[SEL] pre 1900 engine

[Rob Skinner]

On Jan 11, 2012, at 5:26 PM, Russell wrote:

> Some time back early in 2011 I posted a request for anyone with info to contact me in my hunt for a pre 1900 engine. ?? remember ........ lol. Yes you guest it the response was overwhelming. 
> 
> Well thats not quite true I had emailed a couple of chaps of list with some possibilities of people to ring. I did make a few calls. Quite a learning experience when one asks about the real early stuff. 
> Well after much contemplation and the moving out of some other hard ware I have found some space to include this engine to my collection.
> 
> http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/582151034yacoJF
> 
> My engine is an Atlas Oil engine made by E Humphries & Co Ld Engineers Pershore, number 153. It is currently the only known example. I is going to need some work for sure but I great project none the less. Picture supplied by Patrick Knight of engine 158 show the missing parts from my engine. How ever everyone who I have spoken to are at a loss to how the engine fires; it's correct ignition and pre heating set up. Documents read the engine is preheated to a point where the engine would run of the hot built heat. It has all the hormarks of a fuel system the same as a Hornsby Akroyd. Yet this engine has an ignitor (which I feel is not correct) that may possibly supposed to be there? Any ideas and thoughts are welcome. I am thinking perhaps some kind of hot tube assembly where it could be heated prior to starting. But the pic of engine 158 does not conclude this either. Maybe the front plate on mine may be non original? 
> 
> regards Russ

Beautiful, Russ. 
She looks a bit Hornsbyesque, but I don’t understand the ignition, either. I’ll have to get out the books later.

Adios, mate.