This was based on the works number K1/24744 from the works plate. However, once restoration started the engine was found to have the works number K1/21518.

Donated by SEAMS in 2012

Note:The location details were passed by the the donor but a previous owner has commented that this information is not correct. An application will be made to Bedford Archives to obtain the correct details.

Originally installed at the Catsholme Pumping Station, part of the Wissey Internal Drainage Board and pumping the Common Dyke into the River Wissey.

The 108hp engine drove a Conqueror pump through a flexible coupling delivering 70 tons of water a minute against a 16 foot head.

It was sold to the War Office and purchased at a post-war sale and taken into private ownership.

Purchased for the Lister Museum and rebuilt by David Harris. These engines were used for 4 kW battery charging sets for the tank corps and many of them were used in the western desert

Radiator cooled, ex ministry inhibited and as new condition on arrival.

Sectioned and motorised  horizontally opposed 4-stroke twin cylinder from Citroen 2cv

In mechanically poor condition with frost damage and water jackets blocked with scale.

Originally aupplied to Bootle education committee for demonstration and instruction. Painted green and supppied with hand compressor, oil heater, indicator gear, and Brake wheel.

In preservation without laboratory gear.

Previosuly on display at Westcott Stationary Engine Museum where it is sympathetically restored by Tony Harcombe.

On loan to the petter Collection from the Castell Pridd Collection.

500cc opposed piston lifeboat engine.

(Text by Kim Siddorn whoi donated).

The Vincent Marine Engine 

A classic example of being conceived in good time but born too late, the Vincent marine engine was originally made for an air/sea rescue role and fitted to airborne lifeboats, a complete aluminium shell which could be dropped to men in the water from an aircraft. Vincents gave up motorcycle production during the war, concentrating on making specialist components at their Stevenage factory, one of which - for instance - was rocket fuses. Phil Vincent's agile mind was never far from a novel solution to a perceived problem and he found an Air Ministry brief for an engine in which which frugality of fuel consumption was vital - and the other parameters were tough too.

It had to be capable of being started by hand, fully radio screened, waterproof, light in weight and smooth running and able to run for long periods with little maintenance. The construction had to be compact so that the hull of the lifeboat would fit cleanly against the fuselage of the aircraft that carried it and be able to withstand a 5G deceleration as it hit the water. The specification called for 15 bhp at 3000 rpm from an engine that had to be able to run satisfactorily on any petrol, from 70 octane "pool" to highly leaded 120 octane aviation spirit. 

Worked up from an original concept by Phil Irving in 1942, the 500cc Lifeboat Engine (as it became known) was produced with Pacific rescue missions in mond. For a fuel consumption of 50 gallons, the boat seemed to be capable of a total mileage of over 1000 sea miles at an average speed of 5 knots compared to an Austin marine engine's best performance of 500 miles at 4 knots on the same quantity of petrol and the prototype passed its AID inspection out of the box. However, development of a reverse gear, electric start etc, and a vacillating Air Ministry kept Vincents busy until 1949 and that was too late, only fifty being made. Of this single batch, there are around a dozen left, this example having the s/n 44. 

For the technically minded, the device weighs just 256 lbs (116 kilos) and has a watercooled inlet manifold and exhaust. It is a two-stroke cycle, twin crankshaft opposed six, the pistons moving inwards to form a common combustion space, thus this six has three bores. The centre bore of the three provides compressed mixture for the outer two cylinders, the mixture not being compressed in the crankcase as in normal two-strokes. The pumping cylinders have cross heads like a steam engine, allowing straight, round section connecting rods to be sealed from the crankcase with gland seals. The mixture is circulated both "above" and "below" the pumping pistons, transfering to one set of power pistons on the inward stroke and to the other set on the outward stroke thus making best use of the capacity available.

Made by Bob Dix and donated to the museum by his widow.

This engine was found on Aberporth beach in the late 1990s and would have been used on a Banshee or a Skeet drone.

Designed as a compact, self contained unit, the Whirlwind engine package includes integral radiators and a built-in water pump to simplify installation.

Liquid-cooled, single rotor Wankel engine c/w integral radiators and water pump. Chamber volume 294cc Dry weight13.5kg (29lb 12oz) (complete with radiators, water pump carburettor and ignition system but less exhaust)

Rotation counter-clockwise when viewed from power take-off end

Power 31kW (41.5 bhp) @ 7,800 rpm, Torque 47 Nm @ 4,500 rpm

Type used in the Banshee UAV flown from Aberporth, this engine from Outer Hebrides (South Uist)

Petrol/paraffin four-stroke single cylinder engine direct coupled to a three-throw water pump on casst bedplate.

Originally installed in a farm pump house less than 5 miles from the museum

LACAM:L2325

LACAM:L435

IWM ID 202.190.1

Ruston single cylinder horizontal four-stroke diesel engine size 11H. Originally installed at Taplow Repeater Station near Maidenhead and one of a batch built to a GPO order.

Driving two G.E.C. generators in tandem by means of a shaft extended from the flywheel. At 210rpm one generator produces 22/30 KW at 22/30 volts, 1,000 amps with the other (No. 84850) 11 KW at 150/220 volts.

LACAM:L437

Size: 5" steam cylinder, 3" pumping cylinder with 6" stroke and 30" diameter flywheel, double acting.

This pump was purchased by the Chemical Engineering Company in 1916 for the new Llanbradach tar and coke works north of Caerphilly in the Rhymney Valley, S Wales. At an unknown date (early 1930's) the pump was transferred to Bargoed where tar distillation was centralised up until 1939, when the new tar works at Caerphilly came on stream.

After the war, this pump along with other equipment, was transferred to the Caerphilly site where it was installed initially on effluent disposal and finally on caustic soda duties, following the commissioning of the new naphthalene plant in 1962.

In 1982 the naphthalene plant closed and the pump fell into disuse. The cylinder was removed in 1985 and used on a similar pump following frost damage. The remains, including the base plate were recovered in 1991 and transported to Essex.

In 1996 the original cylinder was reunited with the pump enabling full restoration to be completed. This particular pump is fitted with a reversible eccentric.

V type compound engine driving generator.

Originally installed at St Andrews Hospital, Norwich along with sister engine No 8506.

HP bore 10"

LP bore 14.5"

Stroke 6"

Working rpm 600 producing 90-85 BHP off 140psi with 10psi back pressure

Size: 6" steam cylinder, 6" pumping cylinder with 9" stroke and 36" diameter flywheel, double acting.

This pump was one of a pair installed in 1949, to transfer crude gas works tar from the new continuous horizontal gas retorts under construction at Panteg, Pontypool. The plant worked until the early sixties using coal as its feedstock, to produce towns gas for the Newport undertaking of the Wales Gas Board. The retorts were closed down following the construction of a new gas reforming plant that used naphtha oil as its feedstock. This plant also on the same site only ran for about 4 years when it too became redundant, but this time because of the advent of North Sea (Natural) Gas.

In 1972 the remaining equipment was offered for sale prior to demolition. The 2 pumps were purchased by Thomas Ness for use as spares at their tar distillation works at Caerphilly for the price of £30 each, plus £3 (VAT @ 10% in those days!).

No. 37672 was used for spares, whereas 37673 was installed as a replacement for 30898, the No 2 Daily Products pump worn out after 33 years of continuous use. 37673 was acquired from Caerphilly following closure of the tar works in 1986, along with the steam cylinder from 37672. Unlike 30898 this pump is fitted with a liner.

Size: 4½" steam cylinders, 2¾" pumping cylinders with 4" stroke
Type: General Service B

This pump predates the Worthington-Simpson alliance at Newark and is plated Worthington Pumping Engine Company London, manufactured in New York USA.

Originally acquired by the North Woolwich Railway museum from West Ham Power Station, when the station closed in the 1960s. Obtained from the museum as surplus to requirements in November 2002.

In August 2017 this pump was partially dismantled, degreased, cleaned, painted, repacked and reassembled.

Size: 3" steam cylinders, 2" pumping cylinders with 3" stroke
Type: General Service A

This pump was acquired in October 2007 and believed to have been used at a Nursery and Mushroom farm in Hockley, Essex. It has been out of use for years and was seized solid.

The pump has the standard one piece casting unlike the other 3x2x3 pump in the collection. It was build for water duties as it is fitted with bronze rods and screw glands. 

Size: 4½" steam cylinders, 3¾" pumping cylinders with 4" stroke
Type: Light Service B

This pump was purchased by the South Eastern Gas Board for the Metropolitan Gas Works, East Greenwich as part of their new Wilton Tar Distillation Unit for their No. 12 Plant. This pump was supplied with a mechanical lubricator and bracket and was one of two crude tar transfer pumps.

East Greenwich gas works and tar plant closed in the early 1970's and the equipment offered for sale prior to site demolition. Many pumps and specialist equipment were purchased, dismantled and transferred to Caerphilly Tar Plant in South Wales for storage/spares. The cleared site is now the home of the Greenwich O2 Arena.

This pump was never installed and was acquired from Caerphilly in 1989, transferred to Wiltshire and placed in storage. In September 2017 restoration commenced and each component was degreased, cleaned, painted and the whole reassembled as shown. Unfortunately during its life at Greenwich following closure and before transfer to Caerphilly the liquid cylinders suffered frost damage and are cracked preventing future use as a service pump

Size: 5¼" steam cylinders, 3½" pumping cylinders with 5" stroke
Type: General Service B

This pump originated from the Shellhaven Oil Refinery on the Thames Estuary in Essex and was purchased by a former employee following partial closure of the works. The pump was subsequently acquired in 2002 by the donor.

Size: 5" steam cylinders, 6" pumping cylinders with 5" stroke.
Series: 670 "B" Low Service version, iron fitted.

This pump was purchased by W.C.Holmes & Co Ltd in 1934 for the new coke oven battery at Norwood Coke Ovens, Dunston, Gateshead, Co Durham. Prior to nationalisation, Norwood was part of the Newcastle upon Tyne & Gateshead Gas Company and W.C.Holmes were contracted to build the new gas purification and by-product plant for the new extension, which included crude tar handling.

In the early 1980's Norwood Coke Works closed, leaving Norwood Tar Plant to continue production on the site. During demolition of the coke works all tar pumps were transferred to the adjacent tar plant for future use. Those items surplus to requirements were eventually taken to Caerphilly Tar Plant in South Wales for storage.

The pump was acquired from Caerphilly in 1989 by the donor.

Size: 5" steam cylinders, 4" pumping cylinders with 5" stroke.
Series: 670 "A" General Service version, iron fitted.

This pump was purchased new in 1954 for the Tar Plant extension being built by Simon Carves at Caerphilly, effectively doubling the tar distillation capacity. It was installed as the crash tank pump for the new No. 3 Wilton tar unit. Its duty being to circulate and pump away the pitch drainings from the coils within each furnace following either a planned or emergency shutdown.

Its use was therefore rather infrequent, but when required to pump it often failed to pick up suction, especially when hot. It was then decided to replace the pump with a Lee Howl Tipton No.28695, 6x5x12. The duplex was removed in the early 1980's and placed in storage never to be used again.

The pump was acquired from Caerphilly in 1991; it has been partially stripped ready for restoration

Type 680, 4" steam cylinder, 3" pumping cylinder, (fitted with a 2½" liner), with 4" stroke and 24" diameter heavy duty flywheel-double acting

This pump was supplied new to the Caerphilly Tar Plant in 1938 as the standby reflux pump for the No.2 distillation unit. It was fitted with a Pickering governor driven from a second smaller flywheel on the crankshaft.

The pumping valves are of the butterfly or poppit type, being spring-loaded and the piston block runs in a stainless steel liner of 3" outside diameter and 2½" internal diameter. This pump remained in service until the end of tar distillation at Caerphilly in December 1985. Early in 1986 this pump was donated by Thomas Ness Limited to the Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum, Cardiff Docks as a typical small industrial steam pump used in the Welsh Gas, Coke and By-Products Industries.

In 2004 this pump was also found dumped in a skip outside the Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum in the same skip as No. 24247 (see above). It was complete, although the Pickering governor had been removed and the governor flywheel had been broken. Unlike coal tar, which acts as a metal preservative, crude benzole is a powerful solvent and degreaser and the pump had seized solid with rust after 20 years of inactivity.

The pump was carefully dismantled, cleaned and has been fully restored to working order. New piston rods have been made, but otherwise most other parts were salvaged and reused. Restoration was completed November 2006, but it did not run very well. Examination has found that the cylinder bore has worn along with deep grooving to the valve face. The cylinder has since had the valve face re-milled, meanwhile a new oversized piston block and new rings have been made. The pump now works much better with greatly reduced air consumption - as vast improvement.

Size: 5" steam cylinder with 4" stroke and 24" diameter flywheel; vertical and totally enclosed inverted engine with pressurised lubrication.

Purchased from an Essex scrap merchant in 2003 and believed to have been originally used to service greenhouses and out buildings at a large country estate in Essex.

The engine has been repainted and runs well on compressed air, but the big end is well worn and noisy.

Size: 5" steam cylinder with 4" stroke and 24" diameter flywheel; vertical and totally enclosed inverted engine with pressurised lubrication.

This engine was purchased by Simon Carves Ltd in 1950 for the new Nantgarw coke works, Treforrest South Wales and used for the drive to the benzole rectification plant, where crude benzole was processed into motor spirit. In the early seventies the benzole plant was shut down as the process became uneconomic because supplies of motor spirit from oil refineries became readily available.

The plant fell into disuse and remained derelict until the coke works closed in 1987. During those intervening years the brass bearings and other non-ferrous fittings were 'removed', leaving the engine incomplete. The engine was purchased as scrap, dismantled and removed from site in 1988 and eventually transferred to Essex.

Upon further stripping in 1999, the engine was found to be in a poor condition especially the steam control valve and the linkage from the governor, which had been badly damaged during the theft of the components.

The engine with its base plate, has been partially restored. New bearings and several other major parts will be required

4" steam cylinder, 2" pumping cylinder with 4" stroke and 24" diameter flywheel-double acting.

This pump was acquired in August 2004 from a scrap merchant who was supplying skips to the former Industrial & Maritime Museum in Cardiff Docks following their removal of surplus items for scrapping. The pump was found to be in a very poor and damaged condition with many parts missing, probably as the result of poor supervision during previous efforts at dismantling. The pumping cylinder flange was broken and a large section missing, both eccentric blocks rims were also damaged and the reversing mechanism broken beyond repair. Finally one web of the crankshaft had been bent.

This presented a huge challenge for restoration. The crankshaft web was heated to dull red in a large lathe and carefully straightened. Many new parts have been fabricated, including all piston and valve rods and a new extended cylinder cover to incorporate a facility to fix a long bolt from the end of the pumping cylinder cover to the chassis. Replacing the broken cylinder flange without the broken part would have been very difficult. A new reversing eccentric was located and fitted, along with new eccentric straps.

Rebuilt as a generating set and installed in the Hathorn Davey bay, Steam Hall

Size: 4" steam cylinders, 2½" pumping cylinders with 10" stroke

This pump was manufactured by the Birmingham manufacturer of Tangye. It is numbered 41689 and of size 4x2½x10. It is actually called 'the special pump' and has the minimum of moving parts. It is based on the style of the Cornish Pump.

It runs on steam or air and the valve is actuated by the piston striking a small spring loaded plunger valve at the end of its stroke at each end of the cylinder. This allows steam to enter the valve chamber and push the shuttle valve along opening the main steam port directing mains pressure steam into the cylinder. At the end of its stroke the piston block strikes another plunger valve repeating the same procedure in the opposite direction.

The last Double Conqueror built by W. H. Allen.

84,000 gallons per hour at 13.5 feet head.

LACAM:L2380