Evening Star " No. 14862 (Reg. No. DW2235). The occasion was the visit of Lord Eccles, the Paymaster General with responsibility for the Arts, to the proposed site of the National Transport Museum in York. A local decorator. Mr. John Bevan. organised a netition and nrotest march and some 90,000 signatures were carried in a coffin behind " Surprise " and presented to Lord Eccles at York's Mansion House. D.A.R.
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY The fastest growing membership in Preservation Societies must be that of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway ; latest figures, three years from a cold start, are 4,000 members on the books. The 1971 activities are not finally nlanned. simply because the Society is waiting for the outcome of the Ministry of Transnort advertising of the Light Railway Order ; depending on what objections there are and how valid they are, will the decision whether trains for the general nublic can be run or whether it will be another season of Onen Weekends when only members can travel—by courtesy of British Rail, whose line it still is ! Whichever way the decisions go. six steam locomotives will be waiting, ranging from the magnificent 0.6 down to the Borrows Welltank locomotive, more generally and irreverently known as " Nellie ", which only a week or two ago was in use to sort out the rolling stock for winter quarters at Grosmont and Goathland. J.T.
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EXPLOSION OF A SAVAGE TRACTION ENGINE BOILER by F. R. HOWLING, Terrington, St. Clement, Norfolk. Further to the interesting article on page 147, Vol. 13, No. 2 of Steaming dealing with the explosion of Savage No. 367, on November 23rd, 1909. I now enclose a photograph of this engine, together with Clayton No. 43540 and Burrell No. 1510, taken in my family's yard two days before they were cut up in 1951.
Clayton & Shuttleworth No. 43540 (1910). Burrell No. 1510 (1896). Savage No. 307 (1886) I drove this engine in 1950 and it was a very easy engine to work and was a wonderful steamer. It raised 100 lbs. in 40 minutes from cold with good coal and would burn anything, the only fault was, the pump was rather small and if the water level became low you could pump all day to get it up level. There was no injector, as a matter of fact, we rarely used injectors in this district until the mains were laid in 1939, all water was from pits or ditches, often choked with weeds. 1 believe my late grandfather bought Savage 367 in 1914 as a replacement for Clayton 43540, which had been commandeered for bailing, together with the driver, my uncle (who is still alive). After the war it went back into Savages for an overhaul and had a Pickering valve fitted in the governors. No trouble was ever encountered after that. In my time of driving it, it had to be heard chaff cutting to be believed ! It had 21" tubes and blew off at 125 lbs. p.s.i. With regards to the other engines in the picture. The Clayton was new in 1910, being steamed from Lincoln to Terrington in two days, about 60 miles. In 1914 she also went hay baling and in the four years got worked clown into Essex and was returned by rail from Audley End Station in 1919. The Burrell was a later addition, being bought from Burrell's in 1926 having been overhauled and painted, it was never much good as it was clumsy in small yards and very difficult to get about with in wet or heavy going. 1 drove it for ten years and I blame it for learning me to swear, it continued at foot of page 89.
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MODEL ENGINEER EXHIBITION The 40th M.E. Exhibition was staged in late December and early January by Model and Allied Publications Limited, the publishers of Model Engineer and other Model publications.
Traction Engine men were prominent amongst the visitors and we were told that a good many members had been in during the week including our Chairman, who had made two visits. W. J. Hughes, prominent enthusiast and author of books and numerous articles on Traction Engines and Steam Models generally, was one of the panel of judges. Just inside the main entrance the first exhibit one saw was a pair of 2" scale Class f3BI Fowler ploughing engines. The right-hand engine was in steam being driven by owner-builder Colin Tyler, co-author of the new book " Ploughing by Steam ". Such was the crowd round this exhibit that people were rushing up onto the balcony to look down and see the engine winding either a mole-plough, a cultivator or a 6 furrow anti-balance plough across the " field ". In an adjoining hall, Mr. G. W. Cox of Rugby had his model Ruston
Hornsby general purpose engine driving a thresher and elevator. This exhibit also provided tremendous interest. As usual under the right hand balcony, live steam locos were at work on the multi-gauge track giving rides and perhaps equally important to many, producing the right aroma of hot oil and burning coal. Amongst the trade stands we noticed our particular interest well to the
fore on the stands of John Crawley Limited, Turntable of Leeds and Traction Engine Enterprises. W. J. Burgess of the Chiltern T.E.C. exhibited a fine model steam crane. He also entered a steam laundry but we did not see this as it was away being filmed for "Blue Peter " when we matt there. A 1925 Atkinson Model D 8 ton Steam Wagon took some finding. Here was a fine model
of a regrettably now extinct species. What a fine sight the prototype must have been. Numerous Allchins and a fine Burrell were constantly surrounded in the
" road vehicle" class, but in this apparently male dominated hobby of model engineering it was the work of Miss Cherry Hinds of Malvern that was awarded the Championship award, the Duke of Edinburgh Trophy for the most exquisite model of a Class AF Aveling & Porter Road Roller which she had modelled so beautifully.
MODEL SHOW The OLD STEAMERS (Cowley, Oxford) T.E.C. are holding their Model
Exhibition at Cowley Community Centre on Saturday, 19th June, 1971.
was rumoured that it was a jinx engine and that it had been involved in the Cringleford Bridge accident. We had a new firebox two years after buying, then a port bridge broke, after that the cylinder blew and had to be refitted to the boiler. The butterfly valve had a habit of sticking, often throwing off the governor belt. The other engines we had were a Tasker No. 600, I believe, a 1907 Marshall Compound, a Clayton new in 1928, now owned by G. Cushing, the number of this is 48000, a Foster 7 h.p. No. 14637 (1937), now in Northampton and an 8 h.p. Foster No. 14622 (1931), now owned by Ken Steward of Bury St.
Ed m u nds. There is a photograph of Savage No. 367 at work, on page 115 of Vol. 6, No. 4, October, 1962 issue of Steaming.
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BOOK REVIEWS " FOWLER STEAM ROAD VEHICLES "—Catalogues and working instructions. Edited and introduced by W. J. Hughes. Published by David and Charles, £1.75. In the field of railway literature the reproduction of railway books, timetables, etc., has become almost commonplace. On the Traction Engine side we have seen the odd makers pamphlet reproduced but none that have come to our notice have conveyed anything of the character• and fascination that the original publications possess. The editor, publisher and printer of "Fowler• Steam Road Vehicles" have succeeded admirably, hare is a book which really conveys the spirit ❑f the great steam plough works and the heyday of steam. The introduction by W. J. Hughes does not consist of the more usual half page of platitudes. It is eight and a half pages of background to John Fowler, the development of the firm and their products. It is often inferred that John Fowler was late coming into the business. What is perhaps of greater importance is wxy he came into the business. John Fowler started building engines at a time when a good many firms were already firmly established as builders of portables and threshers. We learn how in 1859 John Fowler became associated with Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson of Leeds who built engines for him based on the best locomotive practice of the day with working pressures of 100 p.s.i. (45 p.s.i. being regarded as quite normal for agricultural use at that time). Thus was the foundation laid for the Fowler reputation for first class materials, excellent workmanship and fine finish. John Fowler and Company (Leeds) Limited soon became the world's leading manufacturer of the Traction Engine in its various forms, a position they were to hold right till the end of the era. The body of the book consists of reprints of three catalogues and a handbook of working instructions originally issued by the firm in the late 1920's. The Steam Road Tractor section covers the full range from 5 ton " Tiger " to the mighty " Super Lion ", with dimensions and specifications. General Purpose engines, their special fittings and the Fowler " convertible " engine are fully described. Again the details are given. Catalogue three is especially rare dealing with the Fowler Patent Steam Wagon with a full description of the Stayless vertical boiler and the 90 degree vee-compound engine. The handbook will be invaluable to owners of Fowler engines, in fact any driver of steam will profit from its pages. One would like to quote the fifteen points to " obtain economy ", but space does not permit. " INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKING TRACTION ENGINES, JOHN FOWLER & CO. (LEEDS) LTD." with a new foreword by John Wilkinson (" Cyclist "). Published by Turntable Enterprises, Leeds and S. R. Publishers Ltd., East Ardsley, Yorks., £1. Most of our readers, we are sure, are interested in old catalogues, sales brochures, manuals and spares lists of engines. Some have collections and we have seen instances of high prices being obtained for such items. This is not surprising for to open the pages of these books is like taking a peep back into the days when steam was " king of the road ". The publication of this reproduction of a 1904 John Fowler Instruction Book is warmly welcomed for all the atmosphere of the original has been retained, even the binding is identical. The only real difference is the " Cyclist " has added a foreword and who better to do that than " Cyclist ", for he had over twenty years at Fowlers, who by their courtesy have made this publication possible. " Cyclist " draws our attention to two notable Fowler innovations. In 1872 they were the first to put the Traction Engine on rubber tyres. A
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decade later Fowlers introduced the compound cylinder for self moving engines. The period just prior to World War I is mentioned as the heyday of the steam engine, In 1910 Fowlers had a record output of 410 engines. The " instructions " cover everything from " receiving and unloading " to " driving", " firing " and " laying up the engine". Calendars are provided for 1904/5/6 and 7 h Not much use to us now but the tables giving the equivalent steam pressures in lbs. per square inch and kilogrammes per square centimetre and the decimal equivalents for inches, feet and yards suggest that Traction Engine builders were anticipatng decimalisation even in 1904. A delightful little book with all the simplicity of 1904 brought to life.
" PLOUGHING BY STEAM " by John Haining and Colin Tyler, published by Model and Allied Pubiications Limited, price £3. Before the Story of Steam Cultivation can be told the scene needs to be set. Chapter one, " Genesis ", tells, most clearly, the story of cultivation from the bent stick right through to horse ploughing at its zenith. We have heard speakers say, " gearing was put on a portable to make a Traction Engine, then a drum was put under the boiler to make a ploughing engine !" In their chapters " Steam arrives at the Stilts " and "The Experimenters" the authors show something of the dreams, ideas, the trial and error, the failures and the successes of men in their efforts to perfect the technique of steam cultivation. There was a bit more to it than " putting a drum under the boiler" ! To John Fowler, more than to anyone else, goes the credit for developing Steam cultivation. This devout Quaker was moved by the plight of the poor. He spent a fortune experimenting, developing and building engines and tackle. Bray, Boydell and others had made self moving engines but it was Fowler who first produced engines as a practical proposition to do a job of work cheaper than horses. Upon these first successful plough engines the Traction Engine building industry was built. " Rotary Movements ". " Digging Actions ", " John Fowler ", " Other Makers " and "The Implements" are amongst the chapters that tell the whole fascinating story of Ploughing by Steam. There are 360 pages. The 252 illustrations are mostly photographs or reproductions of old engravins. A few or the phningraphs suffer from being only 21" X 2" which is not big enough to do justice to a ploughing engine but this is more than made up for by the beautiful sketches by Peter Griffin and the draughtsmanship of Christopher Lord who has produced magnificent side and front views of many of the engines and much of the tackle. It is evident that the eight years of research that has been undertaken by the authors specially for this book is backed by their own practical experience of the subject. The result is a most readable and authoritative account of this fascinating subject.
JACK WALKER It is with deep regret that we record the death of Jack Walker of Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton. Jack was aged 73 when he died on Christmas Day. He was laid to rest at Kirby Sigston on December 30th. Jack was born into a Steam Contractor's family and had been connected with steam all his life. He was a keen Rally supporter and was a well known figure at early rallies at Pickering, Andover and Appleford. On behalf of all members of the N.T.E.C. we send our deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.
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ENGINE NEWS " The Iron Maiden ", formerly " Kitchener ", Fowler No. 15657, spends most of her time in a Cornish Museum, but on October 31st she created great excitement in Plymouth when she took Father Christmas to Spooner's Store. H. S. Penzer of Alcester, Worcs. has purchased a 7 h.p. Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Engine, No. 42032, of 1932, from the Rev. F. Coley of Webb Heath, Worcs. Tom Varley has made a start rebuilding his Fowler Steam Wagon. He is anxious to locate drawings, photographs and various spares. Please help if you can. See advertisements. W. Vaughan-Jenkins (memb. 1575) of Bath has recently purchased 10 ton Clayton & Shuttleworth Single Cylinder Roller No, 48946 (Reg. No. YA9576), " Ironside" from Sherborne Bros. of Bath. This engine was built to the specification of W. Buncombe, was shown at the Lincoln Royal Show and delivered to Highbridge in 1924. She was there until 1967 when purchased by Sherborne Bros. of Bath and overhauled by them. Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Heritage of Hook Norton, Oxfordshire nave purchased Wallis & Steevens Single Cylinder Roller, No. 2574, of 1901. This 10 ton roller is believed to be the sole survivor of only four of this type that were made. Building up of wastage, retubing, overhauling the fittings, etc., is under way. The tender has been rebuilt, the canopy repaired and refelled. The water feed pump eccentric is missing from the crankshaft. If anybody can help Mr. and Mrs. Heritage, Burycroft Road, Hook Norton. Banbury, Oxon., they will be pleased to hear from you. Mr. D. Keatley, No. 3196, of Somersham, Huntingdon, writes to say he still has his Aveling & Porter Roller No. AC14029 (1930), and has been gathering in a little money for local charities with him (her ?) giving rides or guess the weight, etc., etc. On the instructions of the engineer, three new stays have been put in on either side of the firebox on the bottom row to make all well again. This was done by Stan Burgess of Haddenham, who is, fortunately for Mr. Keatley, very close—within easy steaming distance ! Stephen Hubbuck of Shillingstone is making good progress with restoration of his class 132 Tasker, No. 1902, to its original tractor form. Work so far includes new smokebox, chimney, chimney base, new canopy and new bearings for axle and second motion shafts. Stephen hopes to have this cx Tasker Museum engine on the road this year. Member J. I. Thompson of Workworth, Northumberland, is restoring Marshall 16 n.h.p. Twin Cylinder (not compound) Portable Engine, No. 26790, Fitted Stephenson link motion and reversing gear. The boiler is 42" dia.. 7' 10" between tube plates and is still fitted with original firebox with girder, crown supports. i.e. previous to Marshall corrugated crown. Mr. Thompson is preserving the engine but it will be put to work from time to time "to help towards its keep ". William Dowthwaite of Skelton, Penrith, has acquired McLaren No. 1105. This 6 n.h.p. engine was purchased by Mr. Dowthwaite's father in 1930 and was driven by the present owner for fifteen years on threshing. Having acquired the McLaren, the Burrell engine " The Dreadnought " is now for sale. Ted Freeman of Deddington, Oxon. is hard at work rebuilding Fowler Class R Traction Engine, No. 11554, new on 10th June, 1908, to Henry Tandy & Son of Bromsbarrow, Glos., and named " Enterprise". For many years she was with C. & J. Smith, Pencombe-under-Hereford and was registered J5366. By 1958 she was in the hands of R. F. Jackson of Kilcot, G los. Ted Freeman has already re-stayed the firebox from foundation ring to firehole level and is now at work on the tender. Charles Russell of Bordon, Hants., has now added ex Barnes Bros. Aveling & Porter Roller No. 9375 to his fleet.
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BRISTOL
STEAM TRACTION ENGINE AND FAIR ORGAN FESTIVAL
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 1st & 2nd MAY, 1971 at A SHTON COURT, RR TSTOT , (by kind permission of Bristol Corporation) In aid of S.S. " Gt. Britain " Fund, S. & D. 53808 Preservation Fund and the Transport Trust. Secretary
X. E.G.
R. A. LACEY, ESQ., 13 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 lAS.
vo
ADVERTISEMENTS Members' advertisements are printed here free, subject to acceptance Advertisements should preferably be typed and sent to the Editor. WANTED.—Left hand boiler feed clack for Ruston and Hornsby 10 ton Road Roller, also 4" dia. Pressure gauge with mounting flange.—M. Perry, 25 Paradise Way, Bucklebury, Nr. Reading, Berks. WANTED.—Steam Whistle suitable for Fowler Ploughing Engine, also Valve Box for Water Pump on Fowler Traction Engine or similar make. —R. H. Crawford, Frithville, Boston, Lincs. Phone Sibsey 367. WANTED.—For 1922 Class D.H. Fowler 10 ton Roller. Scrapers for rear rollers. Also angle irons and uprights for canopy.—A. C. W. Burge, " Evenleigh ", Threshers Road, Crediton, Devon. Tel. Crediton 2220, between 6 and 6.30 p.m.
REWARD.—£40 for informtion leading to the recovery of a FOWLER P.E. WHISTLE, removed from P'.E. at work at Earlswood Lake, Riegate, on 11th March, 1971.—Jim Lowther, Brookside Wineham, Sussex. Tel. Henfield 2311. FOR SALE.—WHISTLES, all with valves. Bell, Siren and Chime types. S.A.E.—A. Turk, " Nightingales " Rowbans Way, East Horsley, Surrey. Tel. East Horsley 2604. WANTED.—" BRITANNIA " Transfer for MARSHALL Portable.—R. C. J. Willcox, Plain House, Whiteshill, Stroud, Glos.
STEAMING
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FOR SAM-1910 Marshall S/C h.p. TRACTION ENGINE. Current Boiler Certificate.—Serious enquiries to R. S. Townsend, Grove House, Warren Road, Kingston Hill, Surrey. FOR SALE.—Burrell 7 h.p. D.C.C. General Purpose Engine, No. 4053 (1926), " THE DREADNOUGHT ". Retubed, hydraulic test May, 1969. Full length awning and in rally condition. Price £3,000 o.n.o. Seen by arrangement—Wm. Dowthwaite, Hutton Grange, Skelton, Penrith. Telephone Skelton 250. FOR SALE.—Burrell S.C. Roller. No. 4012 (1924). In excellent mechanical condition and with current Boiler Certificate. Needs painting. £600.— Jeremy Charnauld, Latimer Farm, West Kingston, near Chippenham, Wiltshire. Tel. Castle Coombe 481.
SA LE.—WA LL IS & STEEVENS FOR STEAM ROLLER, No. 7779 (1923), 10
tons Single Cylinder. Recent restoration by well known engineers. Boiler Certificate. Excellent order. £975.—L. Machell, Dormy Cottage, Rope Walk, Littlehampton 3373. WANTED.—Steam portable engine. Small enough for towing on the road and suitable for driving a threshing drum.—A. J. Ross, 65 Attimore Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. Tel.: Welwyn Garden 24866. WANTED.—Roller, must have sound boiler and wheels.—N. I. Baker, 5 Villiers Road, Easton, Bristol, BS 5 OJH. WANTED.—Portable Engine about 6 n.h.p., must have good boiler.—G. Peacock, 6 Remenham Drive, Henleaze, Bristol. Four Wheel Trailer, No. 828, of 1929. On solid rubber tyres, chassis sound but needs complete new wooden bodywork. Aveling & Porter Traction Trailer on steel wheels, chassis and bodywork sound but two sideboards missing.— DEREK HACKETT, Tel.: Ross-on-Wye 2828. FOR
SA LE.—Foden
FOR SA LE.—Chi TIT RC y stumps (as cast) for 12 ton . Fowler rollers (28" dia. smokebox) £25. Blast pipes for same type of engine £12. All new castings.—Harold Bonnett, 3 Ridgeside, Haw Lane, [Hallow Ridge, High Wycombe, Bucks.
FOR SALE.—Showman's living van by Phillips of Newport (1925), 20' X 7' 6" kitchen extension. Timber boards externally, mahogany, painted panels and bevel cut mirrors internally. Sleeps three, calor gas, pneumatics. Requires attention to roof and external paintwork. Bodily sound, good interior. New floor coverings, curtains and mattress, £250.—Marsh, Wildgoose Cottage, Frampton-onSevern, Gloucester. Tel. Saul (045274) 550. FOR SALE.-2 brass oil caps for wheel oilers, Fowler. Pin for gear locking, 31" X I". 2 cast steel water gland cocks, 11" X 2.1". Fowler motion cover handles, 3" long. 1 Fowler brass oiler for eccentric. 9 F I REBA RS, 29+" X 2+" deep, as new. —M. Howard, 73 Croft Road, Swindon, Wilts. FOR SALE.—Manzel Ratchet Lubricator. Fowler " Prince Albert " name plate. Set 1" square lathe tools. Offers.—Write 145 Archer Road, Stevenage. Phone Stevenage 54385.
FOR SALE.-32 i" X 6" Boiler stays 12 threads per inch, for Aveling.—C. T. Allwood, Prize Farm, 8 College Street, East Bridgeford, Notts. FOR ,SALE.-4 WHEEL TRAILER, 12' X 6' Traction coupled, new tyres. Suitable for rallying, £30.—W. D. Milner, 3 Durham Road, Aycliffe Village, Co. Durham. FOR SA LE .—PO RTABLE RACK SAW
BENCH by " Dennings of Chard ". On four iron road wheels. Size of steel plates, 18' X 2' 3" and 1' 4". 4 saws inserted teeth 4' 6", 4' 10", 5' and 6' dia. This is a Traction Engine job built specially for same. Inspection by appointment. Highest offer accepted.—L. Page, East Street, Falmer, near Brighton.
STEAMING FOR SALE.—TASKER (B2) front roller, complete with fork, head and smokebox casting. Offers (would split up). WALLIS & STEEV ENS boiler transfers £1.50 each. FOWLER Ploughing Engine spares. One gear cover and casting for drum winding gear. Anyone interested can take these away.—Stephen Hubbuck, c/o Glenroy, Shillingstone, nr. Blandford, Dorset. FOR SA LE.-100 / 110 Volt D.C. Generator 9 k.w., 80 Amp., 650 r.p.m. Made by Britannia Manufacturing Company, London, N.1. Used only one week since £60 overhaul. Price £100 o.n.o.—Russell, Bordon (Hants.) 2453 after 7 p.m. WANTED.—FOR FOWLER STEAM WAGON. Spares, handbooks, photos, drawings, badges, lamps or any bits and pieces to assist in the rebuilding of a FOWLER WAGON.—Tom Varley, Todber Caravan Park, Gisburn, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancs. Tel. Gisburn 322. WANTED.—Brass top for 8 ton FOWLER roller chimney.—M. Howard, 73 Croft Road, Swindon. WANTED.—For the restoration of GARRETT 4 C.D. Tractor, set of governors, boiler feed clacks, chimney base casting, machined or unmachined, any parts of brake assembly, water pump, clack box, cylinder drain cocks, Also the loan of a stay tube tap.—R. Woodruff, 31 King Edwards Road, Ascot, Berks. WANTED.--;" diameter STEEL ROPE suitabh for nl-u-41-iin-r, engine.—J. M. Baldock. Holl veom be House, Liphook, Hants. Tel. Liphook 3233. WANTED.—TO help restore a class A 8 FOWLER. Ton parts of gauge glass fittings (2). Water feed pump clack box. Offside boiler clack box. Displacement lubricator.—M. Dalton, Moorlands Garage, Portsmouth Road. Hindhead. Tel. 4656. WANTED.—Gearing for MARSHALL. 1921 5 ton Tractor R.V.G. Especially 2nd, 3rd shaft gears. also motion narts, crankshaft, bearings and traction narts, wheels and front axle assemblv.—G. Peacock. 6 Remenham Drive, Henleaze, Bristol.
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FOR SA LE.—Commer Tractor Unit, also Scammell Tractor Unit, suitable for low-loader trailers.—Beeby Bros., Wymeswold Road, Rempstone, Loughborough, Leics., Tel. Wymeswold 880343. FOR SALE.—Quantity 1.1" Boiler Tubes.—Jack Beeby, Rempstone, Loughborough, Leics., Tel. Wymeswold 880343. FOR SALE.—Early Ruston-Proctor THRESHER. Fitted with self-feeder and two String Ruston Hornsby Trusser also blowers. On steel wheels. £45. Massey-Harris BINDER. 6 ft. cut, two knives, good canvases, also spares. Cut 6 acres in 1970, £35. Carter Bros., Billinghurst ELEVATOR on steel wheels, £15. All safe to tow away.—F. Simmons, Lambdens Bottom, Ashamstead, Berkshire. FOR SALE.—John Allen & Co., Oxford Scarifier (early model).—G. W. A. Heritage, Beechcroft, Burycroft Road, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxon. Tel. Hook Norton 560 (after 6 p.m.). FOR SALE.—New Books : " Ploughing by Steam "—Haining & Tyler, £3.15. " Fowler Steam Road Vehicles ", £1.85. Set of 3 Colour Slides, McLaren T.E., Burrell Show Tractor and Allchin T.E., 35p. Also Black and White Postcards and colour slides on approval. G. R. Hawthorne, 19 Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading. WANTED.—A few photographs of any Ransomes engines at work— thrashing, etc. Rally engines or demonstrations not required. Fees met if suitable for book on this make.— Anthony Beaumont, South Wootton, Kings Lynn. WANTED.—Buyor borrow. Any RANSOMES photos/catalogues, etc., except " Steam Threshing Machinery " 1920. To help in compiling book.— Anthony Beaumont, " Waynefleet ", South Wootton, Kings Lynn. WANTED.—Information, photos, of BUCKS. C.C. ROLLERS when at work, also details of those in preservation. —G. Anderson. 53 Honor Road, Prestwood, Gt. Missenden, Bucks. WANTED.—Pictures and detailed information about dredging work done by steam engines. Please write to— R. Gebhard, Spinozalaan 183, Voorburg, Holland.
L
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STEAMING
Preserve your ENGINE with the best pump in the world
MANZEL A 3 point lubricator will protect each port face and give a good oiling to the steam itself.
WM. COULTHARD & CO. LTD., DURRANHILL, CARLISLE
INSURANCE for Steam Vehicles ALL STEAM VEHICLE INSURANCE Renewals and Accounts are now being dealt with by MRS. V. M. JESSUP, 41 Combe End, Crowborough, Sussex. Telephone : Crowborough 5902 (during business hours only, please).
Speoial Terms for Club Members
TENNANT, BUDD & RODERIC PRATT LTD. (Incorporating Choisy & Simson Ltd.) 92 Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.3 Stonebridges Printers Ltd., Brereton Road, Bedford