Albaret "La Grenouille"
“La Grenouille”. Built between 1900-1911. 12hp. 3.5 tons. Single Cylinder Portable. Albaret started building farm machinery in 1847 at Ratigny, near Paris, France. This portable engine was probably supplied new to the French Foreign Legion who took it to Mali in Africa where it would have been used to pump water or similar. It remained there until the early 1990’s when it was discovered by a Mr. John Paul of Dorset who brought it back to this Country. Shortly after this he sold it to Mr Michael List-Brain of Kent from where the present Owner purchased it in 1997. Owned by: Glenn Carter, Blackwater, Truro.
A W Smith
Built circa 1860’s. 2nhp. Portable Steam Engine. Little is known of the history of this engine, which was built by A.W. Smith Engineers Ltd. of Glasgow and appears to be unique in the Northern Hemisphere. Prior to being purchased by the present owner it is known that the engine was brought back to this country having spent some time with an owner in Holland, who had previously acquired it from Latvia. It was purchased by its present owner at the 2002 Great Dorset Steam Fair auction and since this time has been completely rebuilt. Owned by: Bernard & Peter Lobb, Summercourt.
Fowell No 97
No. 97. Reg. CE 7893. “The Black Prince”. Built 1907. 7nhp. 10.5 tons. Single Cylinder Traction Engine, manufactured at St. Ives, Hunts. The first of its make preserved in Cornwall. Out of 109 engines built by Fowells only seven are known to exist. New to J .P. Charter, Comberton, Cambs., she saw a number of owners during her working life and was rescued and restored by the late Tom Paisley, Holywell, Hunts. an authority on this make of engine. Purchased by the present owners from the Southampton area in October 1986 since when major boiler work has been carried out including the fitting of a new firebox etc. Owned by: Glen & Wendy Carter, Blackwater, Truro.
Sentinel No 6979
No: 6979. Reg: YH 5763. “Elizabeth”. Built 1927. Super Sentinel. Three Way Tipper Steam Waggon. “Elizabeth” was delivered new in June 1927 to G. Franklin & Sons, Coal Merchants of St. Pancras, London, and was used for the bulk delivery of coal and coke. In 1935 it was converted to pneumatics from solid tyred wheels and also had windscreens and a basic electrical system fitted. It had a number of Owners (including one of the Founder Members of the W.E.S.E.S. the late Joseph Warren in the early 1960’s) until June 1990 when it was purchased by D. Gransden of Upchurch, Kent, who carried out a total restoration which was completed in 1991 to bring it up to the condition in which it is now seen. In may 1999 he drove the waggon from John O Groates to Lands End. The waggon was then purchased by a Mr. Slingsby in 2000. The present Owner purchased this waggon in August 2008 when his eldest son Joseph, on seeing it for the first time, christened it “Elizabeth” (after “Elizabeth” in the Thomas the Tank Engine series). Owned by: Christopher Vincent, Summercourt, Newquay.