Sold October 2014 Back to Archive

A finely built undertype semi-portable engine of imposing size - highly detailed, fit and finish of the motionwork is excellent. We think this one was a commercial build - no maker's plate on it, but possibly by a builder of full-sized engines - in the early twentieth century. It looks to have been little used - mechanically it's in excellent condition, without signs of bodgery or other unlooked for messing with over the years - all the nuts still have crisp edges, castings are all still in good condition, the engine turns over smoothly with little sign of wear in the bearings.

It has lost its chimney - this would be a medium height job, not as tall as a portable engine chimney - pressure gauge, studs and nuts securing the dome. There is a flywheel with it which has been bored to fit the crankshaft, but its proportions are too heavy - it needs a straight spoke flywheel with thinner rim and possibly slightly larger diameter. Valve gear is Stephenson's, this has been set up to run in one direction only - there is a weighshaft, but no lifting gear for the link.

Boiler is in steel, unusually fitted with a superheater - two superheater flues, a copper superheater pipe dives down one, makes a couple of circuits around the top of the firebox, then back up t'other, effectively an early form of radiant superheater. Stroudley type regulator, there is a mechanical boiler feed pump.

Engine itself looks to be a compound, slide valves actuated by Stephenson's gear, twin mechanical lubricator feeding direct to each valve chest. Watt type governor, fitted horizontally driven by belt and bevel gears. Draincocks at the front for cylinders and valve chests.

I've put a lot of pictures of this one up, it's a particularly fine model (currently enhancing our hall at home, opposite the Bentley BR2). Paintwork is old, in nice patinated condition - it really wants nothing more than a rub over with some linseed oil

Length 34 inches
Height 17 inches
Weight est 250 pounds