Hello I am a volunteer at Leiston Long Shop Museum in Suffolk and we have given an vintage Austin engine but unfortunately the provenance is very sketchy. It is believed it was used by the Home Guard during WW2, directly coupled to a generator to supply power to a accommodation hut. We have been advised by Beaulieu Motor Museum that you may be able to identify the engine type or provide some insight as to original purpose. The engine is bed mounted and we do not believe it was originally supplied on the portable trolley, as seen in the pictures. A quick web search has revealed some tractor and stationary engines from the c1910 - 1920 that look similar in size and outline - passenger vehicle engines appear different. I have attached pictures which may help with identification, along with 2 name plates. The Long Shop has recently set up a "Men's Shed" where over 50's can get together weekly to work on various projects. We are currently rebuilding a 1924 Portable steam engine, as identified in your database. Our next project will be to start work on the Austin with a view to having a working engine for displays We hope you can help with identification and possibly some history. Any information is gratefully received. I Kind regards Paul Collections Team
Very pretty and looks c1920. ASC is probably Army Service Corps and no doubt Google will tell you when it became the Royal ASC. The engine was most likely part of an Austinlite set. This might be a good starting point: http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Austinlite Do let us know what you find please Roland
Paul, That's a lovely engine. Please send the photos to Stationary Engine magazine for inclusion in Recent Discoveries with a few lines of description etc as in your posting and some one somewhere out there in 'enginemanland' may be able to help. We rarely see Austin stationary engines, especially that fine condition in the magazine. It would also give Leiston some publicity too! <se.ed@kelsey.co.uk> Eric
Now too dark for gardening so I consulted the A-Z and there is a near identical Austinlite in that. The only difference is that its a twin cylinder. Text comments that a four cylinder was offered. I have a post-war Austinlite catalogue and like Petter they used a wide variety of dynamos. hth Roland
Thanks Eric and Rowland. I'll send in some photos to the magazine. Glad you both like it. We were pretty excited when it was given to us some time back. It is only now that we are able to do something with it. It turns over freely via the crank handle and doesn't feel as though there is any metal to metal binding so there is a good chance it will run. Unfortunately the generator didn't come with it. What sort of horsepower would these engines have and what rpm's? Paul
any chance of a pic from the inlet side? I bet if you clean its points that mag will spark. cheers Roland
That is a very nice looking engine, almost pretty, it reminds me of a shrunk Pelapone. Its been a while since I visited the Long Shop, UK's first production line, I think another visit is required. Martin P
As requested, here are some other views. I have deleted the 2 nameplate images so as to keep within number of attachment limits.
That really is very pretty and so typical of the era. Pelaponeish as Martin says but overall look also resembles the Smart & Brown though the valve arrangements are very different between all three. According to Wiki (so pinch of salt may be required) the ASC became the RASC in 1918. Thanks for the pics Roland
Thanks Roland. I'm learning more and more about these engines. Still haven't managed to find a good website; searched for Austin Light - Austinlite - adding pre-war, post war, stationary, etc.. but no real success. Any suggestions where I can find out some more info? I need a good wiki but haven't found it yet. As you can imagine, when we put this on display, visitors ask questions and we don't need to look any dumber than we already are. Regards Paul
Paul, Youv'e given me something to do whilst sat at home with a horrendous cold. I've found this with a bit of history of the company, http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-117/index.html If I find anymore I will post it. Here is another one http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/866330 ... vert/like/ Martin P
SNAP. I've got a cold too. And I am at home not volunteering at the Long Shop accessioning the collections. Being the considerate person I am, I didn't want to spread my cold among the other hard working volunteers, especially as we open for the season next week. And thank you for the link. Paul
Good find Martin. The cold is a stinker and lingers for weeks :-( Interesting to see that one of the founding Cos. was Barr & Stroud. cheers Roland
A few hear https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vinta ... 1k7roQM%3A and here https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1920% ... rzBUEwM%3A
