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Twin cylinder portable engine - stock code 7992

An interesting old twin cylinder portable engine, nicely made and robustly proportioned - from the look of fittings and fastenings we suspect it's pre-war.
 
Twin cylinder running in double-high configuration, unusually for a portable it has Stephenson's reversing gear with screw reverser, finely exectured and well fitted. The engine runs beautifully in both directions on air, down to load speed.
 
Boiler is rivetted and soldered copper, an unusual design with four large flue tubes and four diagonally disposed water tubes in the firebox - similar to thermic syphons but laterally rather than longitudinally arranged.
 
Lots of things about the engine suggest a continental influence, but there are contradictions - the pressure gauge face and script look like something from Germany, yet its calibrated in pounds per square inch, not bar. Short chimney and steam collecting dome at the back again are not typical of English practice, although overall the engine is well-proportioned, in a chunky sort of way.
 
We liked this one, would be interested if anybody knows more of its history.
 
 
 
length/inches 20
width/inches 9
height/inches 14
weight/kg 18
mechanical pump 1