Steaming 1985 Vol.28 No.2

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Membership of the National Traction Engine Club is open to those who, whether engine owners or not, have a genuine interest in the preservation of self propelled steam road vehicles, portable engines etc.

President (and Technical Services): S.J. Wharton, Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford 0X8 5RD. Vice Presidents: P.R. Barker; Anthony S. Heal.

Chairman: P.G.C. Barber, 77 Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3HG. Vice-Chairmen: J. Crawley, Field House, Turvey, Bedford MK43 BDU. Eric A. Fillmore

The annual subscription is £8.00 for individuals, £10.00 for family membership and £5.00 for pensioners. The Club's magazine Steaming is sent free to members during January, April, July and October, and other benefits of membership include advantageous terms for boiler insurance as well as access to advice on technical matters.

General Secretary: George Beck, 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3DJ. Membership Secretary: Mrs Fay Wood, 'Windrush', Hail Weston, Huntingdon, Cambs PE19 4JY. Treasurer: C.J.C. Barber, 77 Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3HG. Chairman, Rally Sub-Committee: E.A. Fillmore, 34 Northwick Park Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2NU. Chairman, Engine Owners Sub-Committee: M. John Wharton, Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford 0X8 5RD. Chairman, Steam Apprentice Club: Sylvia Dudley, 42 Russell Street, Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire MK17 8NX. National Sales Officer: K.D. Shakespeare, 91 Peplins Way, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 3NJ. Insurance Officer: J.S. Hirons, 98 Hailey Road, Witney, Oxfordshire OX8 5HQ. Public Relations Officer: A. Fookes, Spent Penny Farm, Craigs Lane, Mount Bures, Colchester, Essex CO8 5AP. Publicity Officer: S.J. Gray, 9 Walnut Way, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3XT.

8teatn1t3e binder Each binder can take up to twelve copies — that's three year's issues. Produced in royal blue with the magazine title and club motif nicely blocked in gold on the spine — a fine addition to your bookshelves and an excellent way of keeping your magazines in good condition whilst near at hand.

dirrefiftur

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Price £3.60 Available byp_pst from NTEC Sales, 91 Peplins Way, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 3NJ, or at rally stands.

New from NTEC Sales JIGSAW PUZZLES John Hancox's fine water colour prints of Fowler engines are now available as 345 piece wooden jigsaw puzzles.

Pictured here is the puzzle depicting the ploughing engines — the road loco print is also available (see Summer 1982 issue).

Price £7.50 to members (use the mail order slip)

1

The Magazine of the National Traction Engine Club Volume 28 Number 2

Spring 1985

Editorial

Editor: Roger West, 14 Charles Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LEIS 9AB

From this issue, regrettably, we have dropped the twice yearly Affiliated Clubs Diary feature, for the number of clubs replying to the pre-publication check has declined further. (Acknowledgements and thanks to those secretaries who have replied recently.) Following the initial approach for relevant information some years ago to each of the fifty or so affiliated clubs, the response has dwindled such that only a handful of meetings are now represented, barely worth the exercise of setting up the diary. This may not be particularly earth shattering news (and we do suspect that very few clubs will have experienced even casual visitors as a result of the publicity), but it does bring into focus the difficulty the National Club faces in providing worthwhile and continuing benefits to its affiliates.

Much has been done by the National Club in the spheres of rally organisation and of insurance that has been to the benefit of all, but from past conferences — in the days they were dedicated to affiliated clubs as well as rally organisers — we remember discussion on the spirit of affiliation in other directions.

A diary to encourage enthusiasts throughout the country to mix more widely out of the rally season may have seemed a step that way, but the publication does depend on accuracy, and therefore repeated checking, and it would appear to have failed through lack of response from secretaries; that, in turn, perhaps brought on by the knowledge that the exercise was attracting few if any newcomers.

So, has anyone any further ideas? The pages of Steaming are always open to affiliated clubs for reasonable notices or announcements to others. An exchange of newsletters or magazines between various clubs has been mooted, but this might need very diligent organisation to be a long lasting venture. How about the photographers amongst us making up slide shows of, say, 80-100 slides centred around a local club's doings, to be available on brief loan, with an accompanying brief typed commentary, to other affiliated clubs for their seasonal indoor meetings. In this way a group in the north could see what was happening in the south and vice versa. Any more suggestions?

Assistant Editor: Derek Rayner, 'Invicta', 9 Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb, York Y02 3JH. Display Advertising: to the Editor Small Ads: to the Editor Distribution and Change of Address: Mrs Fay Wood, 'Windrush', Hail Weston, Huntingdon, Cambs PE19 4JY

The Editor will be pleased to consider contributions of suitable articles, shorter items or photographs for inclusion in future issues. All material so submitted is voluntary and payment cannot be may for any material published, although expenses incurred may be met. The opinions expressed in the magazine, with the exception of those printed as Club annoucements, are those of the contributors and do not indicate the views of the Club as a whole. All items are held copyright by the contributors and/or the NTEC. Next issue: The latest date for any news items, recent photographs and all small advertisements is 24th May 1985.

ISSN 0260 - 2962 Published by the National Traction Engine Club Ltd at 14 Charles St, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Printed by AB Printers Ltd, Leicester.

This issue 56 61 63 64 68 69 70 74 76 77 78 80 81 92 93

Club News A Cautionary Tale On the Bottle The 1985 Steaming Photographic Competition Getting Out Hertford Drays Sewards of Petersfield Military Mascot Rambling on about Rollers Rallying comes to Belgium A Mysterious Business On Sentinels Steaming Around, compiled by Derek Rayner Round the World Letters, Small Ads etc.

John Newton

Viv Kirk Kevin Lockyer Alan Porter Derek Rayner Joe Thomas

Cover Part of the traditional showmans engine line-up at Stourpaine in 1978.

Fowler 14862 of 1917 heads a group whilst the owner, the late Monty Thackeray, chats with Harry Lee. (John Ellwood) 55

gilTI Ms770 From the Chairman Since my last notes, the Club has taken the final steps necessary for the achievement of charitable status, and I now explain some of the implications to members generally. Many members have expressed some surprise at the odd timing of our AGMs in recent years, and that, too, might be beneficially explained at this time.

In order to obtain approval of our charity status application by the Charity Commissioners, it was firstly necessary to remove from the control of the Club, all those activities which the Club carries out for profit. Atter taking detailed professional advice, it was proposed that this should be achieved by setting up a separate trading company to carry out all such activities, the trading company then donating its profits each year to the present Club company. By this means, the liability of the Club to Corporation Tax could be avoided. It was

necessary that the Articles of both this trading company and those of the Club company should be carefully drafted, and those of the existing company amended in order to comply with the exacting requirements of the Charity Commissioners.

We believe that all this has now been achieved, and all we now await is the final letter of approval from the Charity Commissioners. Our new trading company, National Traction Engine Club (1984) Ltd, has now been incorporated with share capital entirely owned by the Club company.

Approval has also been received for the Club company to change its name to National Traction Engine Trust. The trading company will commence its financial operations at the beginning of April, this date having been carefully timed by the Treasurer so that it will be possible to assess the trading company's annual profits accurately before the end of each tax year, so that they can be donated to the trust

From Alan Martin's Collection

28

company.

Our one remaining problem has been the timing of the Annual General Meeting of the Club, now the Trust Company of which all existing members are now members. In recent years, due to the legal necessity of holding each AGM within fifteen months of the previous one, we have been forced into holding the AGM during the late spring. This is a time at which many members are heavily involved in getting their engines ready for the rally season and is not really suitable for the organisation of the type of major social event combined with the AGM which has been so popular in the past. We have therefore decided to hold a purely business AGM in 1985, solely in order to comply with the requirements of our Articles. A preliminary notice of this meeting, in August, appears elsewhere in this issue. This timing will enable future AGMs from 1986 onwards to be held in the Autumn in conjunction with social events. In the interim, for this year, your Committee are hoping to arrange for an independent social event, possibly in November. Further preliminary details will be found at the end of this Club News section. (Peter Barber)

Rally Organisation Rally sub-committee

A pleasantly posed scene on Wokingham Road, Bracknell, Berkshire in 1920.

Nine Berkshire County Council workmen pause from their labours in front of the Council's Ruston Proctor 'Lincoln Imp' tractor 52651 (BL0304) — named ETHEL by the driver — and its timber wheeled road-metal trailer.

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As the name of this sub-committee implies, it is concerned, in general terms, with traction engine rallies rather than the engines that attend them. Generally speaking the work we carry out concerns itself with two main aspects of rallying from the organiser's and the public's point of view; firstly publicity, and secondly the Code of Practice which is a document issued for guidance 'for better organisation of Steam Traction Engine Events'.

Publicity is defined in the dictionary as 'open to the knowledge of the community', so we compile each year a list of approved traction engine rallies in order that our members and the general public

generally shall know when and where the various rallies are taking place. Ron Copp compiles it from October in each year, issuing details of events notified and approvable from time to time, and culminating in the published list in this issue of Steaming; any additions will be advised in the Summer issue. As last year co-operation between Ron Copp, Roger West and Tony Fookes, our Public Relations Officer, has enabled the Club to produce an attractive printed list which will serve the dual purpose of both appearing in the magazine and being available as a separate hand-out and postal item. In fact, Tony sends many hundreds out to Tourist Boards, travel agents and the like each year.

Early this year we again had the opportunity of attending a Day-out Excursion Workshop held in London by some of the area Tourist Boards.

These meetings give us an opportunity of reaching persons who organise day excursions, such as tour operators and travel agents, as well as coach operators and individuals who may wish to organise trips out. Travel journalists are also well represented. In 1984 the special rally list we used contained only 22 events, but this year we were able to publish a list of 51 rallies. I am grateful to all those rally organisers who supported us with publicity material; the early return of rally approval forms does help very much. All of our publicity efforts are aimed at putting traction engine rallies on the travel and leisure scene.

Our Code of Practice has been in existence for many years and is constantly being revised and updated to keep pace with developments, in whatever form it may affect our rallies.

About every five years a new edition is issued. My sub-committee has been working on this revised edition for some while, but I am pleased to say the March 1985 edition has now been finally approved, and should be available for issue to rally organisers shortly.

In February we held our Spring Rally Organisers Conference. Just over 60 delegates were present which is about the usual number for the Spring Conference. We were pleased that considerable interest was shown in the sub-committee activities. Much discussion took place on the points raised by the Health and Safety at Work inspectors in so far as they applied to the various items normally found on a rally field, particularly with regard to electrical installations. With this in mind we were pleased that the paper submitted at the afternoon session was devoted to 'Electrical Safety on the Rally Field' and given by

John Woodroffe, an electrical engineer with the CEGB. After this we were privileged to have Mr D Burstow give his comments on the same subject.

Since Mr Burstow is a senior Electrical Inspector of Factories from the Health and Safety Executive, we were able to have information on this all important subject straight from the horse's mouth as it were. (Eric Fillmore, chairman, Rally sub-Committee)

Rallies Town and Country Festival, Stoneleigh There will be changes at this year's Town and Country Festival at the Royal Showground, Kenilworth, Warwickshire at the Late Summer Bank Holiday. The emphasis in future will be on working demonstrations with engines driving appropriate machinery. This feature will be linked to a broadcast tutored introduction to inform, educate and interest those attending, of the job the machines were designed to do and indeed to explain why the exhibit has been restored.

Owners of suitable machines capable of being driven on the belt from steam engines are invited to contact the organisers of the Festival.

To present variety, both agricultural and industrial machinery will be welcome; interested owners should be in the first instance contact Trevor R. Daw, c/o Town & Country Festival, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warks CV8 2LZ.

Hallam's Rally David Hallam, organiser of Hallam's Rally at Tutbury, Staffordshire on 20th/21st July 1985, kindly offers free entry to NTEC members on production of their current membership card.

Engine Owners Column The John Scott & Partners/NTEC insurance scheme has now been going for twelve months and I would welcome comments from members.

We have been sorry to see that many people still have Third Party Cover. There have been several accidents this year where claims against the other party have proved difficult or impossible to pursue. If you have Comprehensive Cover you will receive the money to repair your engine plus recovery charges.

Recovery is not included in our Third Party or Third Party Fire and Theft policies. (D. Frank/in, John Scott & Partners Ltd)

Insurance In reviewing the Club's insurance arrangements of the last twelve months, the predicament of member John Newton must be commented on.

John was involved in an unfortunate accident with his Burrell (further details of the incident are included elsewhere in this issue), where substantial damage was done to the engine by a minimally — but legally — insured car. It seems there is very little possibility of restitution being claimed from the car driver.

I understand John Newton was insured with the Tennant Budd/ Dominion policy. This policy was put together many years ago and has subsequently been added to. It now covers many different additional items such as theft of brass fittings, cost of recovery up to a certain sum, damage to paint etc; all are listed in the policy.

But it must be stressed it is not, and does not purport to be, a comprehensive insurance, therefore there are limitations.

About twelve months ago it was decided to offer an alternative policy to give members a wider choice. After

WARNING BEWARE OF MOVING VEHICLES ON THE RALLY FIELD

These 'Warning' and 'Caution' posters, very useful for crowd control at rallies and other events, are printed 20in x 13Y2in in red and black on white paper and available from the National Sales Officer (see address inside front cover) at 20p each, plus 75p packing and postage for any reasonable number.

57

many enquiries and propositions the Cliih accepted the package put together by John Scott & Partners Ltd. This included a fully comprehensive policy to a pre-arranged value. The policy covers virtually everything and would certainly have provided for all of John Newton's recovery and repair costs. It has been available f or over twelve months and has been publicised in Steaming. The policy is more expensive, but like many things in life, you get what you pay for.

I am somewhat concerned that many owners are not taking advantage of this enhanced cover and suggest that all potentially affected by the subject give it a great deal of thought.

(John Hirons, Insurance Officer)

Repairers and Suppliers Register Nick Barker asks members to note his new address — N. Barker, lverwood Farm, Cutting Hill, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 ORN. It may also be appropriate to mention here how the Register works — some members have been asking for the list, but the information is not available in that form. The whole point of the Register is that it needs to be kept as up to date as possible to be of the most use; if published in list form it would very rapidly become obsolete, with those who has obtained copies having little way of knowing, after a few months, if entrants were still offering services. For that reason names and addresses are supplied to enquirers by Nick against queries on specific subjects or trades. We hope that in this way the service can be as up to date as possible — a difficult enough task in any case. Nick is still

eager to receive from readers further suggestions nr recommendations for additional entries within the register.

The success of the scheme depends to a large extent on the support of the membership.

Coal Rebate Scheme The National Coal Board has announced that their Steam Heritage Coal Rebate Scheme will be extended for a further two years during 1985 and 1986. The Scheme provides for a rebate of £2.00 per tonne against supplies of British mined coal that has been purchased for consumption in all preserved steam engines. It is available, in the case of preserved road engines, through the agency of the NTEC. All approved rallies qualify for the rebate, as do affiliated clubs arid individual members purchasing quantities of coal in excess of one tonne, for their engines.

At the end of each year, the Club collects and correlates the returns, and makes application to the NCB during December. The sum of 50 pence per tonne is retained by the Club to provide for administration costs of the Scheme and as a contribution from the rally movement towards the cost of the Rally sub-Committee's activities which are to some extent subsidised from the general funds of the Club.

The balance of £1.50 per tonne is distributed to those participating.

During 1984 the sum of £1047 was received by the Club from the NCB and approximately £790 was distributed.

Organisers and individual members

Hi9biand Steamboat Haidays Cruise the beautiful seafochs and canals of Scotland in an original coal-fired Clyde Puffer. Good food, comfortable accommodation.

Send large SAE for free brochure to Racket and Nick Walker, The Change House, Conan Ferry, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8QH (Tel 054 65 232),

58

wishing to be involved in the scheme this year must be prepared to forward copies of invoices, delivery notes or other suitable documentary evidence of purchase from their supplier (British mined coal only!) in support of their claim. The closing date for this year's applications will be 30th November 1985. Application forms are being distributed to previous participants and to approved rally organisers, but anyone else wishing to take part in the scheme should request a form from the Treasurer or the Chairman.

Membership Renewal In recent years it has been possible to keep consistent the publication dates of Steaming, and consequently members have been receiving their subscription renewal reminders at the correct and appropriate time, about a fortnight after their subscription has run out.

However, many members are requiring a second reminder, which cumulatively costs the Club much in postage and stationery and gives the Membership Secretary an enormous amount of extra and unnecessary work. Would members kindly ensure they renew promptly on their first, white, reminder and certainly well before the end of the following quarter, when the next magazine should be despatched. Those not responding by then receive a second, yellow, reminder instead of the magazine, but since experience has shown that 75% of such reminders result in renewals immediately afterwards, it seems much of the Membership Secretary's time is wasted on unnecessary sorting and resorting of records etc.

Prompt renewal has benefits for everyone — early receipt of Steaming, lower costs to keep subscriptions stable, and a good cashflow to keep our Treasurer happy! For each member renewal is a singular event; to the Membership Secretary it is multiplied by 3300 and is not therefore without its problems. Many thanks in anticipation for your consideration. (Fay Wood, Membership Secretary and magazine despatch) It may be pertinent to add here that Steaming is booked to be delivered to Fay Wood from our printers on the first Friday of each quarter (January, April, July and October) and to be packed and posted to members by the middle of the following week. This schedule

may slip on occasion — due to holidays or the fact that those who produce and send out the magazine do it in their spare time. Also, the Winter issue invariably falls foul of the Christmas and New Year holiday periods. (Hon Editor)

NTEC Sales All members should look out for lots of new items on the NTEC Sales Stands this year. They include new sweaters in children's sizes, and also a larger range of adults sizes.

We would like to welcome Michael and Carol Houghton to our ranks of sales operators, and hope they will enjoy working for and representing the Club at rallies as much as the rest of us do. This year's sales team and areas covered are: • Keith and Tracey Shakespeare (National) • Sue and David Wood (North) • David Duffill and Andrea Wallace (Midlands) ■ Michael and Carol (East) Following is a list of rallies in the first half of the season at which it is planned to have an NTEC Sales Stand.

Reference to the Rally List will provides details and full titles etc.

May — Battersea (Keith); Abbotsfield (Sue); Stoke Goldington (Keith); Anglesey (Keith); Tamworth (David); Carrington (Sue).

June — Poynton (Sue); Holton (Keith); Claybrooke (Michael); Thurlow (David); Morecambe (Sue); Banbury (David); Stamford (Michael); Bath (Keith); Lyme Park (Sue).

July — Elvaston (David); Chiltern (Michael); Ardingly (Keith); Woodcote (Keith); Rempstone (David); Weeting (Michael); Langport (Keith); Hallam's (David); Kegworth (David); Kendal (Sue); Netley Marsh (Keith).

We hope to see you at at least one (Tracey of these 26 rallies.

Shakespeare, NTEC Sales).

Obituaries A.R. Story It is with much regret I record the death of Bill Story of Barrowden, near Oakham in what used to be Rutland. I first met Bill at Stamford Rally in 1964.

A very reserved natured man who did not push himself forward, on chatting

In May 1916 Fodens despatched their wagon number 6242 (M8586) as a chassis to N.C. Bauly of London. After fitting with a tipping body it was delivered to Poplar Borough Council where the owners knew it as No 8, but the driver preferred to christen it LILY by fashioning a curved nameplate and fixing it to the front drawhook. Photographed here in the 1920s the wagon probably worked for the Electricity Department, which ran four other Fodens as well as three Claytons and a Garrett. M8586 was last licensed in December 1931. (collection Greater London Council)

to him for a few minutes you realised here was a man of steam. He had been with the family Allchin engine since it was new in 1922, and there was not a thing Bill could not tell you about the threshing business. We had many interesting discussions, over the years, about the way they did things in his part of the country and how they differed from methods in my Bedfordshire.

Several times I have watched Bill drive the Allchin, with drum and baler, into the East of England Showground at Peterborough in readiness for the Expo event, 'and those memories will live with me for years to come. At Peterborough last year it was obvious my friend was a very sick man; the Allchin came to our Roxton rally, but alas, no Bill. Like many more he will be missed but memories will linger on for all time. (Alec lbbott) Norman Owen The death occurred suddenly at his home in Church Stretton on 17th February 1985 of W.N. Owen, chairman of the County of Salop Steam Engine Society.

Norman was a founder member and the first and only chairman of the

Society, now in its 25th year. Under his guidance the Society's annual rally has progressed from the early events at Church Stretton with five or six engines, to today's rallies at Bishops Castle, considered by many to be the foremost traditional vehicle rally in the West Midlands.

Norman Owen joined the Great Western Railway as a booking clerk in 1922, and after promotion was station master for 34 years, the last 12 years until his retirement at Church Stretton.

He is survived by his wife and son.

(John Roberts, president C of SSES)

Personal Congratulations to Engine Owners Committee chairman John Wharton and Angela Waring on the occasion of their wedding, which took place at St Mary's Church, Witney, Oxfordshire on 30th March 1985. We understand a certain engine was to be present to provide transport to their nearby reception; all members will join in wishing them supreme happiness in the future.

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Future dates AGM This year's AGM will be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 7th August 1985 at the Great Western Royal Hotel, Paddington, London. An explanation of the date has been included in the Chairman's notes in this issue, and formal notice and further details will appear in the Summer issue of this magazine.

Autumn Social Event As intimated by our Chairman in his notes in this issue, a special social event has been arranged for later in the year. The venue will be the Brighton and Hove Engineerium and the date, 23rd November 1985.

Further details will be included in the next issue of our magazine but in the meantime members may like to note the date in their diaries. The occasion will include a special members only

evening social in the museum with the pumping engines in steam and probably musical entertainment, buffet etc.

London Area Social Meetings The final meeting of the 1984/85 season will take place at 8.00pm on TUESDAY, 8th APRIL 1984, at 'The Cock Tavern', Great Portland Street, London (corner of Margaret Street and adjacent to Oxford Circus). Charles Roads will present an illustrated talk 'On ploughing engines', showing pictures from his extensive collection of photographs of this breed. Nonmembers are always welcome at our London meetings and on this occasion we extend a special invitation to members of the Steam Plough Club.

Monthly meetings will resume in the autumn. (Bill Timmings)

Apology We apologise to Roger Newbery of Bournemouth for more than once misspelling his name in the last issue.

STEAMING past OUR MAGAZINE 25 YEARS AGO

LUCY MAY, Aveling & Porter AM type tractor 11997 of 1928, simmers in the early evening sun at Thur/ow Rally, May 1982. (Bob Payne) 60

Although the rally list for the year only covered half the inside front cover it did include 29 different venues, several weekends sporting more than ui le rally and the 23rd July even offering a choice of four! Six of the names would still be familiar to a 1985 rallygoer, but the odd feature compared with today's calendar was the high number of Saturday only events.

The death of steam plough contractor John Patten, 81, was reported.

Another ploughing engine user, the firm of J.B. Carr Ltd of Wolverhampton, had written in, anxious to recruit additional crews. Much of the area notes consisted of news of engines being acquired for preservation, but lest the present day reader should think all engines had a secure future, we note several reports of steam rollers being cut up for scrap, particularly in the West Country. Six Sentinels still saw commercial use in Liverpool.

A Cautionary Tale Our last issue briefly reported a road traffic accident involving member John Newton's 5hp Burrell road locomotive 4066. We give here further details from John of the incident.

The accident happened on the evening of Sunday, 26th August 1985. We had been participating in a carnival procession at Lambourn, Berkshire, the Burrell hauling a decorated four wheel trailer loaded with some twenty young people seeking to portray Maplin's Holiday Camp — a simple enough pleasure for all involved. After the event we left the dispersal area and headed down the road towards the farm of a friend of mine, intending there to leave the engine, and still pulling the trailer with some of the youngsters aboard.

I was suddenly aware of a car hurtling towards us in a pall of blue smoke and flying chips of gravel. It was clearly not going to stop, or avoid us, despite the driver's frantic efforts with the steering wheel. In the few moments it took for the car to reach us from first rounding the slight bend ahead of us, I attempted to stop the Burrell as best I could. She was virtually stationary by the time the car collided with the front end, turning the engine across the road, and wrenching the steering wheel from Bob impact The hand.

Stanbrook's sounded like a cannon being fired, covered us with glass, and as steam cleared I looked down and saw the car embedded under the front of the boiler. My immediate thought was for the safety of the boiler but I was soon reassured that there was no escape from there — what I had seen was from the car's radiator — and the boiler was safe. I set about cooling it down bearing in mind that we had been running at our normal 200 lbs.

From the footplate it was obvious the front end of the engine was severely damaged — the Burrell now stood uphill. I could see no front wheels and the smokebox was virtually inside the car. The point of impact had been on the front axle to one side of the perch bracket, shearing off the latter and driving the wheels and axle under the engine, puncturing the belly tank in the process.

Being still close to the event field, police and spectators were soon on the scene. The car had contained seven men and three, including the driver, required attention at hospital. It was amazing there was no serious injury or death. Estimates of the car's speed are said to have been up to 90 mph.

A two-wheeled engine is not the easiest of objects to handle and I am immensely grateful to my friend Jim Bracey for so successfully accomplishing the task with his tractor, JCB and low loader. The Burrell did get to his farm that night but it was 11 pm by the time I got home courtesy of a police motorway patrol car!

My longer term problems were now about to manifest themselves, for it has turned out the car was only insured for the basic legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act, that is third party injury — not cover for damage caused. I turned to my own NTEC Tennant Budd policy to seek

amends. I now find it is adequate in respect of third party liability, boiler explosion, theft of fittings etc, damage to roads and so on — most things except damage to your vehicle by a third party where the value exceeds £500. (The clause relating to rescue from the scene of an accident — set at £500 — would also seem adequate.)

It might appear a reasonable assumption, perhaps 99.9% true, that the aggrieved should be able to claim from the third party in an accident where damage takes place without injury, but I have become involved in an exception; someone with no damage cover on their insurance. On investigation the carnival organizers found their insurance (I was still 'on duty') only covered for injury to persons. The police advised I could probably claim from a fund set up by the insurance companies but, again, this is only for use where injury results, not damages.

The rescue haulage, and the repair and restitution of my Burrell to its former condition will undoubtedly run to several thousands of pounds, and my cover it seems will only run to £500 damage and £500 rescue — hardly sufficient when I considered I was adequately covered. Incidentally, I can assure the reader that, for various reasons, there is little point in my instituting proceedings for recompense against the driver. At a subsequent court case he was fined a total of £160 for driving without due care and attention, for not wearing a seat belt and for having defective tyres on the car — he also received three endorsements and five penalty points.

B. NEWTON. HUNGERFORD. BERKS.

Burrell 4066 of 1927 after the collision. (John Newton) 61

My message to other engine owners is, I think, simple. Think very carefuly whether you should venture on the highway without fully comprehensive insurance. You might feel, as I did, you are adequately covered for all eventualities your engine might come across. But there is an exception to every rule. It does exist — I have found that to my cost. If I had had full comprehensive cover it would have been the insurance company faced with the gamble of whether or not to seek redress from the individual.

(The setting down of this sad affair in our magazine is not, of course, intended to give warning of how to completely avoid such circumstances; that, clearly, would only be possible by never steaming our engines at all.

Engine owners however will no doubt like to consider their own insurance cover in the light of what has happened to one owner member indulging in d quite typical aspect of our hobby. — Hon Editor)

'Third Party Insurance. — The Committee desire to bring to the notice of members of the Association the desirability of entering into third party insurance, as there have been some cases where owners of locomotives have had damages awarded against them owing to runaway horses etc. There are several insurance firms who take this class of risk and their names will be furnished upon application to the Association.'

(From Automobile Commercial Vehicle Review, July 1904 reporting on a meeting the previous month at Park Royal of the National Traction Engine Owners & Users Association.)

Information Wanted

NORMAN E BOX Norman E. Box, heavy haulage contractor, Manchester and Birmingham, 1906 to 1930.

Box Grouting & Spraying Co Ltd, Altrincham, 1923 to ?

Box Cultivating Co Ltd, Altrincham, Peterborough and Edinburgh, no dates Tam McTaggart writes: I am working on a history of Norman Box's engine businesses and activities, and would welcome help with any factual information on the above three firms as well as photographs, addresses, dates and any stories, no matter how insignificant. I shall be grateful for any material that can be loaned to me, or pointed out to me, so that a book can be written stating the facts, not the odd legends that have been built up by well known authors who, if they sat back and thought, would realise the tasks alleged performed were impossible.

One story relates to N.E. Box delivering an accumulator from Annan to Glasgow with a solo Fowler Super Lion. Now, lets think about this. Box sold out in 1930. Cochrane's of Annan in 1931 made a 64 ton accumulator for Greenock, hut because the way over Beattock and Douglas Moor was so had they floated it down the Solway, along the Irish Sea and into the Firth of Clyde.

In 1933 Marston Road Services of Liverpool had one of the QUEEN MARY's propellers on their 100 ton

Scammell to deliver to John Brown's at Clydebank. I don't know how long they took to get to Douglas Moor but once near the top they sank to the axles and took three weeks to get out.

In the meantime the county council built a road around the load to keep the normal traffic moving. This was the main road from Glasgow to Carlisle.

Even by-passing Douglas Moor and travelling via Hyndford Bridge, Lanark, Wishaw, Motherwell and Bellshill, the road was not fast or overly wide and it took much longer to travel. If this is what the roads were like after Box's time, could one engine have managed at an earlier date?

Other stories of these engines hauling 70 and 90 tons over the Pennines on their own are pure tripe.

Had they been as good as this the Scammels never would have taken their place with their expensive-to-run petrol engines, working at just one mile per gallon on heavy loads.

Please send any contribution you can make to T. McTaggart, 14 Luss Brae, Hamilton ML3 9UW. Acknowledgements will, of course, be made to all who help.

Great Amwell 1

TRACTION ENGINE RALLY, near WARE HERTFORDSHIRE 30 engines; vintage and veteran cars, bands, funfair, craft fair etc.

8 and 9th June 62

Om the bottle Brewers were one of the earliest and most extensive users of steam wagons, and it is pleasant to see that a Foden example features on one of a new range of bottled beer labels recently launched by John Smith's Brewery of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

The colourful labels, commemorating more than a century of brewery transport, now appear on the company's five bottled beers and will be available throughout John Smith's trading area, which stretches across northern England from the Tyne in the north east to Merseyside in the west, and through North and South Yorkshire down to the East Midlands and Peterborough in the south. All the types of vehicle shown have actually been used by John Smith's over the last one hundred years and are shown in their original liveries. The most unlikely mode of transport is the Halifax bomber used to airlift Export ale from Tadcaster to Belgium during a strike in that country in 1950.

The label of most interest to our members will be on the Magnet Pale Ale bottle, which depicts a 5 ton Foden first owned by the brewery in September 1914. However, John Smith's steam engines date further back than that time. A 8hp single cylinder Marshall road engine was used from 1882, joined twelve years later by another, of 6hp, from the same stable. In 1902 B5 class Fowler 9381 replaced the older Marshall; just after World War 1 it too was sold and became a showmans engine into which form it is now being rebuilt at Howden, Yorkshire (see our Summer 1984 issue).

The brewery's first steam wagon was either Foden 1326, new in 1907, or, depending on how long they had already owned it, a Mann's wagon advertised by them for disposal in 1914. By the early years of World War 1 there had arrived four Fodens, a Clayton, a Garrett, a Sheppee and six Yorkshire wagons. After that time Sentinel became the favoured make — there were over a dozen of them by 1929 (including DG6 7956 (WX490) pictured in our March 1978 issue), before the usual gradual replacement of the steamers took place by petrol or diesel engined vehicles.

The representation of the Foden is

quite good, and the label worth collecting by those so inclined. Now, over quite a large area of the country, we have a good excuse for being seen disappearing into a pub! However, the artist has chosen to portray the wagon mirror-image from the photograph he worked from and in so doing has transferred the flywheel to the right hand side, applied later Ackermann type steering, and introduced other spurious features. Further, the registration number has been altered (the one shown was carried by a Foden delivered and worked in the London area).

Thanks are due to John Smith's Tadcaster Brewery Ltd, to Alan Duke for the historical summary of the fleet, and to A. Windle. yrj

This view, which formed the basis for the bottle label artwork, shows 5 ton Foden 4852 of 1914 (M6876) and trailer, well loaded with beer barrels. (collection A. Windle)

The 1985 Steaming Pbotoorapbic Competition

The 1985 Steaming Photographic Competition was disappointing from just one point of view — there was a reduced entry, of some five dozen pictures (only half those sent in for 1984) from fifteen members, and your editor hopes that the reduction was not because the notice in our Winter issue was too small, or at too short notice.

Judging took place at the end of March and on these four pages we are pleased to present the winners of the first three prizes and also those commended by the judges.

The judges this year were Dick Blenkinsop and Alan Martin, both wellknown members who have generously given their time and opinion for the two previous competitions, and, new this year, Ray Clarke of Market Harborough, a photographer of many year's standing and former chairman of the local photographic society, and the representative on the panel of a non-enthusiast, deliberately included to ensure the others didn't get carried away with being too absorbed in engines!

Jim Stevenson of Sale, Cheshire Second Prize Using coal from doubtful sources — no gasworks coke nowadays — causes spectacular effects as Sentinel DG4 wagon 8714 turns into Deansgate in Manchester's city centre with Burrell 3098 in tow in December 1984.

Judges comments: Another picture full of life. It is not brilliant from a technical standpoint but the photographer has been in the right place at the right time and pressed the shutter button at the right moment. The effect is nice and smoky.

The lamp post at the extreme right could possibly have been trimmed out to advantage.

Third Prize Opposite: Jim Sarney of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Two road locomotives hard at work.

Burrells 3996 (trace engine) and 3057 tackle the 1 in 6 gradient at the Black Country Museum in October 1984, hauling a 1000hp electromotor on a vintage eight wheel trailer — a gross train weight of about 60 tons.

Judges comments: This picture is full of the life and action that is always present on the rally scene; we can almost hear the engines coming towards us. The photographer has chosen to take his shot against the light and has been rewarded with an excellent result. We were impressed that the engines were the focal point for the camera and the bystanders — the whole of the photograph centres on their action. To be very critical we could mention the picture had been a little marred by flecks of dirt and hair during the printing.

First Prize

65

Bob Payne of Geddington, Northants

Discussion at Stourpaine Judges comments: This is a picture very different from the other entries and, indeed, from most photographs taken of traction engines. It is nonetheless an excellent picture and one that would stand up well in a photographic competition of much wider subject scope than our own. The composition and printing are superb with good sky effect, a proper dense silhouette on the left and a perfectly exposed fore-lit figure on the right; the rim lighting elsewhere enhances the print.

Bob Payne of Commended Geddington, Northants Fowler BB class ploughing engine 14213 at Emsworth, Hampshire during the spring of 1984, engaged in dredging to form a wildlife sanctuary.

Judges comments: Another technically excellent picture but one where the subjects and surroundings have not given the photographer every assistance. The dredge and the second engine are very indistinct, though the driver's view is nicely directed towards them; a more visible exhaust would have helped too.

Juu9eb colm ment6. on the entries generally Despite the smaller number of entrants for this year's competition the judges were again impressed by the assembled photographs, Alan Martin and Dick Blenkinsop considering them better than those they had seen in previous years, whilst Ray Clarke, as a newcomer, found the standard of entrants good and better than he was expecting. Generally, more thought seemed to have been given to selection and preparation of what had actually been submitted for competition. The judges were pleased to see work from one of our lady members and overall there was a good balance of differing views and subjects, making their task not an easy one.

Both the first and second prize winners depicted engines working hard and giving visual evidence of that fact, so capturing the spirit of the traction engine. They also offered scenes full of life. Many others of the more highly considered pictures also featured exhaust, but although smoke obviously helps enormously to capture movement and suggest action, it is not an absolute necessity as shown by the viewpoint successfully chosen by our third prizewinner.

It was again noticeable that a large proportion of the pictures entered had been taken with the engines travelling on the road or at working demonstrations etc, few photographers seemingly finding satisfaction or creative possibilities within the ordinary rally field. Perhaps the inherent difficulties there should be regarded as a more compelling challenge, and encourage cameramen to look afresh at this more public of places.

The judges were unanimously agreed they had thoroughly enjoyed carrying out their task and considered it both a privilege and a pleasure.

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Commended

Clive Hollingworth of Bourne, Lincs

The tranquility around Braybrooke church Northamptonshire is briefly broken by the passage of Armstrong Whitworth roller 10R2 in October 1984.

Judges comments: Pictorially, a nicely arranged composition, from a viewpoint no doubt carefully chosen in advance. However, the engine, the main subject, has turned out to be rather overwhelmed by the surroundings — maybe it could have been allowed to get a little further on.

Ron Maddison of Keele, Staffordshire Commended Ransomes tractor 39088 in hibernation Judges comments: An attractive picture, not of action, but nicely portraying a cold wintery atmosphere and reminding us that engines are not always enjoyed in sun and warmth; someone had to start work in such conditions.

Nevil Miller of Commended Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Aveling compound roller 11070 makes good the road after removal of the tram tracks at Tettenhall, Staffordshire in July 1927.

Judges comments: Your judges were surprised to find this vintage photograph submitted for the competition — but the Editor, as chairman, ruled such photos had not been specifically barred in the rules! This lovely scene of yesteryear was captured on a Brownie box camera — nothing unusual in that for 1927 except that the photographer took it not just for the record but because of a love of steam engines, and now, sixty years later and from over 4000 miles away, is able to submit it to a competition held to honour that same affection.

Commended Clive Hollingworth of Bourne, Lincs Fowler K7 class ploughing engine 14247 at work at Roxton rally in September 1983.

Judges comments: A fine picture from a well chosen low viewpoint that emphasises the wide open acres under steam cultivation. Again, more visible exhaust would have helped and the out of focus foreground is visually disturbing and should have been trimmed on the submitted print. (This latter point by the judges has here been dealt with — Hon. Editor)

Getting out

Viv Kirk offers an unusual method of using the wire rope

Many engine owners will at one time or another have had the experience of getting their machines stuck in some manner, requiring to be winched out of their predicament onto firmer ground. Perhaps, therefore, an idea I have successfully used in the past may be of interest — it may seem a little eccentric but I can assure that it works.

Traction engines in general have most of their weight towards the rear end, in the area of the hind wheels which nine times out of ten, of course, is just where the engine sinks down. If you think about it the rear wheel is the largest moving part, so why not take advantage of that fact. Instead of taking a pull on the tender or elsewhere why not pass the wire rope over the rear wheel, making sure it is in the middle, and fasten to the wheel with a U bolt as low down as possible.

Now, with another engine (or with your own engine if you can have set your own rope via a snatch block anchored pulley), you can roll the wheel out of the hole, engine and all.

It is surprising how far the engine will move with only half a turn of its hind wheel.

I first used this method some twenty years ago. I had had my Allchin for about a year at the time and by then it was just about possible to steam it at 401bs, some tubes having been replaced. My blacksmith neighbour, Bert Wilkins, had kindly offered to renew the plates on the angle iron tender, and we steamed the engine down to the boundary between

our properties to be near his workshop. He had done one side but the hedge was too close to the other for him to work properly. Rather than go to the trouble of steaming the Allchin again (which was still lacking several fittings) I decided to steam my Garrett and use its wire rope. The Allchin needed hauling backwards but in view of the work in progress on the tender I felt it prudent not to use the coupling pin, the obvious hitching point. The idea came to me of using the rope around one of the rear wheels, although I didn't know if it would work. Arranging the rope as described above I took up the slack and back moved the Allchin half a wheel — just right.

Feeling quite pleased with myself I then proceeded to turn the Garrett around to put her away. Then I made the mistake of getting one of her rear wheels on some made up ground and she went over at a real list. A convenient ash was in line ahead, so I ran out the rope and shackled up, but the engine would not come out — only 501bs pressure didn't help, but she was well down anyhow. Bert stood watching and then asked "Why don't you try the same as you've just done with the Allchin?" And after setting up a pulley block with a return rope through it and back over the Garrett's own wheel the engine did indeed come out quite easily.

Recently, nineteen years on, I have had occasion to use the same method again. Once more I got my Garrett stuck — the day I received back the

boiler of my Burrell showmans QUEEN MARY from Mike Lugg's yard. Helped by several local friends, all went well until I got the Garrett stuck as we were lining up to push the Burrell boiler, still with front wheels attached, into the shed. We ended up manhandling it inside by nightfall!

Next day found me lighting up the stranded Garrett, with all day if necessary to retrieve her. Fixing the rope to the stump of an old diseased elm was to no avail — it came out like a tooth at the dentists. Now I had no anchorage points at all and I remembered advice once told to me by Blossom Trinder — in such a case dig a pit, undercut, drop a wood block in about four feet deep (with a loose chain to pull it out later) and you should be alright. Having only recently retired from my job with British Telecom that was easy — it was very similar to work I had been doing for

Steaming on the Medway

sisters until the 1960s. Since then it has spent many years being rebuilt on the River Medway in Kent.

Now, having secured the necessary Department of Transport licences to publicly use this, Britain's last coal fired paddle steamer, the Society have planned a busy season of sailings on and around the Rivers Medway and Thames. KINGSWEAR CASTLE departs from the Chatham Historic Dockyard's Thunderbolt Pier on Saturdays and Sundays and on Friday evenings, during June, July and August, and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during July and August. Destinations range from nearby Strood and up river and

After many years of hard work on extensive land expensive) restoration, members of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society are about to launch themselves on to their first full season of public sailings with their steamer vintage small river KINGSWEAR CASTLE. The 94 ton paddle steamer was built by Philip & Son of Dartmouth, Devon in 1924, for service on the River Dart upstream to Totnes. It incorporated compound diagonal engines from an earlier 1904 built vessel and sailed the Dart with its

68

years until mechanical post hole borers appeared! So the following day I set up all of this, using a wire rope instead of a chain from the sunken timber, and then ran the Garrett's rope off the bottom of the drum, through the snatch block and back over the rear wheels, fixing it near ground level.

With only 501bs of steam, she came out easily. was this method of roping Now around the circumference of the wheel ever used in working days? I have never heard of old timers using the leverage available around the rear wheel. tK

Medway estuary cruises to longer trips to Southend.

A trip aboard the KINGSWEAR CASTLE would seem an excellent organised day out for some of our more southerly affiliated clubs; it is available for private party charter as

well as its normal public runs. A bar and cafeteria on board complement the two below-deck Edwardian style saloons and full catering facilities are available by prior arrangement. Further details, timetables and fares are available from Kingswear Castle Excursions, AQHM's House, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TQ. (Tel. 01-767 6554 or 0634

827648).

Hertford Drays

AK LDS SPECIALTIE

The first of these two photographs of steam wagons once owned by Hertford brewers McMullen & Sons Ltd makes interesting comparison with the picture on the cover of our Autumn 1984 issue. Although heavily touched up by a 1930s studio, the original shows the brewery buildings still clearly recognisable in outline. And now, of course, McMullens can recreate the scene with their preserved Sentinel DG4 wagon 8694, acquired in 1983 from the late Ted Ashton in Yorkshire.

Like many brewers McMullens operated, over the years, a varied fleet of steam wagons. Earliest examples came from Mann's Patent Steam Cart & Wagon Co at Leeds — 1052 of 1915 and 1407 of 1919.

Although these were probably purchased new, this is by no means sure; they both ceased work about 1930. Sentinel Standard 2185, a 4 tonner, was also owned by the brewery.

Later machines are better recorded — another Mann's came new in 1924, works number 1639 (NK7560), and this lasted until 1934 when sold to G. Taylor of Redbourne, probably ousted by a petrol vehicle. Garrett 34941 of 1927 (upper) was a 6 ton wagon registered R05448. It was scrapped in 1930. McMullen's final commercial venture with steam took in another manufacturer when in 1930 the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co delivered (lower) shaft drive WH model 2173 (UR5716) — another 6 tonner. Both this and the Garrett (and maybe earlier wagons at the brewery) were unusual for brewers drays in being fitted with box bodies and they must have made a fine sight with their attractive contemporary lettering.

Thanks are due to Alan Duke for historical information and to the directors of McMullens for the pictures.

'The Marquis of Londonderry's Seaham Harbour Engine Works have secured an order for six of their standard five ton wagons from the North Eastern Railway Company after an exhaustive trial extending over a period of more than seven months.'

(From The Commercial Motor, 22nd February 1906.)

'For sale — 5 ton tipping lorry, by Mann of Leeds, with or without steam been just attachment, roller thoroughly overhauled and new tubes, can be seen working, excellent condition, price £425. Apply, Snaith Plaster and Cement Co. Ltd, Cropwell Bishop, Notts.' (From The Commercial Motor, 5th April 1906.)

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SEWARDS of PETERSFIELD 1886 4969 Kevin Lockyer and Bob Seward

Part Two

(continued from page 159 of the Autumn 1984 issue)

Walter Seward was so pleased with his first Oilbath tractor, THE KING OF THE ROAD, that he placed another order with Wallis & Steevens for an identical engine. It was delivered in May 1913, numbered 7393, and was named THE QUEEN OF THE ROAD, or just THE QUEEN to her friends. The engine was the same as THE KING except that it had a threequarter length cab. Although the two engines looked very similar, their behaviour could not have been more different.

THE QUEEN proved a very poor steamer and did not seem to have half the power that the earlier engine had.

For some reason best known to herself, she would get to a particular

part of a local main road, and whatever her guardian tried to do, she would not make steam at all. In the workshops, the engineer George Colewell went as far as dismantling THE QUEEN and checking every critical dimension against the KING; even the firebox heating area and plate thickness were tested. Every dimension was found to be the same — the engines were identical in ovory respect cxccpt their behaviour.

Out of all the engines in the Seward fleet, the tractors must have been the hardest worked, hauling anything from furniture to fairground rides for the local showman. A regular journey they made once or twice a

Burrell 6hp three speed road loco THE DREADNOUGHT poses for a photograph on Butser Hill, after taking a party of local old folks out for a picnic. The driver, Jim Seward senior, stands by the wheel. Note the Hampshire County Council license plate on the tender. (collection Kevin Lock yet) 70

week was to London and back, a distance of 110 miles or more. THE KING, driven by Bob Seward, would leave the yard about 4am with a pantechnicon full of furniture, and journey up to London, reaching there at about 9.45am. After unloading the furniture, they would pick up a load of provisions for the shops in Petersfield and then steam home, usually arriving hank about midnight. Quite often Bob would be delayed whilst driving up Oxford Street by a large flock of sheep being herded in the same direction!

One particular contract which Sewards undertook was cal tiny stone from the rock pit in Liss to Durford Wood, about two miles away, where several houses were being built. The stone was for the foundations of the driveways leading from the main road.

To get to Durford Wood from Liss meant ascending a very steep winding road called East Hill. Bob Seward was driving THE KING pulling a trailer load of five or six tons of stone on one occasion, when about to start the long climb, he was flagged down by the driver of a Model A Ford lorry loaded with gravel, who explained that he was carting the gravel for the surface of the drives, and his lorry was not powerful enough to climb the hill fully loaded. Could Bob tow him up behind the trailer? After payment by several packets of cigarettes, Bob agreed and tied the Ford on behind and steamed off up the hill, untying at the top to carry on. This was done several times that day, and in the early evening Bob returned to the yard to find his father waiting for him. "Have you been helping a bloke up East Hill in a Ford truck?" he asked. "Yes," replied Bob "what's wrong with that?" "Well, we were after that contract hauling gravel, but the so and so undercut us.

You've been helping the opposition!"

Needless to say, the Ford had to make its own way up to Durford Wood after that!

There were some unusual jobs that Bob did with THE KING; one was carting chalk from Butser lime works, just outside Petersfield, to Haslemere,

a distance of fifteen miles or so. Here it was laid out in a field in fourteen foot letters spelling Haslemere to enable aircraft to navigate by it. On one of the trips, the pressure gauge broke, so Bob had to come home 'blind'.

Another unusual contract was with the local police. Just on the outskirts of Petersfield is a very steep hill with a road winding up its side to the top.

Sewards were often called out to pull cars from over the side of Stoner hill, as it was then very easy to inadvertently drive over the edge. The winch rope would be run out and connected to an extension piece and the wrecked car would then be dragged back to the top and taken into Petersfield.

The Seward family were very friendly with a local showman by the name of Nelson Noyce, and when he decided in 1919 to buy a steam engine to pull his loads, it was Sewards who helped him. Noyce bought two former War Department Fowler three cylinder tractors (which by then had had their third cylinder removed) from John Gale of Winchester. Both engines were in a pretty bad way, so Sewards were instructed to build one good engine from the two. Most of the bits — boiler, tender, etc — were from 11799, however the gearing and belly tanks were from the other one as 11799 had large long range pannier tanks. A dynamo bracket was added, as was a long cab, and she was then ready to start work. After a while it was found that the face of the flywheel was too narrow for belt work, so Bob Seward and Jim Noyce took it across to Wallis & Steevens at Basingstoke where a wider band was shrunk on. Bob recalled that while they were there, they were given a free dinner of roast beef and veg. Jim Noyce covered his with what he thought to be salt, but was in fact sugar, and subsequently was unable to eat it!

In the next few years, most of Seward's work came from the Government to aid the war effort, indeed THE KING was requisitioned for the duration by the War Department. It was about this time that Walter Seward saw at work a 5 ton Foden belonging to a local brewery and was very impressed by it, so he immediately placed an order with Wallis & Steevens for one of their patent 5 ton steam wagons. As Wallis's were also engaged in the production of vital war materials, the wagon had to be completed in spare time, and it took a long time to finish.

Although ordered on 8th May 1918 it was only delivered by a Wallis & Steevens crew on 2nd July 1919.

Numbered 7586 the 5 ton oilbath

Jim Seward senior with the Savage centre engine taken from Jim Noyce's gallopers. The photo was taken in the workshop in 1965 when Jim was 88 years old. The pulleys for the overhead shafting can be seen, as can one of the machines. (collection Kevin Lockyer)

wagon had a long cab roof, motion covers of the Foden fashion, and iron traction engine type wheels. She was fitted with a long body capable of taking a lift van for furniture hauling if need be, and on her smokebox she proudly bore the name THE VICTORY. As the following day was market day in Petersfield, Wallis's representatives were under instructions to exhibit their charge to the public. THE VICTORY drew a lot of interest, especially from rival firms' drivers who added their comments to the proceedings! Two rollers had been part exchanged for THE VICTORY, much to the disgust of some members of the Seward firm; these were 2377, a 10 ton single, and 2819 EMPRESS the overhead valve compound.

With the increase of petrol engined lorries on the roads, being sold off as Government surplus, steamers were being slowly pushed to one side, and one day Walter saw an ex-Army Thornycroft delivering flour to a local bakery. Being a far sighted man, he could see that steam did not have long to last. He wanted the firm to change to dealing with both internal combustion and steam engines, thus becoming more of a general engineering company. His son Jim was a staunch steam man, and it was his

opinion that steam power was there to stay. Unfortunately, Walter Seward died in 1921, and the company did not make a change with the times. This was their first mistake of 45 years of business.

The new Wallis wagon was not very popular with the drivers at Sewards. It was slow, noisy, and seemed underpowered, so consequently she was only used six or seven times, usually carting coal to one of the engines working away from home.

Bob Seward was driving her one day with Jack Stennings steering, taking a load of coal to a roller in Rowlands Castle. They were steaming along the A3 whan a Sentinel raced past them at a high rate of knots. It pulled back on its correct side of the road, and the nearside front wheel caught a drain at the roadside. The result was that the Sentinel was pitched over onto its side and its load of margarine was spread all over the road. Bob stopped and checked that the crew were OK, which thankfully they were, then he and Jack helped to recover some of the load and clear up what was beyond saving. This proved to be one of the last jobs that THE VICTORY did with Sewards, and several months later the wagon was laid up in the yard in Tilmoor Petersfield, where it stayed long enough for 71

The Chapel Street workshop from the road with Walter's three storey house on the right. Who would have guessed that behind those mundane shed doors was a veritable Aladdin's cave of steam engines and veteran machinery. Sadly it is now no more; instead a mere entrance to Peters field's car park. (collection S. Hubbuck)

the tubes to get pin holed. In 1923 a local brickworks expressed an interest in buying, so after being retubed, the Wallis was steamed away to Nightingales, all for the sum of £50. Nightingales used the wagon to deliver bricks for several years until replaced in 1931 by a six wheel Garrett undertype wagon. After standing idle for a while, the brickworks engineer, Bob Morson, modified the Wallis to drive the pug mill mixing the brick clay. Her boiler and motionwork were mounted on a concrete base, and power was taken to the mixer by a belt. Here she stayed until the brickworks was demolished in the late 1950s. The engines nameplate THE VICTORY was removed by Sewards before they sold her, and it was later put on Nelson Noyce's Fowler tractor 11799 — where it is to this day.

In the 1920s, threshing was still the backbone of Seward's business, and all three sets were still very busy.

The Fowler covered the area between Hindhead, Liss and Hawkley. Tho three shaft Marshall worked the local Petersfield farms, and the four shaft Marshall's area was East and West Meon and the surrounding farms. One afternoon in 1924 Billy Clarke was driving the four shaft Marshall between two farms, complete with threshing drum, elevator and living van. He started to descend Coombe Hill in East Meon, and to start with all went well, but then Bill noticed the engine was starting to gain speed, so as all drivers do, he pulled back on the reversing lever to slow her down. To his surprise, and indeed horror, the crankshaft stopped going around, but the engine still gained speed! Luckily for him, the steersman managed to keep control of the careering engine, and he ran her off the road onto the 72

verge at the bottom of the hill. Bill quickly telephoned the yard and Jim and Bob Seward together with George Colewell came out to see what the damage was. The crankshaft had broken cleanly in two, which was why it stopped when reversed. The accident was later to be blamed on the engine priming a week or so earlier. It had thumped terribly and must have weakened the crankshaft. Something had to be done, as the engine and loads were partially blocking the road, so Bob was sent back to the yard to steam THE KING and bring her out to tow the loads off the road. Several hours later, he returned to the scene of the accident and proceeded to tow the thresher and elevator onto a nearby patch of grass in front of several cottages. Next the engine was pulled onto the grass with the rest of the train, then the living van was coupled up to THE KING to be towed back to the yard, for it was the drivers' home.

By this time it was dark and Bob carefully drove home pulling the van guided by the light of a hurricane lamp hung on the engine's front towing hitch. The van usually rode behind the elevator, and its drawbar had to be extra long so that the van missed the overhanging end. It was so dark that Bob could not see anything behind him, and had to listen out for his passengers' voices, who were riding on the van's step, to make sure it was still there!

A new crankshaft was despatched from Marshalls and was fitted as soon as it arrived, so the engine could start work again quickly.

The four shaft continued to work for Sewards for several more years until it was decided to stop contract threshing, as it no longer paid. Much of the equipment was then sold. One of the threshing drums went to a farmer in Harting, so Bob Seward, with George Colewell steering, drove the Marshall to deliver the drum. On the way back, they took a short cut which took them down a very steep hill in Nurstead. As they went over the brow, Bob shut the regulator and started to hold her back, releasing hold of the regulator to use both hands on the reversing lever. At once the regulator flew wide open and they were off down the hill at full speed.

Luckily they managed to keep control of the engine and stopped at the

bottom of the hill to compose themselves. They were both covered in oil from the racing gearing and both knew that they had to clean up somehow, as if they returned home in their present state, Mr Seward senior would know something had happened and there would be hell to pay!

The four shaft was sold shortly after to A.J. Glue of Harting, and was used for threshing and haulage until one of his drivers smashed the dirierential yea'. ii was icii on LOS roadside in Harting for several weeks until finally cut up.

The year 1926 saw the arrival of Sewards last engine and also the beginning of the end for the company.

Fowler 9393 SIR JOHN FOWLER was bought from Anderton & Rowlands of Bristol for Jim Noyce to use alongside THE VICTORY. The newcomer was a 6hp class R1 showmans conversion and Noyces used it until 1941 (Steaming, Summer 19831. By the mid 1920s steam power was in decline and petrol was reigning supreme. The Wallis wagon was the first to go as just described, then the four shaft Marshall to Mr Glue. Then the tractors were sold; firstly THE KING to Steadham Sawmills near Midhurst in Sussex, and then THE QUEEN to H. Symmonds, a Southampton showman. Both were re-painted before their sale by Jim Noyce. Bob didn't see the going of THE KING, which he had driven for so many years, and he was quite sad to find her gone when he came home from a job one evening. This only left the old three shaft Marshall and 'the little Fowler' as the compound traction was always known. Jim Seward had a soft spot for these two, so when they retired in 1933, they were driven into the workshops under cover. The firm still undertook work for other people who owned engines in the area, especially Walls, the local showmen — who nearly always had something in the shops. When Jim Noyce bought his set of gallopers, Sewards took the steam centre engine out, and replaced it with an electric motor. They kept the Savage centre, 722 LITTLE JIM, which joined the two tractions in the engine sheds. Jim Noyce replaced SIR JOHN FOWLER with a Tilling-Steevens bus and the steamer was put aside. In 1943 it was towed home to the workshops in Chapel Street, to be later

joined by THE VICTORY, the final exhibit in James Seward's Museum of Steam Power.

For a decade the five engines stayed together. THE VICTORY was the first to leave when the late Bill Druce bought her from Jim Noyce in 1954, but the other four remained for many more years, being polished, oiled and greased with affection by

their owner. People came from all over the world to see them, and no none was allowed to leave without signing the visitors book. One American family was so impressed with the collection, that they went back to the USA to get some friends, who they brought back to see the engines.

Sadly, Jim Seward died in 1969 at the age of 91. Due to a mix up in his

will, everything had to be sold and the workshops were then demolished, together with the house that Walter had built all those years ago, to make way for an entrance to a car park. The Marshall was the first to be sold, the 'the little Fowler' followed by SIR JOHN and finally the Savage centre engine. Petersfield's only museum and 84 years of history had gone.

Strangely enough, three of the engines are together again, albeit under different ownership. SIR JOHN, the Marshall and the Fowler are all at the Brighton Engineerium. The Savage is once more powering a fairground ride in Cornwall. Each of these engines could tell a tale or two about...

Sewards of Petersfield.

Bob Seward died shortly after, together, we completed this article, and it is a great shame that he did not live long enough to see his memories in print. This article is therefore dedicated to him, for without him, of course, it would not have been possible. Thanks Bob... I would also like to thank everyone who helped with the research, including Alan Duke, H.D. Marshall and David Phillips.

'Messrs Nuttall and Company, the well known contractors of Manchester, have recently completed a contract for the paving of 20 miles of streets in Cape Town. Eight 5 ton Leyland steam wagons, with patent telescopic tipping gear, were successfully employed in this work, and nearly all the material was conveyed by them.' (From The Commercial Motor, 21st December 1905).

Annual Vintage Auction

SALE steam • tractors • commercial stationary engines • horse drawn spares • manuals • bygone farm and domestic equipment at

Thruxton Circuit near Andover Saturday 11th May 1985 illustrated catalogue f2.50 (admits 2) from —

Jim posing with his pride and joy SIR JOHN FOWLER in the workshops.

He always wanted a Fowler road locomotive right from the beginning, and finally he got one. He was always a Fowler man at heart. This photograph, together with the one of the Savage, shows how he looked after the engines, the brightwork and brasses always highly polished. (collection Kevin Lock yet)

PEAR SONS Agriculture House, High Street Stockbridge, Hampshire

73

Military Mascot The flag of the 45 Field Support Squadron of the Royal Engineers has for many years borne the emblem of a steam traction engine. It is only in more recent years however, that the Squadron's vehicles have been marked with the red silhouette of a traction engine, which is a reminder of the Squadron's origins.

The steam traction engine was introduced into 45th Company Royal Engineers (Steam Transport) in 1899 to help in the war against the Boer in South Africa. The engines towed guns and supplies to troops deep in the South African hinterland. Despite adverse reports from officers who preferred horse transport, the concept of the use of steam was a success and by the end of the South Africa war the 45 Company was operating over 100 engines and lorries. With the development of the petrol engine the role of the Squadron changed and the steam engines were scrapped. Only one of their former engines is known to exist

and that is still in South Africa, reduced to a very poor state.

The unit had long wished to have a steam engine to mark its past and this wish has now been fulfilled. During 1974 exercises in the German countryside around Hameln and Bad Pyrmont a member of the Squadron had seen a yard with several old steam ploughing engines standing in a rusted and dilapidated condition.

Investigations revealed that the engines belonged to the firm of Ottomeyer and a phone call put them in touch with the firm's owner, Herr Pape. It turned out that not only was one of the engines an English built Fowler but that Herr Pape was prepared to let the Squadron have it on indefinite loan. The engine was about to become involved in matters military for the second time in its life.

One of the maker's class K7 ploughing engines, it was built in Leeds in 1913, number 13310, one of an order placed with Fowler by German customers. It was about to be despatched from Fowlers works at Magdeburg in Germany when war was declared between Britain and Germany; the engine was promptly seized by the German state and subsequently sold to Ottomeyer, who with little loss of time put it to work with its pair, ploughing the fields of north Germany. The plough pulled up to two metres depth in the region's swampy land, turning waste ground into good farming land.

And so through two World Wars and up to 1956 Fowler 13310 worked on. Indeed Herr Pape claims it would still be working today except for the difficulty in finding men with suitable

Fowler 13310 in the care of 45 Field Support Sqn. 74

engineering skill and the dedication needed to keep such engines running.

Though complete, the engine had stood in a field for 18 years and, with rust eating into its many parts, presented a sorry sight.

The work of restoration began in the spring of 1974. Once the engine was in the unit workshops the job was assessed. There were to be no short cuts, every nut and bolt would be removed and every part stripped and cleaned. A team of volunteers gave their free time, often working late into the night. Eventually with over 600 hours of effort behind them, Warrant Officer Alan Pearson, the unit machinery technician, and his team presented the restored Fowler to the TUV inspectors for approval of roadworthiness.

The above paragraphs came to us via Captain P. Chapplow RE of the 45 Field Support Squadron, and we are grateful for his interest. The engine is displayed on many occasions during the year and still passes the necessary tests by German authorities.

Further interesting comment on the engine and some of its fellows is kindly provided by David Phillips, archivist of the Fowler records at the Institute of Agricultural History and Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading: 'Engine number 13310 was registered as a K7(G) compound ploughing engine, rated lOnhp, and despatched from Leeds as a pair with 13311, to the order of John Fowler & Co, Magdeburg, on 31st March 1914.

'The Magdeburg sub-branch and agency system extended over various parts of Europe and even Asia, but the addition of the 'G' to the class indicates that the engine had a German Law holler and was therefore originally supplied to a customer in Germany. The engine came from a batch of ten K7IG) boilers, numbers 13308 to 13317, and all were therefore ordered by Magdeburg for engines for sale in Germany. 1330813311 were used on K7(G) engines and 13312-13317 on K7SIG I engines; the 'S' merely indicates the addition of a superheater. The batch was ordered on 12th December 1911, and the completed engines sent out in pairs at various dates between 23rd September 1912 and 31st March 1914. Numbers 13310-13311 were therefore the last of the batch to be sent out. An idea of weight can be gained from the fact that 13308 was weighed at Leeds as 13 tons 8 cwts empty. There is also some reference in 1920s litigation to engines 13308-13309, which shows that they

required six copies of the drawing but no test certificate!) A special German Law boiler drawing was made at one tenth scale, and dimensioned metrically. We have a tracing of the basic UK K7 boiler drawing, numbered 56641, but not the German Law version 56641G. What made German boiler regulations so different, however, was that each boiler plate had to be stamped in a conspicious position with the quality of the

material and an identification mark, together with the various government and inspector's stamps. A separate drawing was therefore made just to show the location of these marks and stamps. We have the K boiler drawing showing this practice, number 56641LG. Firebox plates were also marked with a red cross to denote that they were exposed to hot gases.'

The Kentish Gazette & Canterbury Press for Saturday 17th May 1930 used the above heading, in their column 'This Week's Accidents', over their report of the misdemeanour of Canterbury Corporation's recently delivered steam roller.

'A new steam roller, owned by the Canterbury Corporation, and driven by Mr John Arman, of St Jacobs Place, Canterbury, was proceeding along Longport Street towards St Pauls on Monday afternoon, when it drew to the side to allow a motor coach to pass. In doing so, it struck the last tree in the avenue. As a result the forks supporting the front snapped and the superstructure sagged on to the roller.

The machine had to be left against the tree on which was a board bearing the legend NO PARKING.' We are grateful to Tim Keenan for sending the picture and searching out the press report on the incident. He remarks that Longport Street has changed little over the years despite the fact that Canterbury was badly blitzed in World War 2. Although the trees on the left hand side of the road

remain, those on the right, and the one to which the Aveling became so attached, have gone. The notice board fixed to the tree carried the ironic dictum 'This side of the road must not be used for parking vehicles, By Order, R.H. Wanklyn, Town Clerk.' Incidentally, Mr Wanklyn died in the blitz.

Driver Arman must have been considerably embarrassed by his accident for the roller was but a few weeks old, having been delivered in April 1930 — perhaps he was still not used to it. The machine was AD type 10 ton single, number 14039, registered JG 999.

Quite what the curious bystanders (and the interested dog) thought of the episode is of course unrecorded, but it would seem safe to assume that no one would have envisaged the roller subsquently living a life of leisure and steaming its way to foreign soil just for the pleasure of it. For, truth to tell, the roller, once repaired, served Canterbury until the late 1950s — probably their last steamer — and is now in preservation by D. Price of Sellindge; as well as gracing many Kent rallies, it has also twice visited events in Holland under its own steam. yrj

'Pickford's, London has placed a further order for four 5 ton steam wagons with Messrs E.S. Hindley and Sons of Bourton, Dorset, and 111 Queen Victoria St, EC. One of these new vehicles will be exhibited by consent of the purchasers, who are well satisfied with the performance of the six Hindley wagons now in use, at the Smithfield Show.' (From The Commercial Motor, 16th November 1905).

'The purchase of a new 8 ton steam roller, to cost £769/10 (subject to a reasonable price being obtained for the old roller) was advised by the Highway Committee, and duly confirmed.' (From Kettering Leader, 10th October 1924, reporting proceedings at Rushden Urban Council (Northants). The new engine was D type Aveling compound 11051 of 1924 (RP135) and it served until 1948.)

were originally supplied to the German military authorities for 39,960 marks.

Perhaps similar arrangements also applied to 13310-13311. ' A brief note might be in order on German Law boiler regulations. Different countries had different boiler regulations, and Germany in the early 1910s required four copies of the boiler drawing and two copies of the firm's test certificate to be supplied with each boiler. (Hungary in contrast

Steam Roller's Defiance

75

RAMBLING ON ABOUT ROLLERS A.R. Porter During the past fifteen years of preserving a steam roller I have talked to several old roller drivers, and during the conversations often asked the ageold question 'which is the best steam roller of the lot?'

One old gentleman, who had driven Fowlers, Avelings and a Burrell, AR well as the occasional other make of roller, answered that for steaming on the road he'd have a Burrell doublecrank compound machine any time, but for rolling work Avelings seemed to do better. Another contractor was totally pro-Aveling, saying that the cheapest machine which would do the job was the best, and that's why he had Avelings and only Avelings — though he didn't like their piston-valve rollers one little bit, preferring to acquire old second-hand slide valve types instead.

There were also a few other drivers dotted about the country who were even more 'one-make men' — to the extent that all rollers other than those by their pet manufacturer should be cut up on sight! Whether they had shares in the particular company is open to question, but their loyalty was unswerving.

Using, as a guide, the number of rollers in preservation, I suppose one has got to say that Aveling & Porter were the best, as there are some 440 still in existence, as opposed to 180 Fowlers or 90 Marshalls and Wallis & Steevens. This does not necessarily condemn the products of Burrell or Clayton & Shuttleworth, Rustons or Garretts as failures, just because fewer of their rollers survive. You made your choice and paid your money.

When it comes to crushing broken bricks and stone for foundation work, I suppose any old 10 tonner will do a reasonable job, if not a good one, no matter what the make. The end result will, of course, depend on how the material is prepared and laid, and on the skill of the driver in how he tackles the job. Too much heavy regulator and trying to flatten the lot in one pass will result in abysmal failure, or a wrecked roller, or both. On the other hand, a slow and purposeful plod, halfwheeling with the rear wheel doing the 76

brunt of the work, will result in a fair degree of success.

Another point of debate amongst rollermen is performance. Which roller goes the furthest, uses least water and coal, and is the easiest to drive?

There's no doubt that the double crank compound Burrells, either 8ton or 10ton, are a joy on the road. They are easy to handle, ready steamers, quite quirk and very clean by having the three-shaft layout. The later Fowler compounds, too, can move on a bit, but that motion, like all other four shaft machines, does throw the oil and muck at the crew, and you cannot escape — unless you cheat and fit a splash guard.

As for Avelings, and particularly old slide valve singles, they'll go on and on and on, so long as there is water in the boiler and fire in their belly. Not too fast, some may say, but quite dependable. As one loyal Aveling owner once said, "it will break you before you can break it!" And he meant it! I do know of one convertible Aveling, still in roller form, that goes like the proverbial bat out of hell and is quite hair-raising on the road.

Mind you, it's not always the roller that Is Inefficient or ponderous. Some owners or drivers qualify as well! How many times have you heard, or read,

of so-and-so piling the fire on with the result that the poor safety valves arc ejecting more steam to atmosphere than the roller is using to propel itself!

Conversely there is the one who forgets that there is a fire, with the inevitable end result that the poor roller staggers to a halt with the engineman's nightmare — no pressure on the clock, no water in the glass and precious little fire but a few glowing embers.

So, given a roller in good condition, a driver who knows what he's doing, and what the roller will do, and a reliable steerer there is no reason why the average 10ton steam roller should not cover eight miles to a tank full of water, use a hundredweight of coal and do it in two hours. Any less and you've thrashed the poor beast; much longer and you've still a bit to learn. Or you have stayed in the pub too long!

And that's another topic. Drink and driving steam engines. Some may say it's foolish to do the two. The fact is that if you don't drink something, either of the soft variety or beer, during a long run on a hot day, or at a rally, you'll suffer from dehydration.

So those who say no drink and drive are wrong. On the other hand, should you get plastered in the pub or the beer tent, and then proceed to clatter off in a dangerous manner, then you've only got yourself to blame for any consequences. Also, you are a blasted nuisance. There is a happy medium.

Mind you, should you have a driver in your crew who is teetotal then you are fortunate, because after a session on the ale he can take the responsibility.

How then, there's a few thoughts for you to ponder over.

Ij

Parked up for the weekend on road works at Lymm, Cheshire in September 1955 is Aveling & Porter 10 ton single roller 4458, owned by Lymm UDC. (Geoff Hayes)

15 pence

Rallies Approved by the National Traction Engine Club Approved Rallies The organisers of all these events have undertaken to conduct them in accordance with the recommendations contained in the National Traction Engine Club's Code of Practice. This code is designed to promote the interests of rally organisers and the public by encouraging high standards of entertainment and organisation, and particularly, furthering all aspects of safety affecting visitors or exhibitors alike.

The List

Additional copies of this list can be obtained from Tony Fookes, Spent Penny Farm, Craigs Lane, Mount Bures, Colchester, Essex CO8 5AP on his receipt of your SAE plus 15p in stamps per copy.

Further general details of the Club, and membership application forms are available from the General Secretary, George Beck, 127 Greensted Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3DJ. (SAE please)

©This list is the property of the National Traction Engine Club and shall not be reproduced whole or in part, without prior permission.

The title of each event is followed by a brief description of the location or venue and the organiser's address. The number of engines expected to attend is offered for guidance, but must not be taken as a guarantee — rallying vintage steam engines can be fraught with problems. Most events feature other vintage vehicles as well as steam engines. The information is given in good faith and is correct at the time of publication and the NTEC cannot be held responsible for subsequent variations. If you are in doubt, it is suggested you confirm arrangements with the organiser concerned.

The Approved Rally symbol

1st March 1985 Published by the National Traction Engine Club

April

June

6 to 8 — Road /Rail Steam '85, Quorn Station, Leicestershire (about 12 engines expected). M. W. Bolderston, 146 Sharpley Road, Loughborough, Leics.

2 and 3 — Upton Steam Rally, St Patrick's, Upton, lnnishannon, Cork, Eire (about 20 engines expected). Upton

6 to 8 — Abbey Hill Steam Rally, Yeovil Showground,

Dorchester Road, Yeovil, Somerset (about 35 engines

Steam Organisers Ltd, Innishannon, Cork, Eire.

8 and 9 — Poynton Steam '85, Poynton, near Stockport, Cheshire (about 12 engines expected). P. Gallimore, 17

expected). B. Taylor, 14 Eastlands, Yetminster, Dorset DT9 6NQ.

Chelford Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

6 to 8 — Transport Festival and Market, Queen Mother's Reservoir, Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire (about 10 engines expected). H. J. Callen, 49 Langley Road, Slough,

Street, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

Berkshire.

7 and 8 — Quainton Road/Rail Rally, Quainton Railway Steam Centre, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (about 10 engines expected). Mrs A. Hanscombe, 65 Bois Lane,

8 and 9 — Great Amwell Traction Engine Rally, near Ware (about 30 engines expected). P. W. Haynes, 19 High 8 and 9 — Holton Working Steam Rally, Windmill Field, Holton, Oxfordshire (about 30 engines expected).

G.N. Hastie, 21 Beech Road, Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX4

HIP

Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP6 6BZ.

8 and 9 — South Tyne Traction Engine Society Rally and Show, Tynedale Park, Corbridge, Tyne and Wear (about lb engines expected). Mrs B. Henderson, 29

May

Lambton Close, Ryton, Tyne and Wear NE40 4UX.

15 and 16 — Thurlow Steam Rally, Weston Woods Farm, Wratting Airfield, Haverhill, Essex (about 40 engines expected). Mrs W. Tuxworth, Wimbish Hall Cottage,

4 to 6 — HCVS Rally, Battersea Park, London SW (about 10 engines expected). John Crawley, Field House, Turvey, Redford MK43 8DU (steam entrants only).

Wimbish, Saffron Walden, Essex.

4 to 6 — May Day Steam, Abbotsfield Park, Chassen Road, Flixton, Manchester (about 35 engines expected).

15 and 16 — NVTEC Rally, Victoria Farm, High Cross, Claybrooke, Leicestershire (about 10 engines expected).

G. Coles, 18 Braemar Avenue, Stretford, Manchester M32 9NA.

R.B. Bliss, 'Craig Goch', Whitemoors Road, Stoke Golding, Leicestershire.

5 and 6 — Bass Museum Steam Fair, Horninglow Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire (about 9 engines expected).

15 and 16 — Morecambe Bay Traction Engine Rally and Show, Ashton-with-Stoddy, Lancaster (about 20 engines expected). Mrs F, M. Carr, 27 Norfolk Avenue,

J. A. Crowson, Bass Museum, Horninglow Street, Burtonon-Trent, Staffordshire.

11 and 12 — Stoke Goldington and Gayhurst Steam Rally, near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire (about 25 engines expected), N. Cheetharn, 25 Malting Close, Stoke Goldington, Buckinghamshire.

18 and 19 — isle of Anglesey Vintage Rally, Plas Goch, near Llanfair P.G., Anglesey (about 20 engines expected).

E.J. Hacker, Tan Dderwen, Siloh, Port Dinorwic, Gwynedd.

18 and 19 — Tamworth Anker Steam Rally, Priory Farm, Stonydelph, Tamworth, Staffordshire (about 20 engines expected). L. Jackson, Glascote Cottage, Dumolos Lane, Glascote, Tam worth, Staffordshire.

26 — Heavy Horse and Steam Engine rally, Wildlife Park, Chard, Somerset (about 6 engines expected). J. Jones, Cricket St Thomas Office, 21 Rolle Street, Exmouth, Devon EX8 1HA.

26 and 27 — Carrington Park Rally, near Boston, Lincolnshire (about 30 engines expected). Mrs M. Moore, 'Corbiere', Upland Close, Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

26 and 27 — Cardiff Steam Festival, Cardiff Castle, Cardiff (about 30 engines expected). J. Bush, 53 Fidlas Avenue, Llanishen, Cardiff.

Morecambe, Lancashire.

22 and 23 — Bon-Accord Steam Engine Rally, Hazelhead Park, Aberdeen (about 36 engines expected). W. McConachie, 18 Airyhall Avenue, Aberdeen.

22 and 23 — Leaning Tower Traction Engine Rally, Queens Park, Crewe, Cheshire (about 15 engines expected). D.A. Vernon, 2 Woodlands Road, Stafford.

29 and 30 — Hoperofts Holt Rally, Middle Barton (A423), Oxfordshire (about 20 engines expected). B.A. Wells, 129 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

29 and 30 — Stamford Steam Rally, Burghley Park, Stamford, Lincolnshire (about 20 engines expected). L.N. Beard, 1 Lyndon Way, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2RX.

29 and 30 — Bath Steam Festival, Recreation Ground, Bath, Avon (about 20 engines expected) T.J. Maple, Sports and Leisure Centre, North Parade Road, Bath, Avon.

29 and 30 — Lyme Park Steam Rally and Fayre, near Stockport, Cheshire (about 20 engines expected). T. Marchington, Barrenclough Farm, Buxworth, via Stockport SK12 7NS.

July 6 and 7 — Elvaston Castle Steam Rally, near Bath (about 35 engines expected) Mrs E. Renshaw, 21 Windsor Drive, Spondon, Derby.

6 and 7 — The Chiltern Rally, Magpie Lane, Coleshill, near Amersham, Buckinghamshire (about 35 engines expected). P.B. Honour, 'Cambrai', Lodge Lane, Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire.

6 and 7 — Ardingly Historic Vehicle Spectacular, South of England Showground, Ardingly, Sussex (about 40 engines expected). D.S. Warwick, 36 Annetts Hall, Borough Green, Kent TN15 8DZ.

6 and 7 — Bromyard Gala, Mintridge Farm, Hereford Road (A465), Bromyard, Herefordshire (about 25 engines expected). J. Wilkins, Chactonbury, Pencombe Road, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4SS.

6 and 7 — Heddington and Stockley Steam Rally, near Caine, Wiltshire (about 15 engines expected). G. Hyde, 34 Goatacre, Caine, Wiltshire.

11 to 13 — Kent County Agricultural Show, Detling Showground, Maidstone, Kent (about 25 engines expected).

Mrs M. Herridge, Bray Cottage, Telham, Battle, East Sussex TN33 OTP.

13 and 14 — Woodcote Veteran Transport Rally, Woodcote, Reading, Berkshire (about 20 engines expected).

26 to 28 — Netley Marsh Steam Engine Rally, Ringwood Road, A336, Netley Marsh, Southampton (about 30 engines expected). D. Burdle, Fernbank Cottage, Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, Southampton SO4 2GX.

27 and 28 — Rushmoor Steam and Vintage Rally, Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, Hampshire (about 50 engines expected). A.C. Weller, Fourwlnds, Clandon Road, Burnt Common, Send, Surrey GU23 7L0.

27 and 28 — Kegworth Carnival and 32nd Rally, Hailstone Meadow, Kegworth, Derbyshire (about 30 engines expected). P.G. Haywood, 49 Nottingham Road, Kegworth, Derby DE7 2FH.

27 and 28 — Ross-on-Wye Steam Engine Rally, Rye Meadows, Much Marcie, near Ledbury, Herefordshire (about 30 engines expected). D.A. Prout, Old Forge Garage, Dymock, Gloucestershire.

27 and 28 — Cumbria Steam Gathering, County Showground, Kendal, Cumbria (about 40 engines expected) T P Holt, South View, Hutton Roof, via Carnforth, Lancashire.

August 3 and 4 — Alderholt Steam Rally, Plumley Farm, Somerley, Ringwood, Hampshire (about 30 engines expected). R.C. Hood, 'Fernlea', Camel Green, Alderholt, Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

R. Dorling, 41 Cleeve Down, Goring, Berkshire RG8 OHA.

3 and 4 — CPTC 25th Rally, Prince Parc, St. Colomb, Cornwall (about 15 engines expected). W. Jeffery, 4 Beacon View, Penhallow, Truro, Cornwall.

13 and 14 — Rempstone Steam and Country Show, Wymeswold, Loughborough, Leicestershire (about 30 engines expected). M. J. Beeby, Rempstone, Lough-

3 and 4 — Torbay Steam Rally, Brixham ring road, Windy Corner, Paignton (about 10 engines expected). M.R. Stabb,

borough, Leicestershire LE12 6RS.

13 and 14 — Bristol Docks Festival, Bristol (about 25 engines expected). R.J. Garnett, 11 Oldville Avenue, Clevedon, Avon.

12 Sun Valley Close, Brixham, Devon TQ5 111G.

4 and 5 — Irish Steam Preservation Society Rally, Stradbally Hall, Laois, Eire (about 28 engines expected).

Mrs 0. Condell, Main Street, Stradbally, Laois, Eire.

20 and 21 — Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London SE24 (about 20 engines expected).

London Borough of Lambeth, 164 Clapham Park Road, London SW4.

20 and 21 — Weeting ,Steam Engine Rally, Fengate Farm, Weeting, Brandon, Suffolk (about 50 engines expected). R.N. Parrott, Fengate Farm, Weeting, Brandon, Suffolk.

20 and 21 — Somerset Traction Engine Club Rally, Langport, Somerset (about 20 engines expected).

E.F. Alford, Elmlea, Broad Hinton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 9PB.

20 and 21 — Hallam's Steam Traction Engine Rally, Tutbury Castle, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire (about 10 engines expected). D. Hallam, The Firs, Draycott-in-theClay, Sudbury, Derby DE6 5GX.

Fowler steam tractor 1926

24 to 26 — Quexpo '85 Quex Park, Birchington, East Kent (about 12 engines expected). T.J.M. Keenan, 8 Matrix Road, Margate, Kent CT9 SJ L. 24 to 26 — Harewood House Rally, Leeds (about 30 engines expected). N. Boyes, 1 Brownroyd Walk, Wibsey,

Bradford BD6 1SB. 24 to 26 — Town and Country Festival, Royal Showground, Kenilworth, Warwickshire (about 30 engines expected). J. Parrott, RASE, National Agricultural Centre,

Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ. 24 to 26 — Westridge Steam Rally and Fair, Leisure Centre, Brading Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight (about 20 engines expected). R.J. Ball, Leisure Centre, Brading Clayton & Shuttleworth road engine c1900

Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight.

25 and 26 — Bishops Castle Traction Engine Rally, Bishops Castle, Shropshire (about 45 engines expected).

10 and 11 — Astle Park Traction Engine Rally, Astle Park, Chelford (A535), Cheshire (about 35 engines Cottage, Chelford, The expected).

J.A. Barber,

D.W. Goddard, 29 Nibs Heath, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HL.

Macclesfield, Cheshire.

25 and 26 — Steam and Vintage Rally, Chapelton Barton, Barnstaple, North Devon (about 10 engines expected). M.R. Stabb, 12 Sun Valley Close, Brixham,

10 and 11 — Bilborough Portland Traction Engine Rally, Bilborough College Recreation Ground, Nottingham (about 20 engines expected). D. Hoyles, 81 Westwick Road,

Bilborough, Nottingham.

10 and 11 — Colchester Steam Engine Rally, Marks Tey Racecourse, Colchester, Essex (about 30 engines expected).

T. Tabberer, 1 Dane Court, Chignall Rd , Chelmsford, Essex.

10 and 11 — Knowl Hill Steam Rally, Bottle Meadow, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berkshire (about 50 engines expected).

D.K. Annis, 102 Redhatch Drive, Earley, Reading RG6 2QR. 16 to 18 — Vestingdagen Steam and Transport Festival, Zuidfront, Hellevoetsluis, Holland (about 50 engines expected). G. Kwekel, 7 Hermes, 3225TE

Hellevoetsluis, Holland.

17 and '18 — Fairford Rally and Show, The Park (A417), Fairford, near Cirencester (about 40 engines expected). Mrs

J.R. Yells, Ivy Villa, Cirencester Road, Fairford, Gloucestershire.

17 and 18 — Market Bosworth Traction Engine Rally, Naneby Lane, Cadeby, Nuneaton, Warwickshire (about 25 engines expected). Rev E.R. Boston, Cadeby Rectory,

Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

17 and 18 — West of England Steam Engine Society's 30th Rally, Silverwell Farm, St Agnes, Cornwall (about 40 engines expected). Miss K. Sanders, Trehane, Speech Lane,

Ponsanooth, Truro TR3 7EH. 24 and 25 — Egham and Thorpe Royal Agricultural Show, Runnymede, Egham, Surrey (about 15 engines expected). I.H. Fear, 1 Rowan Avenue, Egham, Surrey

Devon TQ5 8JG. 29 to 1 — 17th Great Working of Steam Engines, Stourpaine Bushes, Blandford, Dorset (about 50 engines expected). M.F. Oliver, Dairy Mead, Child Okeford,

Blandford, Dorset DT11 8HD. 31 and 1 — Brill Steam Rally, Temple Farm, Brill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (about 25 engines expected).

T.J. Petty, Valley View, Southbank Road, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

September 1 — Birmingham Show and Traction Engine Rally, Perry Park, Perry Barr, Birmingham (about 20 engines expected). P. Robinson, Museum of Science and Industry,

Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 1RZ. 7 and 8 — Malpas Yesteryear Rally, Gredington Park, Hanmer, near Whitchurch, Shropshire (about 30 engines expected). P.M. Millington, Holly Bank, Trybroughton,

Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 3BG. 7 and 8 — Liskeard Steam and Vintage Club Rally, Merrymeet, Liskeard, Cornwall (about 25 engines expected). L.C. Baker, 15 Pengover Green, Pengover,

Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 3NH. 7 and 8 — Hinckley Steam Engine Display, Hinckley, Leicestershire (about 25 engines expected). I. Collidge, 8

Winchester Drive, Burbage, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

7 and 8 — Haddenham Steam Rally, Haddenham, Cambridgeshire (about 35 engines expected). Mrs D.M. Young,

TW20 8AN.

13 Cooks Drive, Earith, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

24 to 26 — Expo Steam, East of England Showground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (about 40 engines expected).

14 and 15 — Roxton Park Traction Engine Rally, Roxton, near Bedford (about 60 engines expected). P.

P. Worby, 35 Old Hale Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Worby, 35 Old Hale Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Rallying COVY1e5 to Belgium(' Derek Rayner

A bakery is perhaps an unusual place to find an operating steam engine — though perhaps one Yorkshire enthusiast may disagree with me, for his roller carries a crest with the motto 'Arriso Cakus Abundo'.

However, a Marshall portable that is in use six days a week driving bakery machinery by line shafting is a sight worth seeing, ubpucially when next to an operating windmill. The owner of the whole premises, baker De Medts, had the windmill built in 1981 to a traditional design, and the site, venue for Belgium's first traction engine rally in August 1984, made the visit to Bakkersmolen at the village of Wildert worthwhile and enjoyable.

Wildert is situated near Belgium's Dutch border, and being the week before the Hellevoetsluis event (which is only some thirty miles away as the crow flies), there was a good support

by English owners and these engines, together with entries by Dutch and German owners, gave the event a truly international flavour.

To describe the home exhibits first the resident Marshall portable drives kneading, folding and mixing machines (except Mondays) and had been obtained from northern France — its plate reads 'Marshall Sons & Co Ltd, No7772, Gainsborough, Angleterre' — and is said to have been built in 1903. I can recommend the mingling smells of steam, hot oil and smoke, and newly baked bread; also to sit nssrhy outside the huge beer tent listening to an Oompah band and watching the scurrying porters bearing on their heads trays of freshly baked loaves and goodies for the host of eager buyers.

The other resident engine is a Belgian built semi-portable by Sabbe & Steenbrugge of Roulers, presently being re-assembled to be the centrepiece land steam provider) of a display of horizontal stationary engines, and to drive millstones when there is no wind for the mill sails.

Other local portable engines were French built Merlin 62 of 1923 from the De Blauwe Wimpel museum at Maldegem (which drove butter churns producing steam-made cheese and butter for sale — how about that for British rallies?); Floether 8010 of

I

1917, built in Breslau in Germany driving a small threshing machine, and French-made Brouhot & Cie 586 of 1926 powering a circular saw. All these machines had the common continental feature of 'haystack' type fireboxes with the engine mounted on a frame above the boiler barrel.

The two steam rollers present came from Holland — Wallis & Steevens Advance 7909 owned by Ropp Kuhlmann, and Ruthemeyer 70 of 1907, a Burrell-like single crank compound named ZOEF-ZOEF and presented by Ned Basalt Mij, a Netherlands road making concern. Other visitors were Nanne Bekkema's Garrett showmans tractor 33505 (powering a De Cap dance organ) and pair of Fowler ploughing engines 15202/15203, JANNIE in dark blue livery and ROELOF in red — the trio were all purchased from Britain some years ago.

The British engine contingent was four strong; the Howard brothers Fowler showmans RENOWN, Mrs Swingler's Foster showmans type 14564, Giles Romanes' Wallis & Steevens steam motor GOLIATH! and John Antell's Fowler agricultural 11491 of 1909, the latter driving a sawbench. Also present, appropriately, was J. Calder's home-built steam bread van (of great interest to the locals) and the much travelled two foot gauge 1922 Kerr Stuart railway loco PETER PAN.

The whole scene was very reminiscent of an English rally of a couple of decades ago,when maybe we were rather less safety conscious and had fewer restrictions. There was, at Wildert, a little fencing, no arena, no barn engines or tractors and no fairground — and, should I say it, perhaps the better for it? However, the ploughing engines giving a demonstration with their balance plough had no protection for their cable (people were dangerously close) and the unfenced narrow gauge railway worked by Orenstein & Koppel loco 4854 of 1911 and three coaches, relied on constant whistling for pedestrian safety. It i3 understood o similar event is planned for 1985, and if so these points should be improved upon.

That said, Wildert was a memorable first time event and could be expanded to become a big crowd puller. Strange to British eyes were the parking arrangements — instead of several fields set aside for cars, one saw a field full of bicycles. The crowds came on them in the morning, disappeared presumably for lunch and returned in the afternoon for more. If you can't wait until next year to sample the fantastic aromas at Bakkersmolen, the mill and bakery are open most days, and Wildert is served by hourly trains from Antwerp to Roosendaal (Holland), being close to •the Belgian town of Essen.

77

A Mysterious Business RUDKIN & SMITH, Motor Haulage Contractors, OXFORD VILLA, CHESTNUT ST., LOUGHBOROUGH. LOADS UP TO 8 TONS ANY DISTANCE. This trio of illustrations makes for interesting comment, mainly because of the paucity of information on the operators of the wagons, Rudkin & Smith of Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Alan Duke records that they owned just two steam wagons — both Burrell 5 ton compounds. Works number 3499 was delivered on 19th August 1913 (registered AH 0152) and 3731 on the 14th November 1916 (AH 0317); each was a nontipper and had 3 speeds with the usual Burrell twin chain drive.

The only locally found reference to the firm is in the Loughborough Echo for 1st August 1913, when their advert first appeared (it also ran the following five weeks). Rudkin & Smith were trading from Chestnut Street, and would seem to be newcomers to haulage, because trade directories of the period have no entries under their names, not even as carters or draymen. We can perhaps assume that two enterprising young men, seeing the possibilities of the new fangled steam motor wagon, took advantage of Burrell's hire purchase terms and set out to build themselves an up to date business.

The picture of the wagon in the advert must have been provided by Burrells; its identity is unknown but it is not 3499, which was probably still being completed at Thetford at the time of the initial advert. Any potential customers of Rudkin & Smith's enterprise would have to wait awhile!

Burrells' Descriptive Catalogue of steam wagons for 1916 shows a side 78

'...- - ' .

416 k. .

.........-.... ;;'. 4...,,i ii.. • nowt.; & SMITH.

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view of 3499 — the works number can just be made out on the original.

The wagon is mounted on traction engine type iron wheels all round.

Loughborough is fairly near several granite quarries, and it is quite likely the machine joined other locally owned steam wagons on contract work, leading roads tone for local authorities from the quarries to town depots and rural roadside dumps.

By 1916 Rudkin & Smith must have prospered well enough to acquire the second wagon — perhaps they had secured some war work.

The photograph (collection Mick George) of rubber tyred, wood wheeled 3731 shows their address was now at Barrow-on-Soar, some 3 miles from Loughborough. The photograph was taken at an unknown date outside 'The Elms' public house, identified from the plaque in the wall by the engine's chimney as at or near Walsall, Staffordshire. Trade directories are still devoid of any mention of the partners' names.

How long the two Burrells steamed around the Loughborough area is equally mysterious. No disposal is known for 3499, but 3731 was owned by H. Whatling of Thetford, Norfolk by 1925. This might be coincidence, but could it be

CHARLES BURRELL & SONS, LIMITED. April 10th, 1915

PRICE LIST

_ The "Burrell" Steam Wagon OF

Code Word

Misturavcl

5-Ton Standard Steam Wagon with Wood Wheels -

£600

-

£600

Misuriamno Mitichero -

„ Iron Wheels If fitted with Third-speed

-

-

- £25 extra

12" wide Iron Driving Wheels

Misvengono

„

Misvcn

„ Brewer's Body

£10 net extra

-

-

-

5.15 net extra

Tipping arrangement

-

-

£25 net extra

Miterone -

,,

Mitescant -

„ Rubber Tyres extra according to Market price

ST. NICHOLAS WORKS, THETFORD, NORFOLK.

Burrells repossessed the wagon, later selling it locally? Despite the lack of local evidence of Mr Rudkin and Mr Smith's endeavours, their business was probably quite typical of a lot of 'motor carriers' in the second decade of this century. Many younger men were keen to grasp the chance of hire purchasing the latest thing in transport and of being one jump ahead of the 'old fashioned' carters, but World War 1 was just around the

corner. The demand of the Army was no respecter of personal enterprise, and men and machines were often requisitioned for more urgent tasks, leaving little trace for history.

As a postscript to the above we are able to reproduce, courtesy of Andrew Craske, this price list, dated 10th April 1915, for Burrell steam wagons.

The bits keep turning up.....

Some time ago, David Walker, well known as one time owner of Burrell showmans PRINCESS MARINA, purchased the remains of a very early Marshall portable of 3 or 4 horse power. The vendor, from the southern counties, had bought the engine to fill a container in transit from Switzerland to England. The Marshall had been new in the 1870s, but by the time of arrival here was much depleted, missing its wheels, crankshaft, flywheel and various boiler fittings. It was, in fact, not much more than a shell.

Around twelve months ago, whilst visiting a Wrexham scrapyard, I noticed the top half of a whistle protruding from a box. Further investigation revealed a couple of brass eccentrics, a pair of cylinder drain cocks, some square clacks, crank brasses and other odds and ends. The items had apparently changed hands at a Shropshire farm sale the previous day and the successful bidder had already weighed them in at the yard.

I decided to sort through the bits and finished up buying what I could afford as well as those items I considered to be irreplaceable. I subsequently advertised them and Dave Walker later repliod, inspected and bought. He later found they were exactly the right parts for the little Marshall portable.

Following this meeting with Dave, I realised I knew where a pair of genuine Marshall portable wheels were located and I was able to go and obtain these for him. They were the rear wheels and complete with cranked axle; they had stood in the same place on a farm since 1936 when the rest of the engine was cut up.

The following week, I managed to get a pair of suitable front wheels, although from a threshing box. The box, incidentally, had been run by a Robey tractor in its working life at Llanferres, near Mold. The Robey was sold for scrap by the farmer in 1952/ 53 for £10.

It really is quite remarkable how

parts survive to be used again on their various original duties. I suppose its a question of being in the right place at the right time, of being able to recognise things for what they are, and perhaps of carefully recording items like the Marshall axle and wheels in one's mind until a suitable use for them comes up. (Mike Jones) Itjj

BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT 3384

LIMITED FOODS SANDBACH :ENGLAND

79

On Sentinels The Pocahontas S4

Joe Thomas Sentinels built their works number 9142 as a S6 model six wheel tipper.

It was new in December 1934 and was taken by works test and demonstrator driver George Smith to New York, to work in conjunction with a sales drive in the United States of America. Although we know little of what 9142 got up to at that time, she still exists, as we shall see.

Other S model Sentinels also went across the Atlantic. Many of us will know that in 1962 Dick Woolley sent S4 number 9346 to the US Naval Yard in Philadelphia for some experiments with steam to be undertaken. An earlier example must also have been over there, possibly at the same time as the S6. I say this because George Smith gave me two photographs (along with much other Sentinel information) of an S4 marked as a demonstration truck, which had rolled over upside down in North Carolina. It had a flat body with dropsides and tailboard. No S4 wagon shows up in my works list as being in America.

In 1956 Henry Austin Clark, jnr, then of the Long Island Automotive Museum, New York, sent me a photograph of 9142, which I believe had stood derelict until then after being caught up in some disastrous floods. I have recently again written to Mr Clark, asking if I could use his picture in our magazine, to which he kindly agreed. He also added further information: together with William Willock, jnr he had purchased the S6 in early spring 1950 from Robert G. McCord of Newark, California. The only work done at that time was to mount tyres on the wheels after cleaning and painting the rims. They only fitted six wheels, leaving off the outer ones on the two rear axles.

The photo was taken as the truck was to be loaded onto a flat bed trailer for haulage to Southampton and there placing in the Long Island Museum's new truck building. By August 1972, having given up hope of getting the S6 running again, Messrs Clark and Willock gave it to Steamtown, a mainly open air museum at Bellows Falls, Vermont that was mostly concerned with the preservation of a large collection of railway locomotives. Steamtown has now closed 80

Sentinel 9142 in America in 1956. Across the front apron is painted the legend 'This steam truck uses original Pocahontas coal' (Henry A. Clark, jnr)

and most of the exhibits are in the process of transfer to another location; the Sentinel's present whereabouts is unknown.

Mr Clark tells me he was very fond of the S6 and regrets not doing more with it as a major failing in his hobby activity. He says he became interested

in Sentinels whilst stationed in Newcastle-on-Tyne during 1941-42, on loan from the US Navy to the Royal Navy, and recalls the wagons puffing around the town with huge loads of coal. The Long Island Museum closed permanently to the public in September 1980.

Sentinel Snippets

and cannibalised to keep the others going.

A more exotic Sentinel product was the steam railcar. Many such vehicles were tried in pre-war years on railways at home and abroad by various manufacturers, but the breed never acheived lasting success of any note. In more recent times the sole workable survivors were believed to be narrow gauge examples in Sri Lanka. Now, our member John Cooper of Cheshire has been instrumental (we learn from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Journal I in locating and purchasing a standard gauge articulated three-car set from the Egyptian State Railways. It is one of a batch of ten units supplied to them in 1950, Sentinel numbers 9511 to 9520, and although stored out of use in a desert location for a long time it is in relatively good condition mechanically, though the bodywork and interior trim have suffered from vandalism and rough shunting. The Sentinel Trust has been formed to restore the railcar and it was shipped back to England in December destined for the Quainton Railway Centre in Buckinghamshire. This interesting subject features an oil fired water tube boiler and underfloor six cylinder horizontal engines.

Like many steam engine manufacturers, Sentinel's range of products had more than one string to its bow, and these items of news on some of the later Shrewsbury railway output will be of interest.

From Alex Barr of the Scottish TES we learn of the end of regular use for the 100hp Sentinel shunting locomotives at the Whifflet Foundry of R.B. Tennent Ltd, Coatbridge near Glasgow. Indeed their demise marks the virtual end of steam railway locos in everyday commercial use not only in Scotland but the whole of the British Isles. The four chain-driven standard gauge locomotives, built at Shrewsbury like the former steam wagons, were works numbers 9561 of 1953, 9627 and 9628 of 1957 and 9631 of 1958 — they were acquired new or secondhand, and replaced from spring 1984 by a Sentinel-manufactured diesel made redundant from British Steel. However, the two .1957 locos are to go to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society's collection at Bo'ness and 9631 to an industrial museum planned at Coatbridge; 9561 has been out of use for some years

igffinEonoll soomma Compiled by Derek Rayner

In working days, it was perhaps rare for an engine to be used for other than its regular duties — whether threshing, driving a sawbench, rolling the road, carrying goods or generating for the fairground. From time to time we have featured one or two unusual uses, such as a steam tractor engaged on transferring lines to a ship grounded in the Firth of Clyde, and we've heard of an instance around World War 1 when a McLaren traction

engine named RAMBLER, belonging to Hampshire Bros of Ravensthorpe, Yorkshire, was used as anchor for an advertising gimmick involving a balloon, in which the wire rope was put to good use and the engine had a Hudson's Soap transfer applied to it's boiler cladding for a time.

It is perhaps in the preservation era, however, that other more unusual uses have and are continuing to be found. In reports in this issue we carry

details of a Fowler steam roller being used to shunt ex-London Transport underground stock and also of a Sentinel being involved in mining work when it was engaged in raising spoil from a pit shaft being sunk at a museum site. Perhaps readers will know of some even more exotic examples of uses of steam vehicles. If so, please tell us about them.

I should like to thank the contributors listed below who have sent in items for this issue. Also received have been several club publications and press cuttings. Additional information is always welcomed from anyone who cares to drop me a line.

Banbury Steam Society; Old Steamers Club; North Staffs & Cheshire TEC; Quainton RPS; Road Roller Association; Scottish TES; Sheffield & SES; Southern Counties HVPT; Steam Plough Club; West of England SES; and Simon Caudwell, Martin Craig, Alan Crockford, Steve Durance, Keith Flinton, Tim Keenan, Alan Robins, Sandy Ross, Chris Smith, Jim Stevenson, Alan Thomas, Bernie Ward, Ian Watson, Michael Watts and Michael Woodroffe.

Press date for the next issue is the last day of April 1985. Information, news and letters by then please to D.A. Rayner, 9 Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb, York YO2 3JH. Press dates for future issues are the ends of July and October 1985 and January 1986.

BEDFORDSHIRE A visit in December to Gordon Heep's and Les King's yard found them working on their respective engines. Gordon is restoring the now unique 6hp Lampitt traction engine, works number 6 (BW4433) and built in 1887, which he recently obtained from our Club's president. Built in Banbury, the engine is an early design of a small country builder, being a three shaft cum four shaft machine with the hornplates bolted to the top of the boiler. The engine needs a new firebox backplate, front tube plate and tender, but is complete. Gordon hopes to have it steaming for its centenary in two years time.

Also in the workshop was 1919 Garrett traction 33442 (BL9009) being worked on by its owner, Les King. The tender was receiving attention at the time of the visit and some of the work already completed includes replacement of stays, back axle and bearings. Les hopes to rally this engine, which is sprung both fore and aft„later in the year.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Boughton's engines featured strongly in the end of season steam up

Mike Beeby takes Fowler single cylinder ploughing engine 2693 of 1875 past Cadeby Church, Leicestershire. (John F. Clay) 81

staged by the Chiltern club at Honour's yard. The old 1897 Fowler agricultural 7788 (BH6971) was there, as were two other Fowlers — 1927 ex-roller 17290 (AV1045) and 1937 roller 21635 IDSV2631. Also present were Ted Dyer's 1901 Burrell traction 2386 (N0394) and Bernard Ruff's 1925 Burrell general purpose 4005 IRL574).

In addition, Jim Sarney's immaculate 1908 Burrell road loco 3057 (6E7217) and Geoff Wheeler's 1920 Ruston & Hornsby agricultural 113043 (CE7977) were among other engines in attendance. Several of these engines, along with John Keeley's 1929 Sentinel Super wagon 6722/8109 (YC7914) also took part in an informal road run from the yard to the Red Lion pub at Chenies.

Another informal steam gathering was held at the Squirrel public house, Penn Street near Amersham during the Christmas holidays. There were two or three engines present as well as a considerable number of other exhibits shown both inside the premises and outside. Geoff Wheeler's Ruston & Hornsby was there as well as two Clayton & Shuttleworth engines owned by Edgar and Gareth Bolton — traction 43200 of 1910 (BE8003) and newly acquired 8hp portable 21215 of

1883. The latter previously belonged to George Chapman in Essex, who has recently been disposing of his engine collection.

A novel use for a steam roller was noted during the latter part of the summer at Quainton Road railway preservation site. Fowler roller 14342 of 1915 (AX3512), owned by Ralph Turner and normally resident at the site, was seen hauling preserved exLondon underground railway coaches about the site, on rails, to allow track slewing to take place. A rope from the roller's drawbar to a convenient place on the Tube stock bogie was the method of carrying out this unlikely manoeuvre.

An engine to leave the county is one of the last remaining showmans engines to remain in showland ownership. Pettigroves have sold their 1920 Foster engine 14501 (MD983) VICTORIOUS into the Basingstoke area although the new owner is, as yet, not known.

CHESHIRE In contrast to recent troubles with his 10 ton Burrell roller 3535 (TB2710), Alan Porter and his crew had one of their best ever trips with it towards the end of September, steaming some 24 miles in six hours

from the centre of Manchester (having attended the Castlefield Carnival the previous week) to the Holly Bush Inn at Little Leigh. The run was made with two crews of two and each did a stint of three miles. Throughout the journey, each three mile stretch was completed in 45 minutes, give or take a minute or two, but no more. Just about three hundredweight of household coal was consumed and the roller did about nine miles to a tankful of water. Nothing broke, got bent or fell off (except the wheel chock) and the journey was completed just after 5pm.

Thirteen engines attended the annual and by now traditional Holly Bush steam party at the beginning of October. For anyone who has never attended this show (which just seems to happen; it is not organised as such), they are really missing a treat. The traditional drive around the circuit, which is a must for all the engines, is a photographer's dream. The landlord of the inn, Albert Cowap, is to retire in May, but he is continuing his farming activities which means that the land where the event is held should be available again this year.

Those taking part in 1984 included Walter Fitter's 1910 Foden agricultural 2312 (MA7770), Peter Froud's 1909 Burrell road loco 3098

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE NEEDING ECONOMICAL REPAIRS ON THEIR TRACTION ENGINES

PINIONS

SPURS

BEVELS

All types and makes of bevel gears, spur pinions, spur wheels, helical gears etc, rebuilt to standard.

B. & C. Reconditioning (Gears) Ltd Unit 7, Lower Ardglen Estate, Evingar Road, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7BB. Telephone: Whitchurch 3701

82

(MA5657) and Mike Johnson's 1924 Aveling roller 10893 (NX6283).

In addition, Peter Walton's Burrell showmans engine 2879 PRINCESS ROYAL generated for Eddie Hatfield's Chiappa organ and anothei Burrell was Arthur and Richard Bridge's roller 4004 of 1925 (Y32010). This was the seventeenth Holly Bush event; long may it continue.

The end of October saw another Red Lion Inn steam party, organised by Will Dakin, where about eight engines turned up, some of which came from the Holly Bush event by different routes. Included in these were Alan Porter's Burrell roller and George Coles' 1913 Clayton & Shuttleworth agricultural 46059 ICE 7943). Also present were Bill Briggs' 1897 Burrell traction 2003 (YA 509) — which eventually towed Will Dakin's 1911 Davey Paxman traction 16849 (AF3373) back to Sandbach to enable restoration to continue — S.J.A. Dale's 1907 Burrell traction 2950 (AF3532) and John Cooper's 1910 Burrell tractor 3245 (AH054). Another engine present was the big 1914 Aveling 8420 (BT8884) owned by the Millington's.

Towards the end of the season, Alan Porter's Burrell roller was put to good use on a couple of little rolling jobs, one not far from Goostrey where a small patch of stone was rolled on a drive approach and the second at Bill

Engines at rest outside Ye Olde No3 pub at Little Bollington, Cheshire, on the 1984 Tom Barlow Boxing Day Run. From the left: Foden agricultural 2654, Aveling roller 10906, Clayton agricultural 46059 and Burrell tractor 3397.

(Jim Stevenson)

Briggs' place at Mobberley where around a toil of broken brick and stone was rolled into a patch about 30 foot by 9 foot in order to provide a solid foundation in front of Bill's engine sheds.

New tubes are the order of the day on three engines in the vicinity. Mike Johnson's Aveling 10893 suffered some leaking tubes in September on the return run from Gredington and is to be attended to, whilst Peter Walton's 1903 Aveling single roller 5199 (NX369) and Brian Allison's 1927 Aveling tractor 11839 (SM6448) OBERON are also to receive the same treatment.

A roller receiving other attention to the boiler is 1923 Aveling 10486 (FX9966). This was originally with Eddison's then spent some considerable time in a park at Southall and is now owned by Alan Wilkinson.

A new tube plate and smokebox are to be fitted.

The Tom Barlow annual Boxing Day run took place in some cold conditions between Warrington and Altrincham although the weather was not as bad as on some past occasions.

Six engines turned out this time, led by

the engine which started the run some fifteen years ago, Foden 2654. It was driven by Greg Barlow, the late Tom Barlow's nephew. The engine followed the traditional route and concluded by the River Bollin near Little Bollington, at the Swan With Two Nicks pub. Others taking part included Peter Froud's 1932 Sentinel DG4 8714 (KG 1123), Frank Lythgoe's 1912 Burrell tractor 3397 (AH095) COCK 0' THE NORTH, Arthur and Richard Bridge's Burrell roller, Jim Stevenson's Aveling roller and George Coles' Clayton & Shuttleworth agricultural.

A new owner in the area is Mark Morgan of Nantwich. He has recently purchased 1923 Armstrong Whitworth roller 10R35 (NE2271) from Peter Love of Tonbridge. In coming north, it has returned to near its place of origin — Openshaw, Manchester.

CORNWALL Steam activity in this area at this time of the year is something of a rarity and few engines are seen in action. During November, however, David Hicks steamed his relatively recently acquired 1923 Burrell 83

agricultural 3918 (PU578) and in company with Brian Sanders' roller 3999 (RL74) of the same make went for a trip around the local lanes, the roller's progress being hampered slightly by fallen acorns. Although light fades fast at this time of year, it is a season which adds an extra bit of atmosphere to an engine in steam and this particular pair made an impressive sight as they chuffed along the leaf covered lane approaching their home base.

A week later, the Daniel brothers steamed their ploughing engines, 1919 McLaren 1552 (BD5504) and 1918 Fowler BB1 15163 (WR7151), from Dick Wood's farm at Little Petherick, where they had been stabled since the end of the rally season, back to their home base for a well earned winter's rest. Dick's own 1904 Burrell showmans 2651 (AY9840) CHALLENGER had been in steam, running lights, at a gettogether at the farm a few weeks previously.

Bernard True was out and about at Christmas time with his organ and 1912 Garrett showmans tractor 30959 (BJ14581. He played on three occasions in St Agnes village, once at night.

Mark Sims of St. Columb has sent the firebox from his Burrell traction 3816 (AF3518) to Yeovil as a pattern for Ray Loader to make a replacement.

It is good news that this old favourite from the early days of West of England rallies is at last on the road to recovery. The engine was new in 1919 to Charles Parsons & Sons of St. Columb and was a special order compound machine, fitted with extra long boiler and disc flywheel. It often pulled very heavy loads and assisted the fairground tackle of Anderton & Rowland when they were touring in the area.

An engine due to arrive back from Yeovil at any time is Burrell road loco 3103 (TA945) QUEEN ALEXANDRA, owned by Joe and Dennis Warren. A new firebox and tubeplate have been fitted; a new section to the boiler barrel and the backhead renewed.

covers etc. The main items of interest for the steam enthusiast are, however, to be found in the Engine Hall. Pride of place is certainly given to Foster showmans 14153 (6E7221) ADMIRAL BEATTY. This 1916 engine originally worked for the Thurston firm in East Anglia and was once in the Paisley collection. There is also Mann's tractor 1425 of 1920 (U7075); a small 2hp 1932 Ruston & Hornsby portable; 1934 8hp Marshall traction 87005 (BN0519); 1920 Fowler roller 15748 (EC3388) and a Foden brewers dray.

This latter engine carries number 13042, although this is not the original number as the wagon has been assembled from the remains of several unearthed in Scotland some years ago. Registered TP9530, the wagon is restored in the livery of a local brewery and is sometimes used in promotional events for them.

Another engine present, on loan from David Hirst its owner, is 1882 Ransomes, Head & Jefferies traction 5137, previously in Ireland. In another part of the museum an interesting Robey undertype semi-portable engine number 49116, sees occasional use driving other machinery within the museum,

DERBYSHIRE Ernie Bull is thought to be considering selling his 1920 Aveling roller 9103 (N01218) if something a little quicker on the road takes his fancy. Bernard Bartram is eagerly

awaiting the return of his roller bits from the Kent boiler repairers Hedges & Brice. The boiler of his roller 10235 (N04558), a 1922 E type, has had a new firebox and other repairs found necessary as result of stripping the old box out. Bernard hopes to make Elvaston Castle rally with the engine this summer.

A correction is necessary to a note in the last issue. Fowler roller 18651 (VF93121 was purchased by Dennis Waters from Dave Reeder of Chilwell and not from Reeder Bros.

An engine to have left the county is 1903 Aveling roller 5347 (GA7832).

This was advertised for sale by its owner near Matlock in January and has now moved further north, to a new owner in the West Auckland area of Co. Durham.

DEVON Bicton museum held a sale in mid October to dispose of some surplus items; outside entries were also taken.

Included in these was 1903 Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies portable engine 14704 entered by the family of the late Tom Read of Stockland. It made £2,300 whilst other entries (non steam) went for £5,100 (Waterloo Boy 1915 tractor►, £3,700 (1918 Titan 10-20) and £2,750 (1919 International Junior).

Coldharbour Mill Woollen Museum have now become the custodians of Devon County Council's 1901 Aveling THE (TA6120) roller 4873

CUMBRIA A visitor to Penrith Steam Museum in the autumn found quite an array of exhibits awaiting him. The museum is housed in an old foundry which itself once manufactured steam engine components, farm implements, etc.

The mill itself which contains the furnaces, smelting, casting and welding shops is preserved just as it was when in actual use. There is also a blacksmith's shop and a foundry which used to turn out inspection pit

84

Marshall 34022 of 1900, a compact 6hp engine aptly LITTLE AUDREY, is seen here at the 1984 Cubert Rally in Cornwall. (A. V.K. Thomas)

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35465 of 1931 (CV5166).

Mark Money has advertised his 1933 Sentinel 8784 (Y06587) for sale.

HAMPSHIRE A new indoor event at lbsley near Ringwood in the late autumn was also supported by one of two full size engines. A craft and hobbies exhibition was staged by the local society and a number of stationary engines was presented along with other exhibits. These included Ray Meader's 1926 Babcock & Wilcox roller 95/4014 (YB5088) and the newly arrived Ito the area) Ruston Proctor tractor now owned by George Chiverton, 52329 ICT5554). This 1918 engine was attending its first event in the county, having been

retubed since it came down from the Nottingham area. Also in attendance at the village hall was Dave Corbin's Fowler 14934 (EB6276) now named MONARCH OF THE ROAD. The end of October saw the usual enjoyable day spent by many enthusiasts at Bert Dibben's 'Martin Steam Up'. Eleven engines were present and Arthur Thompson's 89 key Gavioli organ made the music.

Star of the show, as always, was 1932 Fowler showmans 19782 (UB9763) THE LION and she shared organ duties with Arthur Thompson's 1920 Burrell showmans 3847 PRINCESS MARINA. 1917 Fowler ploughing engine 14712 (N04630) belonging to Charlie Reeves paid another visit, whilst other Fowlers were J.M. Poate's 8 ton roller 15490

Melbourne House, Churchgate, Whaplode, Spalding, Lincs Tel 0406-370040 ANYTHING • ANYWHERE ANYTIME You couldn't be better served

MASTERPIECE, an overhead slide valve model. This engine has had two previous custodians who have not achieved restoration, so hopefully this will now be managed. The Mill have housed the engine for the winter and intend to replace some of the tubes, which are a little suspect, prior to steaming the engine.

George Moore has brought his Fowler traction 9698 IHR47321, a 1903 engine, back home again after a spell on loan in Cornwall. He has fitted la new chimney, had a set of new firebars cast and is about to start on a repaint. George has had the boiler inspector visit the engine which has been passed as fit and now it just awaits the hydraulic test.

ESSEX Two engines have left the county following the decision of George Chapman to dispose of some of his engines. Aveling roller 14187 (FPH122), of 1937 build and one of the last supplied for the home market, has now departed to the Berkshire/ Buckinghamshire area into the ownership of Mike Collier, whilst 1934 Sentinel S4 9023 (AKR 958) is now with Richard Sadler in Hertfordshire.

Richard also owns one of the last remaining Garrett QL type wagons,

Fowler 15653 of 1920, RENOWN, now widely rallied by the Howard brothers from Derbyshire and seen here at the 1983 Astle Park event. (Jim Stevenson) 85

Wallis & Steevens wagons have had many nasty comments recorded against them, but Pickfords of London chose to purchase over a dozen in the five years from 1908, before deciding that they, or the steam wagon in general, was not quite the thing for their type of business. Here, from a Wallis catalogue of the World War 1 period, is work worn 7061, a five tonner new from Basingstoke in July 1908, and fitted with Gare patent wooden wheels by Tangent Wheels Ltd. The trailer is a formerly horse drawn van, whilst the paper advert on the Wallis's canvas tilt invites the public to 'change your cocoa to Rowntree's Elect Cocoa' at 4Y2d (2p) for the new size tin. (Welland Valley club collection)

(CA6328), new in 1920 and John Antell's 1909 traction 11491 (AH6486). The resident engines, belonging to host Bert, were Wallis & Steevens agricultural 7102 (BH7446) and 1936 Wallis Advance 6 ton roller 8105 (SOR490G), ex-War Department. The latter made a nice contrast with the larger 10 ton Advance of T. Bailey and R. Desmond, 7932 of 1927 (YB9972). The group was completed by three regular attenders — Geoff Hunt's 1911 Marshall traction 57304 (TM4430), Arthur Thompson's 1912 Foden agricultural 3384 (SN1646) and the Hood's 1910 Aveling roller 7024 (TA2657) which belonged to Eddison's at one time. In the perfect weather, two model engineering enthusiasts who had a half completed miniature edition of LION on view spent almost the whole day on and around the namesake taking copious notes and measuring almost everything. When the model is finished, it should be a magnificent sight.

A Sentinel wagon has been advertised for sale by John Baldock.

This is Super 5778 of 1925 (SF1345), previously worked in Scotland.

Another wagon in the news is the sole remaining Wallis & Steevens steam wagon which has recently been acquired by the Hampshire County Museum Service from J. Hirst & Sons 86

of St. Mary Bourne. It is number 7279 (AA2476), new in April 1912 to Pickfords Ltd, and appropriately it was the present day Pickfords organisation who, together with the Science Museum have helped the County Council to find the £29,000 purchase price of the vehicle. We look forward to seeing this now unique wagon restored to its original condition and livery. Pickfords took not a few Wallis wagons, many of them working with interestingly lettered covered carrier's bodies, and 7279 could contribute greatly to our rally fields and to a general record of our past social history.

Another engine to come to St Mary Bourne is a 1918 Ransomes traction engine. It was apparently brought over to this country from Kilmessin, Co. Meath to an auction, but was not sold.

The previous owner of this engine, 27277 (A14239), was J. Flynn and it is now in David Hirst's keeping.

A Fowler roller to have changed hands and come into the county in the ownership of Derek Marder is 17951 of 1931 (EGP359), a T3B compound machine previously with Eddie Harris of Yarnton, Oxon. By way of reversing that trend, two ploughing engines have left the county. Fowlers 14728/ 14729 of 1918 (D01918/1919) have gone from Peter Ellis to a museum in Essex.

HEREFORD AND WORCESTERSHIRE Further details are to hand from the new owner of Aveling roller 2317, referred to in the last issue. Alan Robins has purchased the 1887 engine and it joins two other rollers in his possession, and is kept near Kidderminster. It was originally supplied to Altrincham Local Board and went from the later Altrincham Urban District Council via Aveling & Porter and a trade in deal for a new roller, to Lancashire Road Rolling Co in 1910. By 1921 it was with Aliens in Oxfordshire where it was registered BW4825. It subsequently went to F.T. Williams & Sons, Stoke on Trent and apparently remained with them as a working roller until about 1968.

HERTFORDSHIRE By invitation of the Hertfordshire County Council, the first vehicle to officially drive along the Redbourn bypass was a traction engine, crewed (for maximum press effect) by two ladies. The engine was Brian Hatfield's 1913 Marshall agricultural 61970 (BJ5934) and the crew were Jenny Harmer, assisted on the steering wheel by Mrs Betty Vickery. Joining in the procession were some horse drawn vehicles including a Royal Mail coach. (We wonder whether the events near here reported in the last issue of Steaming were brought to the attention of the authorities, and whether the above was as a result of these? DAR) Further identification is to hand regarding the Fowler engine now owned by Colin Piggott, reported briefly in our autumn 1984 issue. It is 9701, a 6hp single agricultural engine delivered new to William Robinson of Londonderry, Ireland in August, 1903,

but its later registration number is presently not known. Colin purchased the engine from J.R. Davies of Uffington, Oxfordshire and the engine is currently completely dismantled awaiting rebuilding with a new boiler barrel and firebox.

KENT The Fountain Inn, Sittingbourne was the venue for a second bonfire event organised by Smudger Smith for the local enthusiasts. It took place on 3rd November and was a resounding success. Some seven engines were present, sited strategically around the hostelry which incidentally boasts a bar named after the well known Kent builder of engines, Thomas Aveling. It was fitting therefore that several Aveling rollers should be in attendance and these included Smudger's own 10271 (ME2103) and Jonathan Price's 14039 (JG999). Others present included John Brice's Ruston culler 115123 of 1922 and Fowler conversion 16044 (AF7718), built as a roller in 1923 and now equipped to generate; this engine is also owned by Smudger. It was good to see a couple of friends from Holland at the celebration — George Kwekel and Robert Deventer had come over especially for the event, following Smudger's two epic journeys on his roller to the Dutch event at Hellevoetsluis which is organised by George.

Peter Love is progressing nn the restoration of his 3hp Marshall portable 59763 of 1912. A new backhead has been fitted; a firebox is being made along with a new boiler barrel and was to be fitted around Christmas time. The firebox will include a new Z section foundation ring. As well as this activity, Peter has been busy on other fronts, having sold his 1923 Armstrong Whitworth roller 10R35 (NE2271) to Mark Morgan in Cheshire; he has subsequently purchased from Frank Strange in Lincolnshire, 1913 Marshall agricultural 61880 (FL3942), to be retubed prior to an appearance at the Tonbridge Fleetcare event on 20th April 1985 (at which about ten other steam engines should be present).

Peter hopes to run the Marshall for a couple of years before doing any big jobs, by which time his Marshall portable should be finished.

Aveling roller 5156 of 1902 (TU874), an overhead slide valve type belonging to Brian Hope, has the smokebox removed for replacement.

Repairs are also being carried out to the forecarriage head.

Foden timber tractor, 13266 of 1929 (VJ1476), looking very smart in blue livery, was noted on a low loader

heading into Kent. Its new owner is Bill Day and he obtained it from J. Britton.

LANCASHIRE A visitor to Tom Varley's Museum at Gisburn in November found three engines in steam — Burrell showmans HIS LORDSHIP, Aveling showman SAMSON and the Howard traction engine. In addition to these there were the remaining wagons in the collection, including 1905 Yorkshire 117 (CA170), Fowler 19708 of 1931 and ex-Australian Foster 14470 of 1920, currently being worked on. Another ex-Australian engine is the very old Aveling, a big agricultural but properly unidentified as yet.

Ray Hulock of Merseyside has purchased 1916 Aveling roller 8727 ( I C2173) trom A. Rodgers of West Marton.

LEICESTERSHIRE A couple of engines have been noted fur sale in the county: Steve Hayes 1926 10 ton Aveling E type roller 11520 (MK5128) and J.E. Holman's 1913 Ransomes agricultural 25542 (AY9456), which needed firebox attention. The asking prices were £5,000 and £10,000 respectively.

LINCOLNSHIRE An end of season event held by Fred Coupland at his Carrington premises mustered about ten engines.

Fred now owns the steam yachts previously with Harry Lee of Bradford in addition to a set of three-abreast gallopers. Fred's Fowler showmans EVENING STAR, late of Yorkshire and Norfolk, was on display along with his 1920 Fowler ploughing engines. Of the latter 15442 (CT4178) was in steam whilst the other of the pair, 15441 (CT41771, remained static.

Macdonald's 1930 Fowler roller 18867 was also present as well as Michael Dawson's 1915 Foster showmans tractor 14066 (FE15891, now well restored and Horace Smith's 1906 Marshall traction 45689 (BT6525). There were many other exhibits at this enjoyable event to suit all tastes and everyone appeared to enjoy their Iasi taste of steam before the winter.

LONDON Visitors to the capital to see the 1984 Lord Mayor's Show may have been surprised to see a ploughing engine taking part in the parade.

Fowler K7 engine 16646 (RD4520), now named JACK OF HERTS and owned by Roy Lipscomb, had been

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87

brought down from the Home Counties especially to pull the Interflora exhibit. Over a hundred other floats took part; perhaps most noise was generated not by the bands but by the engine's straked wheels and its typical Fowler gearing ring as it went on its way through the streets.

At the same time, in early November, a visit to the Museum of London at London Wall to view their Aveling steam roller proved somewhat abortive. The engine was driven into the museum in late 1980 but according to the attendants, is not on public display. This seems a pity: the machine is Aveling 10175 of 1921 (N021421.

An engine recently steamed for the first time since 1966 is ex-Croydon Borough Council 15 ton Aveling roller 2185 (BY2185), new in 1886. On its retirement the roller was presented to the Science Museum and driven to storage at Sydenham, then later low loaded to new stores at Hayes.

Following a successful steam test there in early December, it is planned to strip the engine for a complete repaint and to have it ready for the Science Museum's open day at Wroughton, near Swindon, in September. Credit is due to an NTEC member for urging the Museum authorities to renovate this engine, now the fourth oldest Aveling roller in the country.

NORFOLK The Thursford Christmas party early in December, as always, drew large crowds from far and wide into the Museum in North Norfolk. Many of the organs were played for the benefit of the visitors and one engine was in steam for the event — ex-Thurston Burrell showmans 3827 (CL4299) VICTORY, a 1920 built engine.

NORTHUMBERLAND Although the event staged by the Northumberland Vintage Tractor Club at Alcan Farm, Pegswood near Morpeth in Autumn 1984 was essentially concerned with vintage tractors, and on this particular occasion with the American Case type, it did, nevertheless, include some steam engines for the discerning enthusiast.

These engines were George Byerley's 1935 16hp Marshall portable 87501, belted to a saw bench; 1906 Clayton & Shuttleworth agricultural 38742 (NL1216) owned

by H.S. Lister and 1901 Marshall convertible (in tractor form) 35978 (TA2434) belonging to Peter Thompson. This latter is called THE HERMIT and is not often seen in public 88

Aveling & Porter 2185 of 1886 pictured whilst in use by the Corporation of Croydon. (collection Roger West)

— a fitting name for an engine with a reclusive nature.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE The annual steam up at Retford in October had a strong idle wind blowing — one which went through you, instead of round! This did not deter local engine owners from bringing their charges along for the night however. Arriving during the day along the Great North Road into Retford and heading towards Pete Barlow's farm were the Aveling rollers of Pete Gull and Steve Parrott, respectively 12079 (PH9633) and 7583 (TF395). Steve had steamed over to Paul Scholey's yard after the Gringley-on-the-Hill steam up earlier in the month. Paul travelled with them on his 1903 Foster agricultural 2775 (FW3333) but passing all these engines on the road was Wilf Payne's 1920 Aveling tractor 9228 (CJ4159), an engine not seen out very often nowadays.

Already at Pete's farm were the Wallis & Steevens roller owned by the Baines family — 2524 (BP8585), whilst Jack Schofield had put up his gallopers and took power for the lights and organ from Ragsdale's Burrell conversion 4073 (VF5265).

In early November, poor weather did not deter the exhibitors at Hickling Pastures, where the steam-up and bonfire organised by Anthony Thompson and the East Midlands Steam & Vintage Society was held.

This event is to raise money for the Heart Foundation, in memory of the late Jess Swingler. Among those in

attendance were John Bosworth with 1920 Foster general purpose 14410 (UP6481), Steve Durance and his 1911 Marshall roller 57168 (NN950), Freda Swingler's Foster showmans style engine and Len Crane's Fowler crane engine 17212 (RF6092). The venerable 1884 Aveling agricultural 1995 (BT3939) was also present; owned by Aveling Barford it was run

by Jim Crane.

Among engines receiving attention in the area is the other showmans owned by Mrs Swingler, 1910 Foster tractor 12509 (UX6727) which is being re-assembled after major repairs including a new firebox, front tube plate, belly tanks etc. The tractor should be making a reappearance at

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Bass Museum's event in May if all goes well. Cohn Brothwell's 1922 Ruston & Hornsby traction 115100 (D02953) is also under repair at the same location. The firebox has been removed and a new box and tube plate are already under construction.

Another engine also receiving firebox treatment is Ruston Proctor 33189 (CT3949). This 1907 agricultural is owned by Harry Palmer and was purchased by him some considerable time ago from Edwards of Swindon in a very poor state. Harry, along with son David certainly like products from this Lincoln engine builder for they also own portable 29011 of 1904 and 1915 11 ton roller 50735 (6E9143), both of which have been rallied.

OXFORDSHIRE 'Steam on the Farm' was the title of the special weekend event organised at the Cogges Farm Museum' ilea! Witney. Rolling was carried out in the farmyard by 1901 Aveling roller 4872 (BW6965), owned

by Nigel Heath, and by Peter Smith's 1894 Aveling 3430 (PB9801), the oldest compound example by this maker in the country.

An agricultural engine owned by Jeff and Ann Shackell, Marshall 41151 of 1904 (BH7607), was also present along with Fowler showmans engine SUPREME owned by our president Jack Wharton. The Marshall has subsequently been offered for sale at an asking price of £11,000 (or in part exchange for a small Fowler roller). A roller to come into the area is Aveling Barford AC601 (CPT233), new in 1937. She is now owned by Graham and Stephanie White, and was purchased from Bob Whitfield of Bristol in late 1984. The opportunity was taken of a run around the lanes near the yard where the roller is now kept prior to draining her off for the winter.

SCOTLAND Mention was made in the last issue of the early November sale of the Cowie collection at Aberdeen. Disposal details of the rollers involved are now available. Marshall 75653 (5R31821 went to Tarry Wilson of Aberdeen; Fowler roller 16235 (AV45) to Mike Muller of Mulco Engineering, Aberdeen, and Aveling 10919 (J52044) to John Brady in Fife. The latter roller was therefore the only one to move away from Aberdeen. It has joined another Aveling — tractor 10156 of 1921 (SP6369) which John obtained from William MacFarlane of Dunfermline about a year ago; the machine was resident in Rosyth Dock-

David Goddard's immaculately maintained 1931 Sentinel DG4 8571 deservedly won the Transport World Challenge Cup for steam wagons on last year's Historic Commercial Vehicle Society Brighton run in May. It is pictured here, green livery gleaming, at Astle Park Rally in 1983. (Robin Walker)

yard for many years.

Fowler roller 16961 (AV1159) was withdrawn from the Cowie sale and is to be retained by Bill Cowie who also owns Garrett tractor 33219 (BJ6180), a 1918 model not involved in the sale.

The Scottish club's annual Hallowe'en bonfire and fireworks party was held for the second successive year at Rob and Elza Craig's yard at Law. There was a big turn out which included several English visitors. Rob's 1925 Wallis Advance roller 7833 (H06397) was in steam whilst Elza's little Dean organ played for the assembled crowd. The Paterson family's steam stationary engines generated power for the lights.

A couple of new engines have recently come into the country from the other side of the Irish Sea. A visit to the yard of Freddie Forrest at Bonnybridge revealed a couple of rollers, one of which was 1924 Marshall class S single cylinder 78563 (IW2573), once in the Lisburn area of Co. Down. The other engine was an unidentified Fowler in the process of being converted into a tractor. It is thought that this may be 17251 (JI4175), a former tractor built in 1928 which used to be in Farrell's yard at Warrenpoint, Co. Down, but this remains to be confirmed.

Three engines undergoing repairs and restoration for some time now

should be seen in public in the not too distant future. Jock Mackay has virtually completed work on ex-Perth CC Fowler roller 16437 of 1925 (ES7547). He still has to paint the front forks and roll and also to complete lagging and cladding of the boiler. In Dumbarton, Archie Rennie continues to make progress with 1906 Aveling convertible tractor 5917 (ST3083). The boiler of the engine has been hydraulically tested and has been steamed although the forecarriage and wheels need to be fitted before it can be moved. Further south, near Lanark John Paterson is still busy on his 1919 Marshall portable 71725 on which all but six of the firebox stays have now been fitted, and the noisy job of rivetting up is about to commence.

SOMERSET Aveling roller 10319 (AF5476), a 1922 10 ton single, has been purchased by Ron Bond from M. Griffiths of Yeovil and thus remains in the county.

STAFFORDSHIRE Chris Garbett and Dave Broughton have been busy in their workshop working on 1902 FoWler traction 9507 (NM141), which is now awaiting a further boiler inspection. In the meantime, Fowler roller 16392 (MB8144) has had the tender removed and repair work is underway. A new backplate has been purchased from 89

Dorothea Restorations and it has been riveted into position. Attention is also to be given to axle bearings and boiler fittings. It is hoped to complete work by the middle of June to allow the roller to attend a rally in Crewe Park; she was new in 1925 and worked for Samuel Jackson, the Wistaston rolling contractor, so the visit is likely to be something of a homecoming.

The notes in the last issue on the Cheadle Festival should not have appeared under the Cheshire heading — the event was at the Staffordshire Cheadle.

SUFFOLK A wet weekend at the Henham rally, reported in the last issue, meant that the rollers there didn't move very far. However this did not deter from one highlight taking place when 1923 Armstrong Whitworth roller 10R22 (DX4602) belonging to the East Anglian Transport Museum at Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, had her naming ceremony performed in a traditional manner. On the Sunday, a small curtain was provided over the new nameplate and a bottle of Adnams Rail Ale was smashed on the front roll. (The beer had been brewed specially by the local brewery in 1979 for the anniversary of the Southwold Railway.) The ceremony was carried out by Mrs Peter Wood and the name, STORMER, after her last driver, Stormer Nightingale of Witnesham. A speech was made by the roller's present driver and custodian, Bernie Ward, and the ceremony conducted by a presentaton of some flowers to Mrs Wood by the machine's young apprentice.

SUSSEX Arthur Thompson's 1912 Foden agricultural 3384 WATTIE POLLOCK provided the power for Bert Dibben's threshing box at the harvest steam-up at the Singleton Downs and Weald Museum in late autumn. A second Foden, 9052 of 1920 (SN16071 owned by C. Russell was in charge of the baler — roles which they had performed a year earlier. On this occasion unfortunately, there was no steam ploughing but many vintage farm tractors, pairs of horses and even two pairs of oxen almost made up for it.

WALES A roller which has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years is Aveling 11675 (RK8041), a 1926 C type owned by Fred Whitehead near Bethesda. Fred has worked almost single handed, and renewed the boiler barrel, firebox, 90

Assistance from a World War 2 Albion heavy recovery vehicle for Marshall 68754 of 1915, on its way to new quarters and restoration. Originally built as a tractor, the engine will be rebuilt in that form (see Autumn 1984 issue, Wales notes). (Mike Jones)

tubeplate and smokebox together with a complete rebuild of all the motion and bearings, back axle, gearing and tender. All this was done at home in his modified garage and it must have given him a good deal of satisfaction to be able to steam to various events last season, including the early season rally at Llanfair PG, carnival at Llanfairfechan, Bangor Carnival, and the National Youth Festival at Maesgeirchen, near Bangor. Only one bit of trouble was experienced when some foundation ring rivets started fizzing, but these were quickly dealt with early in the season.

WEST MIDLANDS Another event was organised by Len Crane at Dudley's Black Country Museum in October, at which many engines were put to work, including road locomotives hauling a heavy load on a' vintage low loader as well as the more common saw bench and other items. One unusual use for a Sentinel saw Cliff James' 1933 tractor 9097 (ARE195) being used as a winch for hauling a bucket up the shaft of an exhibition colliery being constructed on the site.

The museum covers a large area and includes a canal basin, and a tramway adjacent to which various steam rollers were being used to prepare roadway foundations. One newly restored exhibit was Fowler roller 18882 of 1931 (GS2538) owned by Bob Payne and Mick Dix, and out for the first time in public after a lengthy and extremely painstaking restoration.

Others present which were working included Steve Arrowsmith's 1931 Fowler 19049 (TK6488), and Aveling 5623 of 1905 (HR3510) owned by the Abbey Hill Group, an Eddison machine at one time. Showmans

orothea estorations Ltd.

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engines included Hunt's Foster 14446 (DH4593) THE LEADER and James Gilbey's Burrell PERSEVERANCE II. The road locos referred to earlier were Jim Sarney's Burrell 3057 (BE7217) and Richard Sandercock's Burrell 3996 (E9597) hauling the solid tyred trailer which carried a large BTH induction motor. Len Crane exhibited two crane engines — his familiar Fowler, as well as the more shy 7hp Burrell 3197 of 1910 (AB8904).

WILTSHIRE 1927 Fowler roller 17077 mentioned in the last issue is now owned by Michael Woodroffe. During its working life it was used by the Mechanical Tar Spraying & Grouting of Reading and its new owner hopes to rally it later on in the year. Michael is also part owner of another Fowler roller, 15964 (WY7912), a 1923 T3 type which is under long term restoration.

YORKSHIRE An engine to change hands recently is a Mann's tractor which at one time was owned by the Cole brothers of Leeds, who obtained it from Isaac Ball's yard in Lancashire. It was used from there as a roller. Gerry Proctor has owned it for the past fifteen years or more, and whilst he progressed with machines of a more pressing nature, the Mann's remained somewhat neglected. Although the registration is known (TF2598) the makers number and hence date of build has remained a mystery. The new owner is Ian Fearnley. On further dismantling he has found a stamped on number and from this he hopes to confirm the actual works number of the tractor. Assistance from other owners of similar engines would be welcome in the hope that some correlation exists between numbers in the same location on their engines, and their actual makers number (offers of help to DAR please). A new firebox is required and arrangements are presently being made for this work to be carried out. It will be good to have an example from this Leeds firm once more visiting the rally fields of Yorkshire.

A Fowler roller has come into the Harrogate area. The new owners, the Jackson brothers, already have 1901 Marshall traction 35554 (N026), and the newcomer is presently away having a new firebox fitted.

Another Fowler, a ploughing engine of the K5 class believed to be now unique in this country, is for sale.

The owners, Walker brothers from Woolley near Barnsley, have little time to devote to the engine and have

decided to dispose of it. The engine, 12366 of 1910 (BP5599), was previously with Taylor Brothers of Wimbish, Essex.

A visitor who happened to be driving through a North Yorkshire village just off the A19 at the end of November was surprised to see smoke on the horizon and a large crane at work. Investigation revealed Malcolm Stirk's 1929 Fowler roller 17585 (UA8178) in steam, having been moved from its regular resting place to allow the erection of a large steel framed building bought by John Smith earlier in the year. When completed, the building will house one or two other engines, including Colin West's Marshall conversion 76890 (PY272).

On one of the first of the Christmas outings to local villages to accompany his fairground organ playing carols, Foster showmans engine 14632 (AAU370) SUCCESS was heading from its own village of Little Weighton when an outrush of steam occurred at the front end of the engine, obscuring the driver's and steersman's vision.

The engine went off the road and through a hedge, before coming to rest part way into a field.

A section of the cylinder block casting, some 15in x 8in including the valve cover and the whistle mounting boss, had blown out of the side of the block. The steam had flung the whistle itself some 35 yards away, and a five foot section of the canopy side was torn off. Visitors to the steam up and organ recital on Boxing Day were disappointed to hear the news, but a treat awaited them in the form of Barry Herbert's Fowler LADY BETTY, now resplendent with a new canopy and dynamo. This engine, 9381 of 1902 (WR6770), was new to John Smith's Brewery at Tadcaster as a road locomotive and later worked for a Wakefield showman, Kit Johnson in showman's Corm tor several years; it is now almost completed once again in that guise. Barry had only finished it sufficiently to be able to put the belt on a day or two before Christmas.

The cylinder block failure on Foster SUCCESS is perhaps another timely remainder that our engines are not getting any younger. The particular area which had failed had, however, been giving trouble previously and had been repaired by a person skilled in welding, but inspection of the pieces which have been retrieved revealed a poor initial casting. It was lucky the engine was not too far from home when the accident happened and that no injuries were sustained. The replacement of the cylinder block, or its repair is likely to be a costly and time consuming item.

HEDGES BRICE Boilermakers and Steam Restoration Engineers Sellindge Kent Phone 0795 538128

or

Phone 030-381 3394

In the south of the county, an Aveling roller is receiving some attention at Wortley Top Forge. The 1929 type DD 12467 (RF6437) is owned by David Carr and Bernard Mettam. It was dismantled in July 1984 during the Top Forge's Working weekend with the aid of a rather elderly 2 ton Coles crane. A new firebox is the ultimate aim, but the enthusiastic dismantling team also removed the smokebox as it was also rather thin. Taking time to recover from this burst of action, in September they had another go and removed the tubes and then deheaded the foundation ring rivets. They did leave the cylinder block on though, which will make it easier for rebuilding when the time eventually comes.

To prove that it doesn't just rain in Yorkshire — it pours — when John Carr was preparing their 1919 agricultural Ransomes 27596 (WR6553) to attend one of the Wortley events earlier in the year, he inadvertently put a screwdriver through one of the tubes. Further examination revealed that the firebox on this engine too was getting very thin.

ROAD ROLLER ASSOCIATION

Be

R,R.A.

A recent advertisement contained details of what appeared to be a very interesting cache of motor rollers in Northern Ireland. Anyone interested should contact J.E. Mullholland for further details (0232-611622). On offer were an Invicta coffee pot type roller converted to diesel; an AvelingPorter roller with Blackstone diesel engine; a Barford roller (Arthur M. Cole) and an Aveling Barford roller.

91

sLT\ounoDI

CIT Mond, 1

INDONESIA Further rollers have been seen by railway enthusiasts visiting sugar mills in Indonesia. Henry Holdsworth mentions two previously unreported on the island of Java. Ruston & Hornsby single cylinder roller 146485 of 1927 (imported via LindetevesStokvis?) stands at Jatirota Mill and is largely complete with all fittings — and a boiler full of water. A large fuel bin fixed on the back of the tender doubtless holds bagasse, a combustible waste material from the sugar cane process. At Somberhajo Mill, Fowler 15433 (? or 15438) unfortunately seems in the course of rebuilding with a diesel engine in place of its cylinder block.

Ruston & Hornsby 146485 of 1927 on the island of Java, Indonesia.

(Henry Holds worth)

POLAND A visit to a mining museum at Tarnowskie Gory near Katowice in southern Poland in August 1984 revealed Cegielski single cylinder roller 831 of 1928 on display, generally complete and in good condition though not particularly well presented.

H. Cegielski of Poznan also built a light traction engine/tractor design in the 1920s. It would be nice to know if any of these survive; maybe unlikely, but the Polish state railways still operate a very large number of steam locos on standard and narrow gauges. (Gary Hendry) 1928 built Cegielski roller preserved in southern Poland (Ray Tyler) 92

Featuring working demonstrations of all types. NOTE- There will be no traditional style Rally this year.

We wish to contact owners of suitable machines that can be belt driven.

Contact — Steam Section, Town & Country Festival, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ Tel. (0203) 555100

Kimbell's rollers I was interested to read Esmond Kimbell's article in the last issue of our magazine and, in particular, the comment concerning the Garrett undertype wagon which he said was 'previously with a Petersfield brick and tile company'.

For several years I have been researching engines in the Petersfield area and can identify this wagon as either number 35170, new on 31st March 1931 to W.J. Nightingale of Causeway Brickworks, Petersfield, or 35435, new on 31st October 1930 to English & Gale of Nyewood Brick & Tile Works, Nyewood, Rogate, a village four or five miles from Petersfield. The latter machine seems a more probable candidate because I learned from some old employees of Nyewoods that the wagon 'went up north somewhere' to be used as a tarsprayer.

I was also puzzled to read in the Cheshire notes in 'Steaming Around' of Aveling RC10 roller 8610, belonging to Peter Warby, having the registration number OT4239. My research has shown Aveling roller 7177 of 1910 owned by Petersfield RDC had this number; this is confirmed by Alan Duke's records. So, how can this be? I would be grateful to anyone who can enlighten me.

Kevin Lockyer

Liss, Hampshire

Ruston's last tractions After publication of my notes in the last issue (page 431 on the last Ruston & Hornsby traction engines, I received a letter from Michael Thexton reminding me of an article in the May 1977 issue of Steaming by George Cox of Rugby. George recalled working on two class SLB engines at Rustons in 1935, and Michael wondered if these were in fact the two machines I had referred to in my letter.

(Mr Cox describes these as engines in stock at Rustons since being built in 1928 and having minor modifications before going to Latvia.)

So back to my record books and lo and behold! I found the details of two more SLBs sold in 1935. Again they

John Harkness & Co, cartage contractors in Belfast, used steam commercially into quite recent times — 1965 in fact. This 1955 picture shows Garrett 4CD tractor 33414 of 1918 (BJ4195) passing Queens Quay, Belfast in 1955, hauling a heavy trailer. The smokebox carries a brass cut out letter B in the style of the familiar Garrett G, and is said to have come from a Norman Box engine; can anyone explain in more detail?

(Alan Thomas, USA; courtesy G. Doherty)

were 17bhp model works numbers 175054 and 175055; they were sold together on 26th June 1935 to Herrn Woldemar Major (no address quoted).

George Cox also said there may have been one or two more tractions still in stock during his time. I have searched my later records but cannot find evidence of any traction engines sold after 175054/55. I wonder if either of these engines survive in Latvia?

I should perhaps add that a number of steam portables and rollers were sold quite a bit later. The last portable I have found, so far, is class SGX-PX 179114, and the last roller traced is class SR 179756.

I usually keep an open mind on engine matters; after this experience it is even more open!

works in Vienna (actually Floridsdorf).

The street still bears Clayton & Shuttleworth's name.

John Haining has already pointed out in your columns that Kemna was the maker and not the first owner of the ploughing engine at Sinsheim (page 123, same issue). From memory three examples of Kemna's engines worked in Great Britain — one for the Isle of Man authorities, one for Constable Hart in London and one for Brumby, a north of England showman; there may have been others. One was examined by an engineer from the Agricultural & General Engineers

OFFERS WANTED for my

Ray Hooley North Hykeham, Lincoln

Engines Abroad Readers may be interested in a few snippets of further information on the European engines which have featured in recent issues of Steaming.

The Theodor Ohl of Diez, West Germany referred to on page 122 of the Summer 1984 issue edition was, pre-1914 at least, a badge engineer in that the rollers sold under his marque were acutally built by others. Garretts of Leiston supplied him with several before 1914, but not afterwards.

Hofherr & Schrantz took over Clayton & Shuttleworth's branch

SHOWMANS LIVING WAGON It is in reasonable condition and whilst the stove and surround have been removed, its other attractive features are still intact. It is 17ft 6in in length.

Please contact Wray Young, Chain Cottage, Gardiners Lane, Ashwell, Herts Telephone Ashwell 2730 (home) Letchworth 72011 (work)

93

A Dutch threshing scene At first glance most of our English readers will see nothing unusual in this picture — a fairly ordinary looking threshing scene featuring a portable engine. The scene, however, is in The Netherlands and we thank member Jan Brinksma for sending the original.

The threshing set was owned by the family de Jong living in Noordwolde, a village in the northern province of Friesland. It was in use until 1948 (after which it was probably sold for scrap), but the picture is thought to have been made in the early 1920s. The make of engine is unknown. It has been suggested to Jan that the family's complete set was made by Lanz of Germany, but he has his doubts and thinks the portable looks like a Ruston — certainly we would agree that the machine looks of English build.

Notice several of the men wear clogs, quite normal for workmen and small farmers in those days. The horses in the background are Friesian, elegant horses frequently used in circuses but normally used by local farmers on the marshy Friesland fields.

combine and his report survived for many years at Leiston, but doubtless became lost when the place was turned out.

The unidentifiable Austrian roller on page 142 (upper), still in the same issue, is undoubtedly by Wiener Lokomotivfabrik A.G., Floridsdorf, Vienna.

The rollers were built in the early 1920s and were very strongly made.

An example survives in the yard of the Federal road engineer at St. Veit (near Klagenfurt, Carinthia).

Although not a self moving or even portable engine it may be of interest to record the present survival of a large locomobile type engine in West Germany. It was built in 1952 by Esterer of Alt Otting, Bavaria (number 1633) and its 225 horsepower drives a brickworks and sawmill at Kastl, near Alt Otting, some 50 miles west of Munich. This beautiful engine is to be withdrawn from service early this summer, the boiler house is complete with feedwater treatment plant and a condenser. The engine could be had 94

for about scrap price. (Address — Ziegeler and Sagewerk KG, D8261 Kastl, West Germany).

Incidentally Esterer are still in business and their senior executive told me last year they could still build a portable engine at a cost of some 40,000 DM (£11,000). Josef Hoffmann, who was for many years their engine building superintendent, is still alive aged 90, and keeps a pub in Alt Otting — when we called on him he was busy gardening!

Another locomobile type engine is preserved under a canopy at Hetzenberg/Eggenfelden in Bavaria — it is an older example, being built in 1901 by Assmann & Stockder of Cannstatt.

Bob Whitehead

Tonbridge, Kent

Steam Search Steam Search 1 (Autumn 1984 issue) was most interesting and kept me amused for all of one evening. I

was pleased to find from the answer printed in the last issue I had found nearly all of the twenty words but I also came across a dozen or so others which just could have some connection with steam preservation. It might further amuse readers to learn of them — Path: where not to drive an engine.

Hut: a small living van.

Bin: used to store loose nuts and bolts.

RAC: used in an emergency, like for changing a wheel.

Fit: the art of putting one bit back on the engine.

Man: useful for steering an engine, or buying the first pint!

Mat: some proud engines have one on the footplate.

Aim: taken when throwing objects at stupid motorists.

Heel: used for waking up sleeping steersman.

Eye: kept on Steam Apprentices or recalcitrant crew.

Miner: provider of that lovely black stuff.

May: other half of a well known Wiltshire engine builder.

Altrincham, Cheshire Alan Porter (Our apologies are due to Brian Sharp, because up to yet we have omitted to mention that he is compiler of our Steam Search. Further examples of Brian's puzzles will be published in due course.)

Memories of Shifnal Fairs I've lived in Shropshire all my life and can recall from when I was about eight, the fair which came to the old Shifnal Duff Club in the Broadway, the main street of our town.

The showmen who set up were all

under the banner of Pat Collins of Bloxwich, but also attending were William Davies of Stoke-on-Trent land later Davies' son). But although the steam engine has gone the fair is still controlled by the Collins family, who continue to hold the lease of the street, now let out to Midland Amusements.

In the 1920s and 1930s and later the Collins' engines visiting Shifnal included LORD CURZON, THE GRIFFIN, THE LEADER and No.1.

Davies brought DOLPHIN, QUEEN MARY and his son N. Davies, VICTORY and PRINCESS ROYAL, alas both scrapped years ago. I remember THE GRIFFIN usually drove Collins' peacock and dragon ride; THE DOLPHIN, Davies' dolphin ride. I believe the latter ride caught fire at one Hanley Fair and was half destroyed and never put on the road again. N. Davies' PRINCESS ROYAL worked a three-abreast galloper set — also brokon up years ago and an overthe-sticks ride.

Collins' peacock and dragon ride was a big machine weighing about 100 tons which took a lot of moving about the country. Part of the ride was the Wonderland organ now preserved

by Bill Hunt of Oldbury. He also has, of course, some of Collins' engines in preservation, THE LEADER, THE

FRED DIBNAH STEAMS ON

and

GRIFFIN and WAIT AND SEE. Now modern amusements come to Shifnal — they are alright for the young ones but too fast for my generation. But this last year there appeared Charlton's galloping horses and many of us enjoyed a ride because it was still as slow as in the old days.

The modern fairs have lost all the charisma of the old times when the organs were blazing out all those brave tunes from their card music — better than the stuff from today's roundabouts. We miss the smell of oil from the engines, the smoke and the steam — nothing is quite the same in 1985 but at least we can still see these showmans engines at work, doing their job, and the organs playing their old music.

We should all give thanks to the Preservationists; long may they keep their treasures in existence for the pleasure of those who were never able to see such glorious sights in their childhood.

Les Cherrington Shifnal, Shropshire

On the road I'm pleased Giles Romanes enjoyed his trip home from Stourpaine on his Wallis tractor and shared it with us in Steaming. I think such a trip is the

FRED DIBNAH STEEPLEJACK

only way to appreciate a steam road vehicle. We have always driven my 1911 Fowler agricultural to and from rallies (we means my young lady driver and myself).

But Giles took a long time to do his journey, three days for 35 miles! My 7hp engine weighs twelve tons all up and we pull a four wheel trailer with water tank and about a ton of coal, plus a living van, which makes about twenty tons for the whole train. We do one run of 37 miles in less than nine hours, including stops for water and meals.

I liked the way Giles told his story.

I knew the area when doing Army training in 1944, so in my mind was able to travel with him along some of the roads.

Ted Sansome

Hinckley, Leicestershire

A long day's journey Derek Rayner's paragraphs about long engine journeys (Autumn 1984 issue) made me wonder whether a journey of mine, albeit of fifty years ago, would be of interest to readers.

In 1934 I worked for road rolling contractors Dickinsons, of Doncaster, and took their Foster roller NELLIE from Doncaster to Boston, a distance

FRED DIBNAH Steeplejack

96 page AS (81/2" x 6") Hardback Well illustrated £4.95 each

Fred Dibnah — television personality, steam engine enthusiast and Britain's best known steeplejack, tells his own story in these two books. He tells of his involvement with steam and the trials and tribulations of rebuilding a steam roller in the back garden. His encounters with the bureaucrats make entertaining reading and many will identify with these situations, including the endless visits made by boiler inspectors.

Fred's steeplejack career is also featured in both volumes. Fred's sense of humour, coupled with his acute power of observation makes these books, written in his own inimitable style, a real delight to read.

Available from N.T.E.C. Sales: through bookshops or direct from the publishers.

Line One Publishing Ltd, Bayshill House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Glos. GL50 3AA Please add 50p postage for one, or two books.

95

of some 80 miles. The roller was works number 14000 (FE1421) and had been new as a tractor in 1914, the conversion parts being later supplied

by Fosters. The afternoon before starting the trip, the machine still had its rear axle out at 5 o'clock, but it was all back together and ready for off by the next morning. I had no van or watercart to tow, for I wasn't going to stop at Boston as someone local was to drive the roller once delivered.

I lit the fire the night before, leaving a bit of a draught to pull it through, and so when I went to the engine the following morning there was a bit of steam already. After firing up I set off from the yard about 5.30, passing through Doncaster town centre around 6. I stopped for a midday meal and a bit of a rest at a cafe at Carlton-on-Trent, and eventually arrived at Leasingham, near Sleaford, at 11 in the evening — some 17 hours on the road and 60 miles distance, all single-handed.

I'd taken water at Barnby Moor near Retford (15 miles), Carlton-onTrent (17 miles further), North Muskham (another 5 miles), Beckingham (9 miles) and Leadenham (5 miles). Coal was obtained at Newark railway station and I had to stack some of it on top of the cab roof.

I was pleased to have a good, if short, night's sleep at my parent's cottage at Roxholme near Leasingham (the cottage was owned by the Cole family, who owned most of Roxholme

estate in those days). The following morning I was away early again and arrived in the RDC's yard in Boston around midday, having covered another twenty miles, with water taken at Blackthorn Hollow (one mile after starting) and East Heckingham (8 miles). The roller was in good condition and with the belly tanks was capable of sixteen miles on a filling of water, even when pulling a living van and water cart.

g3T® Screwcutting in the Lathe by Martin Cleeve (Workshop Practice Series No 3). 176 pages, 8%in x 6in softbound, 13 photographs and 63 line drawings. Published January 1985 by Argus Books Ltd, London W1 . Price £4.95.

In reviewing this book I am conscious of the fact that its contents are somewhat outside the normal scope of our Club. However, it should certainly appeal to those members who perhaps only use a lathe for

December 1984 February 1985

D. Phipps, 28 Stanway Road, All Saints, West Bromwich, West Midlands.

Mrs M. Platford, 40 Ditton Road, Surbiton, Surrey.

A.S. Burton, Evendyk West 34, 8280 Brugge 5, Belgium. Family member — Eric.

N. Taylor, North End Lodge, Littlebury, Saffron Walden, Essex.

R.H. Plumridge, Dunton Lodge, Lichfield Road, Curdworth, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

C.W. Stearne, 6 North Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

A.R. Williams, 55 Westoning Road, Harlington, Bedfordshire.

Miss Y. Wootton, 46 Ring Road, Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

N. Currie, Westwater, Chudleigh, Knighton, Devon.

A. Lippa, 3 May Croft, Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

F. Kluth, PO Box 40554, Casuarina, Northern Territory 5792, Australia.

A.J. Woolhouse, 7 Monks Road, Wollaston, Northamptonshire.

96

I did quite a few long journeys for Dickinsons during my time with them as they always travelled their rollers by road. There was Doncaster to Clitheroe (Lancashire) in four days and down to Wales in a week but the particular trip described above — 60 miles in one day — was probably the most noteworthy.

Jim Proctor

East Bridgford, Nottingham

making new bushes and pins etc, and have never had the confidence to venture into the realms of screwcutting.

This is without doubt the most comprehensive book that I have ever read on the subject, and its price makes it exceedingly good value. It examines the subject from first principles, through english and metric threads to multiple start threads.

There is a useful section on grinding your own tools, which includes the author's own design of adjustable tool holder, a very useful accessory. A chapter on the practical aspects of screwcutting will be of special interest to members, for it covers square, acme and worm threads — all found on our engines.

The book concludes with a chapter on thread measurement by various means. (Malcolm Frost)

F.R. Arthur, Hebson House, Tyne Gardens, Corbridge, Northumberland.

T. Boyling, Greenbanks, 1 Brownings Mead, Dunsford, near Exeter, Devon.

M. Pedelty, Hopetown Post Office, 49 Brinkburn Road, Darlington.

E.C. Knowles, The Cedars, Telham Lane, Battle, East Sussex.

Family Membership.

A.J. Dutton, 10 Hoo Close, Buckden, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

D.S. Mattharu, 30 St Bedes Road, Kingswood, Bristol. Family members — Gurmit, Satpal, Meena and Sanjit.

P.A. Steele, Tugela, Wick Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire.

P. Johnson, 12 Merrivale Road, Honickknowle, Plymouth, Devon.

B.D. Ames, 32 De Bohun Avenue, Southgate, London.

G.F. Henderson, 53 Mornington Crescent, Hadleigh, Benfleet, Essex.

N. Crutchfield, Innerwick, Brookthorpe, Gloucester.

A.S. Howick, Toscaig, Heathview Road, Milford, Godalming, Surrey.

M.A. Darbyshire, 44 Brecon Tower, Guild Close, Birmingham.

C. Sedgewell, Chilterns End, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

J.K. Davies, Paddock End, St Michaels Walk, Illston-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire.

T. Telford, 161 Ferndale Road, Gorse Hill, Swindon, Wiltshire.

H.T. Ellis, 37 Maple Drive, Chelmsford, Essex.

R.F. Pelly, 14 Rush Hill, London SW11.

H. Hicken, Morley, Highstairs Lane, Stretton, Derbyshire.

T. Leslie, 7 Kirkhill Gardens, Penicuik, Midlothian.

P. Simmons, 14 Dedmere Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

For further details contact

We specialise in the construction and repair of locomotive type boilers.

Firebox construction can be of the traditional flanged and rivetted design, or flanged and welded.

Construction is to the appropriate British Standard Specification and all welding is by coded welders to BS 4870.

Work being done is approved at all stages by an engineering surveyor from your boiler insurance company.

Construction of tubeplates, smokeboxes, tenders etc, also undertaken.

Roger Pridham, Hollybank, Chilsworthy Beam, Gunnislake, Cornwall.

Telephone Tavistock (0822) 5276 Daytime, 832945 Evenings

J.O. Marsh, The Old Forge, Blacksmiths Lane, Tincleton, Dorchester, Dorset.

G.B. Lowe, 81 Church Drive, Daybrook, Nottingham.

Mrs Susie Jackson, 153 Micklefield Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

M.P. Poole, The Drift, 71 Dunstans Road, London.

R.D. Dickson, Marlborough House, Sheffield.

R.M. Wright, 7 Chargot Road, Pencisely, Cardiff.

P. Longley, 76 St James Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

For sale — c1920 I hornycroft 2 cylinder petrol marine engine with gearbox, complete but some superficial damage; small quantity of solid rubber tyres suitable for engine front wheels, cheap to clear; two large wheels believed parts of two Fowler engine diff. gears (details on request); chimney excluding base but with brass top, £80; 8 ton Marshall roller headstock; pair steering chains; tront roller suitable tor Aveling roller. Details on request — Telephone Ruthin 4722 (N. Wales).

amsal A\dz

For sale — Foster engine and thrashing machinery original catalogues; Clayton & Shuttleworth ditto — Reynolds, address as above advert.

For sale — Steam Plough catalogues and duplicate parts catalogues; Fowler duplicate parts catalogues for traction engines, road rollers and traction wagons. — Reynolds, 15 Hartshill, Bedford MK41 9AL (Tel 0234-53703).

For sale — Steam wagon catalogues: Allchin, Clayton, roden, Leyland and Robey — Reynolds, address as above adverts.

For sale — Aveling & Porter piston valve roller repair pacts, original catalogue. — Reynolds, address as above adverts.

Small advertisements for bona fide SALES and WANTS, and appertaining to steam engines or associated items, are free of charge to National Traction Engine Club members. Advertisements should be in block capitals or typed, and to ensure publication must be accompanied by the advertisers NTEC membership number.

Non-members rates for small adverts are 5p per word, with a minimum charge of [1.00, payable in advance.

The publishers retain the right to refuse or withdraw advertisements at their discretion and do not accept liability for clerical or printers errors although every care is taken to avoid mistakes.

ALL SMALL ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE SENT TO THE EDITOR. SEE TITLE PAGE FOR PRESS DATE.

For sale — 3 inch scale Wallis & Steevens Simplicity roller; for price and details please telephone Aysgarth 484.

For sale — unusual opportunity to obtain rare steam launch engine, twin cylinder h.p. (duplex) 3in x 3in built by G.F.G. DeVignes, Chiswick, c1902; fitted with Stephensons link reverse; completely professionally rebuilt 1979 and unused since, stored In dry. A superb rare engine, C2500; part exchanges of interesting steam items, nr railway loco nameplates, numberplates considered. — R. Parkinson, 12 Shobrooke Village, Crediton, Devon EX17 1AU (Tel Crediton 5118 evenings).

Glenruthen Mill, Auchterarder, near Perth — steam and weaving museum. Open daily 31 March to end September.

Tandem compound mill engine c1873 and Cornish boiler in steam 7/8 April, 26/27 May, 6/7/8 July, 3/4/ 5 August, 7/8 September. Phone Auchterarder 2079.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977 is now in force. This states that persons seeking to sell goods in the course of a business should indicate this clearly in the advertisement,

Quality Crystal Glass engraved with your own requirements, for those special occasions — birthdays, anniversaries and presentations. A 1/2 pint crystal tankard with your engine engraved from your photograph? Write or phone us for details. — P. & M. Rousell, 31 Fir Tree Walk, Enfield EN1 3TZ (Tel 01-363-4128).

For sale — Sentinel double cylinder steam engine; 95% complete but dismantled ready for renovation. Some parts broken, but repairable. Date and history unknown. Regret sale due to back injury. £350 ovno. — David Clay, 77 Fell View, Gosforth, Cumbria CA20 1HY (Tel 065-77-227 9.00am-4.00pm).

For sale — 35 boiler tubes, 1%in dia x 37in; small quantity of fire dropping or clinker shovels. — Tel 0606 891826.

Wanted — for 1889 Aveling'10 ton roller: pump eccentric and plunger, or one suitable with modification. — Telephone Ruthin 2169 (N. Wales)

Gauge glasses — many sizes available. Send for list. — Ray Hooley, 16 Alexandre Avenue, North Hykeham, Lincoln (Tel 0522-6824061.

Ruston Hornsby transfers — full range of designs and sizes; send for list. Engines dated gratis. Full sets of publications available for most models. — Ray Hooley, 16 Alexandre Avenue, North Hykenham, Lincoln (Tel 0522-6824061.

97

To keep up to date with weekly news of the Preservation movement you need

d'ORLD'S FAIR Incorporating The World of Preservation

Order NOW from your local newsagent.

In case of difficulty (or for a free specimen copy) write to:

THE WORLD'S FAIR LTD, 2 Daltry Street, Oldham, Lancashire OL1_

Steam Plough Club — for all interested in steam cultivation, offering regular newsletter, events, visits, history and technical advice. Subscription £5.00 per year, OAPs £2.00. John Billard, Old Station House, Twyford, Berkshire RG10 9NA. Films — 16mm films on steam cultivation for hire. Ploughing

by Steam showing machinery in action — ploughing, cultivating, draining and dredging — £9 per day; Original Fowler films made in the 1920s/1930s — land clearance, ploughing and cultivating, Gyrotiller prototype — £15.00 per day. Both taken together — £22 per day. — John Billard, Steam Plough Club, Old Station House, Twyford, Reading, Berkshire RG10 9NA. Wanted — water lifter for 10ton Aveling & Porter roller. — Tel 0606 891826.

For sale — four lengths of 5in wide x 3in deep rubber on 34in dia quarter circles, 58%in, 47 34in, 47in and 46Y in long, £40. Also four circles 20in o.d. x Sin wide x 16in i.d., sawn ready to open out, £20. All eight brand new. Also two unmachined ploughing engine back axle bushes, 13in long x 7%in o.d. x 5%in bore dia., £30. — Tel 0522 686150.

Lifting injectors — all brass, new, £25 each. Delivery 110 galls/hour against 4 feet head on 100lbs steam pressure. SAE for details. — 15 Jackson Close, Epsom, Surrey.

For sale — Foden solid tyred trailer, sprung drawbar, restored and in working condition, £350; approx 195ft heavy duty, rustproofed road engine wire rope, full %in dia, new, £35; approx. 75ft full ''/ in lie-flat tractor wire rope, brand new, £15.

— Lea, 'Silver Birches', Snelson, Chelford, near Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9BN. Wanted — for Fowler BB1, Whites type injector. — Lea, address as above advert.

Wanted — to belt up my 9in to 1ft 3ton tractor model to my sawbench — a driving belt 3in broad by about 40ft long, Balata or similar. — James Houston, 9 Main Street, Plains, Airdrie, Lanarkshire (Tel Caldercruix 8426671.

For sale — large model steam tractor; details telephone 0903 814849.

Wanted — water cart, two wheeled if possible. Would be willing to restore if in unrestored condition. I will need a water cart for my trip across Holland in August. — Tel 030 381 3394.

Wanted — period pictures of Aveling roller 4504 of 1900 whilst owned by Carlisle UDC or McGuffie of Ireby (used in Lake District). Telephone Russ Bulley 0536-72-4598.

Wanted — a good crank shaft for Aveling & Porter roller single cylinder p.v., 1926. — Tel Harpenden 65740 evenings.

For sale — grey diesel Ferguson, good condition. — Tel Harpenden 65740 evening.

98

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Ruston Proctor portable will be steamed for grinding corn at Mount Pleasant Windmill and Railway Museum, Kirton-in-Lindsey, North Lincolnshire on 11/12th May and the second Sundays of June, August, September and October 1985. For further details phone Kirton-in-Lindsey 648251.

Wanted — large Fowler roller or will consider Marshall S type, Ruston, Burrell, or traction engine in need of attention.

Cash waiting for right engine. Phone after 6pm 021-745-4585 or write to Steve Hill, 135 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 3HW. Wanted — extension tops for 'Nipper No 6' living van stove.

Also cast iron roof collar for stove pipe to fit Bomford & Evershed van. Steve Hill, address as above advert.

For sale — solid brass stand pipe in good order. Sensible offers to Steve Hill, address as above adverts.

Wanted — to complete my set of Steaming. Vols 1 to 5 complete; Vol 6 Nos 1 and 4; Vol 7 Nos 1 and 3; Vol 8 Nos 1 and 4; Vols 9 and 10 complete; Vol 12 Nos 2, 3 and 4. — T. Edwards, 1 Eckford Park, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5HL (Tel Wem 33932).

Wanted — any photographs of engines owned East Kent firm Wingham Agricultural Implement Co (later Wingham Engineering) from early working days to those now in preservation. Prints loaned will be returned and postage refunded, or will purchase copies offered. — Tim Keenan, 8 Mutrix Road, Margate, Kent (Tel 0843-34419).

For sale — brass u.g. locomotive whistle mounted on wooden wall plaque; 'North British' locomotive nameplate 2ft 6in x 4in; nine vintage miners lamps, all used. Offers invited write to MacLagen, 'Morenish', Sledgate Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S60 OAN. For sale — 56 copies Steaming Vols 12-26; 8 copies Steaming Newsletters 8 to 15; 20 copies Merry Go Round (FCSF) 61 to 66; 80 rally programmes 1963 to 1981; 60 copies Key Frame (FOPS) 1963-1980; 6 framed pictures of engines, 6in x 4in; 7 scrap books of Worlds Fair cuttings, and others; 1 copy Travelling Shows and Roundabouts; 1 copy Showmans Engines; 1 copy Fair Organs £35 the lot. — S.W.G. Clarke, 20 Kipling Drive, Sandilands, Sutton-on-Sea, Lincs LN12 2RF. For sale — winch wires 18mm dia, 400ft long, very good condition, Langs lay. Breaking strain 13% tons, buyer to collect £40 each. Telephone New Milton 619884.

Wanted — the following gears for Marshall series 3 or VF tractor: part numbers 2825 and 3072. Also original 3 spoke steering wheel. Telephone New Milton 619884.

For sale — Marshall 1923 compound 4hp convertible No 78953 on rubbers, belly tank, tested. Genuine sale, best offer — Telephone 0522 681611.

2 inch scale Burrell showmans engine, professionally built boiler and firebox, horn plates attached, tender shell, smokebox made and riveted, front wheels made and hind wheel rims, winding drum turned. Most Reeves castings, some machined.

Set of Reeves 'Thetford Town' working drawings. Reason for sale — ill health. Offers to A. McMillan, 9 Blaen-y-fro, Pencoed, Bridgend, Glamorgan CF35 6RY (Tel 861640).

For sale — Foster rubber tyred trailer wheels and axle; Wallis & Steevens trailer wheels and axle suitable for conversion; Aveling & Porter pump body; water lift; Penberthy 'bin and %in injectors; cast iron street lamp posts with swan neck lamp and time switches; Alcon 2in water pump; various wheel valves. — Les J. Lambe, 'Avelings', 84 Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove (Tel 0527-313981.

For sale — instruction manual for Yorkshire WD model steam wagon; Sentinel cab apron parts; Fowler owl badge; Foster Wellington tractor motion plate badge; Sentinel S4 brass knight badge. — Les J. Lambe, address as above advert.

Burrell's 1910 catalogue of Steam Tractors and Steam Wagons — reprint full of interesting photographs and information £2.70 inc post from M.J. Engineering, 63B Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 1HE. Stuck for that part? We can offer a pattern making service, and castings too if required. Send a sketch or the damaged part for a quote. — M.J. Engineering, 63B Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 1HE. Solid tyres — Avon solid rubber tyre sections supplied, 6in wide x 2 1/2 in of rubber on Yin steel plate. Enquiries to S.J. Wharton, Southern Down, Minster Lovell, Oxford OX8 5RD (Tel 0993 33361.

For sale — 75 copies Steaming from Vol 3 No2 to Vol 27 No4 with a few copies missing, price to be agreed. Please contact Mrs K. Sclater, Pokey Cottage, 72 Ringmore Road, Sheldon, near Teignmouth, South Devon TQ14 OAB (Tel 062-687-2558)

For sale — part worn tyres and wheels for Matadors 1400 x 20 and other sizes; jacks; steam oil pumps; gauge glass and clocks and other items. — Harry Lee, telephone 0274-723413.

Steam Preservation — the journal of the East Anglian TEClub. send £1.00 for latest edition (No65) or SAE for list of back numbers. — A. Fookes, Spentpenny Farm, Craigs Lane, Mount Bures, Colchester, Essex CO8 5AP.

For sale — 1920 Wallis & Steevens 'Oilbath' tractor, completely restored. Best offer. Telephone Andover 65934 evenings after 5.30 pm.

Wanted — %in Penberthy injector to work between 100 and 200lbs. — Alan Porter, tel 061-973-5852.

For sale — 300 rally programmes, mainly 1970s — Telephone 0532 647976.

Ten years 'Preservation News' pages from Worlds Fair, 1972-1981 inc (except six issues). Offers — telephone 0532 647976.

Wanted — contact from engine owners interested in bringing their engines to an informal private get-together at Gringley-onthe-Hill, near Gainsborough on 4th/5th May 1985 — Steve Parrott, 6 Church Road, Stow, Lincoln LN1 2DE (Tel 0427 788020).

Boiler tubes — large selection, new. Contact Aubrey Scott, c/o Thurlow Nunn, Stowmarket (Tel 0449 6131851.

Road Roller Association — for all interested in steam or motor rollers, road making machines, practices and history.

Quarterly journal Rolling. Subscription £5.00 per year. — Membership Secretary, M. Deering, 32 Grampian Road, Little Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey.

For sale — Coventry Climax 4 cyl chain drive lighting set, 110 volt. — R.W. Cullimore, 3 Portway, Callow, near Hereford.

For sale — manhole door, try cocks, blowdown valve and shelf/maker's plate for Marshall portable, also reproduction Britannia roller crest. One pair LMS standard gauge glass protectors and blow-through cocks. No reasonable offer refused — Telephone 07048-77389.

For sale — Mark II Landrover, 1959, petrol hard top swb, ex fire service complete with PTO and U/S water pump. No MOT, tax. Offers — Telephone 0636 72 4698.

George's Tools — large milling cutters £2.00; new lathe tools (list £6.00) to clear £2.00 each; assorted V belts 50p; guillotine £100; Kango £50; 'new' 2ton block and tackle with overhead traveller £85; new 5in bench grinder £25; 'antique' lathe triangular bed £60; Startrite pillar drill unused £195 (list £390); oxy-acetylene profile sheet cutter 110 volt as new but no tracks f95; various compressors from £40; various generators from £60; single phase muluis Flom £6.00; blacksmiths leg vice £6.00; forge tools from £2.00 each; IXL centre lathe £110; angle grinder discs, metal or stone — 12in £2.00, 9in £1.50, 7in £1.30, 4in 80p, limited stock; 20mm tallstock or drill chucks (new) £20; Triok metal folder, bender, shaper and guillotine, unused £250. AND lots more. 8 Vicarage Lane, Banks, Southport (Tel Southport 214584). Warehouse open Saturdays all day until end April, after that rallying each weekend and warehouse open WEDNESDAYS. First rally — Urmston May Day Steam.

For sale — vertical boiler, 4ft x 2ft dia. A must for steam enthusiasts; photographs available. Offers please — telephone 051 645 3908 or 051 608 1880.

Wanted — portable engine; has to be complete but working order not necessary, letters with full details and photo to G. van der Pol, Melkweg 11, 1271 TD Huizen, Netherlands.

Wanted — details, photos, catalogues, spares lists etc (or photocopies) of Baker watercarts, as towed by steam rollers to enable authentic restoration of a former Eddison owned example.

— D.A. Rayner, 9 Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb, York YO2 3JH. Wanted — details as above advert on steam pumps by Mumford Engineering, Colchester, Essex or similar banjo type pumps by other makers. — D.A. Rayner, address as above advert.

By the way Though common enough in America or Australia, roadside mail boxes are an unusual sight to British eyes.

But even an Australian may take a second glance at this unusual specimen in north east Victoria, made up from an old cylinder block — arranged on its side — and surmounted by a fine set of cross arm governors.

(Graham Sinclair) 99

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