Sold June 2021 Back to Archive

This one has come to us from a man whose main passion is vintage tractors; the Showmans was his first foray into steam - it's recently come in to us as he raises funds for another tractor.

Whilst a design we regularly see in 2 inch scale and occasionally 4 inch, 3 inch scale Showmans engines are rare - we've only had a couple in the last twenty years.

The commercially built CE-marked boiler by Bell Boilers has had a recent hydraulic test with certification issued for same. In steam the engine runs well - notching up in either direction - with some wear apparent in the motionwork.

Listed as a running restoration, it needs a variety of jobs doing, including:

• Overhaul leaking regulator
• Attention to various leaking boiler fittings
• Take up wear in main bearings
• Remove, adjust and refit smokebox door
• Fit new eccentric strap to mechanical pump
• Shim crankshaft to maintain clearance between flywheel and nearside rear wheel

A second injector has been fitted - somewhat of a "lash up" - apparently in an attempt to provide a second water feed in the absence of a working pump. The installation is ugly, the injector itself doesn't work in any meaningful way - we'd throw it away and revert to the prototypical single injector and pump.

Paintwork is bright and presentable, with some wear - it wouldn't shame you on the rally field, although the engine's underlying build quality would amply repay repainting and lining at some time in the future.

Complete with a two wheeled driving trolley with water tank; the engine is road-registered, with V5 document.