Stationary engines were introduced to replace animal and man power in agriculture and industry. The first stationary engines were large steam engines introduced in the late 1700's to drain mines and names such as Newcomen, Watt, and Trevithick will be familiar to many. As labour became more expensive, smaller engines were introduced to power small workshops fuelling the industrial revolution through increasing levels of mechanisation and automation. Although very effective, steam engines also brought limitations - a space consuming boiler needed to be maintained and managed on a regular basis. If mismanaged, boiler explosions could cause much damage and even loss of life. Early gas powered engines which burned the fuel internally in the power cylinder rather than externally in the boiler brought towards the end of the 19th century, the promise of a compact installation which could run for many hours with minimal management and no need for boiler maintainance. The gas engines were further developed to use liquid fuels so that even those remote from gas works could benefit from mechanisation. In the early days a wide range of liquid fuels were used such as alcohol, petrol (gasoline), various lamp oils (paraffins or kerosines) and other products of coal and oil distillation. From the turn of the 20th century, a further type, the compression ignition or diesel engine has also been available.

My own small collection of stationary engines is displayed in "The Engine Gallery" below. Most of my engines were bought in unserviceable (some would say scrap) condition and have been or are in process of being restored to working order. I also have a few vintage implements to drive once the engines are functioning again. The linked pages provide some historical information and show more views of the engines and will, when time permits, tell the stories of their restoration.

The Engine Gallery

1930 Ruston-Hornsby 4AP	1950 Ruston-Hornsby 1HR horizontal diesel
1919? Petter M-type oil engine	1928 Petter S-type 5HP semi-diesel
1927 Crossley PHC1060	Wolseley WD series engines, (WD1 and WD2)
Lister 6/1 cold starting diesels	Lister Start-O-Matic lighting sets
Updated WANTED : Spare parts needed to complete restorations
NEW For sale - Wolseley and Ruston-Hornsby PB/PT main bearings
NEW Climax No.1 water Pump
NEW Lister H-series water pumps (sizes H1 and H2)

Hunt's No.4 Oil Cake Breaker

Bamfords Rapid Mill 1C (grinding and rolling)

Please visit again for progress reports.

Comments and correspondence to : Webmaster@skiprat.net