Internal Fire Museum of Power

Hello Chaps

Just in case you're interested, and if you haven't seen it elsewhere, the following is my Photobucket album with pictures of my newly acquired Alexander Shanks 19hp lamp start hot bulb oil engine. The true scale is not really apparent in the pictures, but it is quite large!

http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t135 ... ff/Shanks/

The history is interesting, and chequered. It originally belonged to a farmer near Arbroath (where it was made) and was sited in a barn running a thrashing machine. At the end of it's useful life a hole was dug and it was due to be ploughed into it the following day when a gentleman assembling Farm Museum stepped in and rescued it. In due course, the museum foundered, and the exhibits were dispersed. The Shanks passed to a Shanks enthusiast in Perth in 1993, and from him to a collector on the East coast of East Anglia. Whilst in his care it was "raided" and a lot of the otherwise complete smaller parts were stolen - but thankfully not the plate. In due course the engine moved to the last owner who has spent several years doing beautiful work replacing missing parts, using new castings, etc.

I now have to arrange to move it from it's current location, along with the original fuel tank, exhaust system, etc...

Martin.