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My old mum died recently and when clearing out her house I found this old steam engine in a lean-to shed behind the garage. I don't think the shed door had been opened for at least 20 years since my dad died, the felt on the roof had long gone and a few old garden tools there had rusted to scrap.

I made this steam engine from scratch when I was working as a pumpman on a liquid methane tanker in 1971, I'd not seen it for over 45 years and totally forgotten about it. Unfortunately it's in a bit of a sorry state, well rusted and seized solid - However, I think I'll give it a clean up when I get chance.

It's not a copy or any real steam engine, just vertical, double acting, 1" bore 1" stroke with Stephenson reversing linkage. Base is 8" x 8" and stands around 10" tall.

That looks great and I really admire people who can make things like this from scratch, you need to get it working and post a video of it running

Yep it needs to be restored.

Look forward to seeing the results of your labour.

Redcat

P.S. Don't suppose there was an old miners lamp lurking in that shed?

redcat wrote:Look forward to seeing the results of your labour.

Redcat

P.S. Don't suppose there was an old miners lamp lurking in that shed?

Unfortunately not - There was an old swap and a rusty old Webb push mower with wooden handles.:)

Talking of miners lamps - I know where around a hundred or so old acetylene miners lamps are.. When I worked for British Gypsum ('70's) they shut down one of the mines and amongst all the clutter that was dumped were a load of old lamps, several of the best examples were acquired but the rest, a fair pile just went into landfill where they built a factory extension. Even the tatty ones would be worth a few bob now. :)

Definitely makes Mamods' offerings look a bit puny........

Pete

Pete wrote:Definitely makes Mamods' offerings look a bit puny........

Pete

When I look at it now it all looks a bit crude, but thinking back - the only machinery in the workshop on the ship was a lathe and pillar drill and the only material was what I could scrounge out of the store.

When I told the Chief Engineer I wanted to make a steam engine he said fine - but show me your drawings first. I sketched out a simple oscillating engine like a Mamod but he was unimpressed. He told me to try again, said he wanted to see a double acting engine. :)

Here's simple little one - sitting on a credit card.

That looks superb - I can't wait to see it working!