583 August 2019
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Issue 583 August 2019 Extracts from the National Steam Centre Newsletter Graham Stacey enthusing with Laurie Hall over his first drive of his “Little Grey Fergy “ In this Issue Daves Birthday Who Invented the Ute Pinnaroo Museum August Steam Supreme 2 Bill McRobb snapped a few photos, for us when he came across a very well set up machinery museum which is situated at Pinnaroo SA right on the Victorian border a couple of 100 km South of Mildura. The display is set up in a purpose built building at the and by implementing a roster system have enabled the Mallee Tourist and Heritage Centre based at the former Heritage Center to develop into a major tourist attraction in railway station . It forms part of a collection that along with a Pinarroo that is open every day. number of other display seeks to conserve items of local The genesis of the machinery section was The Gum Family historical significance and tell the story of various aspects of Collection of restored stationary engines, tractors, machines, farm early white settlement in a dry land area. and household memorabilia . The Heritage centre was created by drawing together a number of local groups from around the district after making a site available and providing initial funds. Once off the ground grants were obtained and many local businesses, organisations and individuals contributed while local trades people assisted with building construction and surrounding landscaping. While Bill McRobb concentrated on the machinery displays other aspects common to life in the Mallee are represented such as the local Overall view of the stationary engine hall with a line vegetation , water , fire and land of portable oil engines on the left while those on the use as well as settlement history right are smaller kerosene / diesel engines of the type and the role of women in these used on pumps and lighting plants . Although most of communities. These display are these items are in running order without more run by various groups of volunteers and an effective exhaust extraction system enthusiast on a volunteer basis in the building this is not possible at the moment . August Steam Supreme 3 A view from the other side of the building concentrates more on machinery for handling and processing grain while the far wall has wheatland tractors. One engine that caught Bills attention was this 6 hp single cylinder “Supercharged” 2 stroke Jelbart. Serial no 384 of 6” bore and 8” stroke it was made in Ballarat in 1910 and originally used for chaff cutting and pumping. Jelbarts where considered quirky engines, by most being 2 stroke with a weird stepped piston which was larger at the back end to act as a charging pump. This draws extra volume of mixture into the crankcase on its forward stroke . On the return stroke this is pumped through external transfer pipes on it’s way to the normal end of the cylinder . What is novel is that on its way it passes through what would normally be the water jacket of the cylinder head to assist in the vaporization of the kerosene. It enters the cylinder through ports that are uncovered by the piston where a deflector on the crown directed the spent charge out the corresponding exhaust ports. Being hit and miss on light load they have a distinctive trailing off to their exhaust beat occasionally followed by a loud backfire as the mixture in all these passages is depleted before another lot is admitted. Jelbart's passionately believed in their products guaranteeing no other tractor could better their fuel economy. There was also claims of exceptional power and reliability. The first might have been right due to their supercharging effect but I do know they have a reputation for being very hard to start and get to run properly with many getting returned to the factory for repair and improvements. We have a scarce 4 hp languishing in our Museum that despite being rebuilt by none other than the legendary Frank Gough no one has been able to get it to run!. A Trojan car engine was another quirky engine that caught Bill’s eye . On display was the works showing how a pair of pistons shared a Y shaped connecting rod . It was a 4 cylinder 2 stroke with each pair of cylinders connected at the top to a common combustion chamber . August Steam Supreme 4 A Trojan car engine . It lies on the flat under the front seat . Photographed by Warwick Bryce at Goldsmith. The Y shaped connecting rod . It has to flex slightly as it goes up and down due to the moving from side to side of the crank pin. This causes first one piston and then the other to get ahead of its oppersite which is used to advantage to get assymetrical timming between inlet and exhaust ports. An explanation of the principle was found in a book on Opposed Piston Engines courtesy of Plough Books August Steam Supreme 5 Mystery Object The final piece of machinery is a bit of a drawn in as the wheel is further rotated. There are a number mystery object while claiming to be a pipe threader of machines of different sizes , this being one of the smaller as just how it works is not obvious. the bigger ones had a bevel gear reduction drive to turn the die. Anyway an interesting bit of Vintage workshop machinery. Printing Presses Another display that caught Bill’s eye was the building set up as a printing works. This contains a collection of presses and letterpress types demonstrating the changes in printing technology. The display is accompanied by a video "STOP PRESS! Preserving a Craft", which covers the history and the process involved in Letterpress Printing. This is rather ironic display considering the trouble we are having getting rid of our presses that are considered beyond the scope of our museum! Bill found it surprising how such a small town could have such a good display. I find it interesting how in these rural districts the people all get together and support these kinds of projects to the benefit of the district. In our case we battle along largely on our own and in fact compete with other organizations for funds , members and visitors . I wonder if in these country areas , where everyone depends on each other to a much greater degree than in a big city, if the whole community acts together as a sort of a club of their own where as we are just the minority with a special interest. Warwick An internet search turned up a bit more info on Wiley & Russell maker Greenfield Mass. USA . In the 1870’s they were one of the 2 largest manufactures of taps and dies in the world having invented the split die that was far superior to the old threaded plates. This machine is one of their hand operated “Bolt Cutter and Nut threader “ Imagine the bit of water pipe is not in the machine at all. The die is clamped in the split collar on the end of the spindle in the headstock . The item to be threaded is clamped in the self cantering double jaw vice. Then as the hand wheel is rotate the work is forced forward into the die by the vertical handle allowing the die to catch then the work is August Steam Supreme 6 Who invented the Ute ? Internet pic W i t h t h e d e m i s e o f l o cal production just what a Ute is and who invented it is up for debate with it looking like a number of players are attempting to rewrite history for their own benefit . Long time Automotive Engineer and more recently automotive Historian Warwick Bryce looks into the subject and not all might like his opinion . DEFINITIONS First we need to define a few things so it is clear what we are IS IT A UTE ? We will apply a simple test . It must tick all the boxes talking about, most previous commentators have failed to do this leading to misunderstandings and disputes. Yes A useful vehicle with load space at the back Invention to think up a new device or process that has not Yes 2 doors existed before . Webster's Universal Dictionary / Oxford Advanced dictionary Yes Closed roof Inventor the first person to think up the new design . Yes Derived from a passenger car By definition it follows there can only be one inventor even if several people in different countries arrive at the idea Yes Passenger compartment and load carrying are one load independently one has to be the first. bearing structure with no gap or join in between. Utilitarian / Utility designed to be of practical use / to This can be easily picked because they use car type rear provide such a service. quarter panels. Coupe closed horse drawn vehicle with 1 inside seat for 2 people and an outside seat for the driver - Today relation to cars. A roofed 2 door motor car usually with a sloping back . Oxford A Coupe 1925 Ford Model T Internet So by now you can see where we are going For sale on Internet Utility or Ute Australian term for “Fully Closed Coupe Utility Vehicle” this is not in the dictionaries but is what the 1960 Chev El Camino Y.Y.Y.Y.Y. Ticks all the boxes manufactures referred to them in their day and is the accepted and is clearly derived from a passenger car closed term by Australian Automotive Historians so this is right in coupe.