Route 1, Box 66, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin 53578.
What a coincidence! The Second Great Stationary Engine Rally at
Longleaf was held during the same three weeks my wife, Pearlie, and
I chose to vacation in Great Britain as a special 25th wedding
anniversary trip. Leave it to an engine enthusiast to figure that
out!
We departed from Minneapolis on June 15, late in the afternoon,
and arrived at Gatwick Airport, south of London, early June 16.
Upon arrival we were met by Brian Money and his wife, Vern.
Although we had corresponded for many years, Brian and I had never
met. They took us to their home near Chipping Norton, Oxon, which
is about 90 miles northwest of London. It is located in the very
picturesque Cottswold area of England. During the three weeks we
vacationed in Great Britain, it was the Money’s home that was
our headquarters and ‘home away from home.’
Five days were spent traveling with the Moneys in and around the
Cottswolds. We enjoyed seeing the lush, green countryside, the
quaint well-kept villages, and the beautiful older homes. There was
an abundance of flowering roses in the villages, and many thatched
roofs are seen. During these days and the rest of the trip we found
that the local pub was the best place to go for your food. Each one
seemed to have a personality all of its own, and the food was
usually superb.
One day we spent traveling to Birmingham where we visited the
Museum of Science and Industry. Here there were many very good
examples of the earliest British engines. I was most impressed with
the nice restoring and the fact that many of these engines-both
large and small-were operated on a regular schedule.
One evening we attended the monthly meeting of the Cottswold
Steam Society, of which Brian is a member. It was held on the farm
of one of the members. He had gone to a terrific amount of work
moving most of his engines, tractors and threshing drums
(separators) out of their sheds and having many of them in
operation. The very popular Ploughman’s lunch was served. This
delicious lunch consisted of a large piece of bread or roll, a
large chunk of cheese, a sauce, lettuce and tomato slices, pickle
and beverage.
On Thursday, the 19th, Brian and Vern took us to Banbury where
we picked up a rented Ford Granada which we had rented before we
left home. Friday noon we left the Cottswold area, following the
Moneys in their auto; we traveled southwest to Longleat where we
would spend two days at the Great Engine Rally. By following the
Moneys, who were also going to Longleat, it gave me a good chance
to get used to driving on the left side of the road while sitting
on the right side of the car. Also, it helped familiarize me when
and where to drive in the very frequent round-abouts, which take
the place of our intersections with stop signs.
Longleat:
Longleat, located in the Wiltshire District in the southern part
of England, is a stately house which was started in 1368 as a
monastic establishment. Today it is owned by the 6th Marquess of
Bath, and has been in this family for over 400 years. This
beautifully furnished home is open to the public. Contributions are
used to maintain the house and to preserve it because of its
architectural importance. There is no doubt about it- this was
surely the most impressive setting for an engine rally that I ever
expect to see.
Upon our arrival at the Longleat grounds, we checked in at a
private farm home where we had three nights reservations, using the
B & B (bed and breakfast) plan which is so popular all through
Great Britain. This dairy farm is actually a part of the Longleat
estate.
After having our evening meal at the home, we drove into the
immediate area of Longleat House. The drive is bordered with
towering rhododendrons and leads you through the beautifully
landscaped grounds past the house, to the area where the rally was
held.
Upon arrival at the rally site, we found that several large
areas were roped off and marked with letters (A, B, C, etc.); and
these areas were divided into individual spaces and numbered.
Already there were many engines set up in their proper spaces, and
in the distance we could see the many caravans (campers) of the
exhibitors who had already arrived.
Early Saturday we approached Longleat from another direction; a
recent addition to Longleat is a wild animal park where you drive
your car among the various animals. As we left this fenced in area,
we found ourselves at the crest of a hill, overlooking the Second
Great Stationary Engine Rally.
Finally, after seven years of writing letters and sending voice
tapes back and forth, I had the opportunity to meet David Edgington
and his wife, Doreen, in person. David and I felt that we already
knew one another very well, but it was an exciting moment to shake
his hand.
The engines had rolled in from all over Great Britain; it seemed
they came from all parts of England, with many coming from Wales
and Scotland, too. By noon on Saturday most of the engines were on
display and in operation.
Never have we attended a show with such a high percentage of
extremely good, nicely restored engines on display. When talking to
other collectors who were at the show, they agreed that you could
not go to any other engine rally in Great Britain and see a display
of engines that would compare in quality. Roger Kriebel, and wife
Jean were there from Harleysville, Pennsylvania; Roger agreed that
this was truly an outstanding display.
Although I do not know the exact number of spectators that
attended, the crowds seemed really large. Because the people were
moving around the large rally area, walking across the bridge to
the Longleat House and adjoining gardens and amusement area, it was
most difficult to even estimate the number.
Three modern engine companies donated and set up displays of
their old engines, along with their modern ones. Those companies
included Petter Diesel, R. A. Lister and Co., and Villiers,
Ltd.
On Saturday evening a very enjoyable program was held in a very
large marques (tent) that had been set up on the grounds near the
Longleat House. The popular Ploughman’s lunch was served, and
an outstanding program was presented.
The highlight of the program was a question and answer session
with four of the most knowledgeable enginemen in Great Britain on
the panel. These enginemen were: David Edgington, Charles Hudson,
Ray Hooley, and Charles Cawood. I felt privileged to hear these men
and meet each of them personally. The program for the evening was
well organized and enjoyable.
Four old unrestored engines were donated for raffle prizes.
Raffle tickets were sold by the Rally Committee during the rally,
with over 1200 Pounds ($2400) being realized from this project. We
purchased some tickets, and then worried what we would do if I won
an IHC and had to bring it back to Wisconsin.
Late Sunday found everyone packed up and ready to leave. As
here, it seems the exhibitors wished it could have lasted longer.
They all agreed that the organizations of the event was fantastic
and it was a most enjoyable rally.
It was with a bit of humor that we found that even though we all
spoke English, including those from Scotland and Wales, we did have
a problem understanding one another very often. And as soon as we
said a few words, they knew at once we were from America.
My story on Longleat would not be complete without some facts
about the history of the rally.
It was David and Doreen Edging-ton who fostered the idea of a
Great Stationary Engine Rally in 1979. David is the editor of the
Stationary Engine Magazine, published in England. Doreen is the
assistant editor. The magazine, begun in 1974, is devoted wholly to
gasoline engines or stationary engines (also referred to as barn
engines by many in Britain).
In 1979 David and Doreen decided to hold a ‘one time
only’ Greatest Stationary Engine Rally-it was to be the best
rally ever held in Great Britain. Such a rally would require a
large area, and they found that Longleat would host their show and
furnish a most spectacular setting.
This first rally was held without the help or support of any
particular engine club. With only David and Doreen and a committee
they had put together to help them, they organized and put on this
great rally, drawing the best engines from all of Great
Britain.
The first show was called the 1000 Engine Rally; it was very
successful even though the goal of 1000 engines was not realized.
Over 900 engines were brought in for display and the participants
and spectators had a most enjoyable time. They then put the
pressure on for the Edgingtons to put together another rally.
Finally David and Doreen consented and started to plan the
second rally. Much had been learned from the first one-it was seen
that there just would not be room for 1000 engines and all the
tents and caravans that would be brought in. Therefore, they set a
limit of 800 engines for the second show, with not more than two
engines for each exhibitor. The date chosen was June 20, 21,
1981.
Several months before the rally date, entry forms were enclosed
in an issue of The Stationary Engine Magazine. They Had decided to
allow engines to be exhibited by subscribers to their magazine
only.
Within three weeks after the entry forms had been sent out, the
limit of 800 engines was reached. David said that about 200 more
applications were received, but had to be turned down.
On the entry form all collectors had to list the engines that
they wanted to exhibit, and give the serial number, horsepower,
year built etc. All engine spaces were assigned and in this way
they were able to print up a program that showed the areas, spaces,
name of exhibitor and the information on the engines. This was
quite an undertaking, for sure; however, as a spectator who wanted
to see every engine and take pictures of many, we found the program
indispensable.
When entering the grounds of Longleat, a fee was collected which
was admission to the Longleat grounds and also the engine rally.
David did not receive any of these monies, but his group was
responsible for cleaning up the area of the rally. Exhibitors paid
no entrance fee so in order to have funds to operate the rally,
donations were received from several companies, banks and
individuals. When all obligations were taken care of, David said
there was a little money left over. Perhaps to help finance a Third
Great Stationary Engine Rally?
More English Engines
The Monday after Longleat we left on our self-conducted tour of
Great Britain in our rented car. We traveled south and west into
Cornwall where we saw several of the engine house ruins that mark
the sites of old mines. Two of these engine houses, complete with
their engines, were seen in operation. One is a steam winding
engine of the beam type, built in 1887. With a cylinder 30′ in
diameter, and a piston with a stroke of 9′, it was
designed to run at 17 revolutions per minute.
The other great engine has a cylinder 90′ in diameter,
weighs 125 tons and is the largest and youngest of all engines left
in Cornwall. It was used in a mine from 1892 until 1913 when the
mine failed; then it was moved to a brand new engine house in 1924
where it pumped continuously for nearly thirty years. The size of
these engines is awesome.
After following the coast line of Cornwall we continued
northeast until we crossed the Bristol Channel into Wales.
Following near the coast of Wales we traveled to the northwest area
called Snowdonia. Here we rode to the top of Snowdon Mountain, the
highest point in England and Wales; our transportation was the
Snowdon Mountain Railway, a steam powered cog train which was built
in Switzerland during the 1800s.
Hunday, the National Tractor and Farm Museum, was our next
‘engine’ stop. It was much larger than I expected it to be,
and the machinery is so very well restored and organized. Any
person who is interested in antique machinery would find it well
worth his time to travel to West Cumbria, 14 miles west of
Newcastle, if they ever go to England.
Mr. Moffitt has on display all types of old farm equipment and
tools. To us, of course, the greatest interest was in the two large
buildings of tractors, both American built and many, very early
British; also, the two areas of gas engines. What a fantastic
collection of old engines, including one of the oldest
Crossley-Otto engines I have ever seen-a 6 B.H.P. built in 1887.
There was a room of models of all types which was a sight to
behold! Also, steam engines were on display.
After visiting Hunday, we returned to Chipping Norton. The next
day we attended the Banbury Steam Society Rally near Banbury which
included displays of steam engines, tractors, gas engines and more.
Steam lorries (trucks) were interesting and a first for us to see.
Among the tractor displays was a Cat ‘R 2’, shown by our
host, Brian Money. Of course, the gas engine display was very
interesting to me. Another display that was intriguing was old
military vehicles that had been restored. Most of these were Second
World War vehicles and they ranged from Army bicycles and
motorcycles to jeeps, trucks, armoured personnel carriers and
tanks. Quite a few of them were old U.S. Army vehicles.
The typical engine rally that we saw had a more festive
atmosphere than those we see in the United States. At the Banbury
there were several fair organs operated by showman’s engines.
Also, they had a modern tractor pull, run much the same as ours
are. A carnival and flea market were set up also.
Although I consider myself a confirmed ‘gas engine’
fellow, I must admit that the displays which fascinated me the very
most were the big, beautiful, colorful steam showman’s engines;
they are breathtaking-they are items of fantastic detail and each
one is a real masterpiece!
We had the opportunity to see the ‘Supreme’-which is
considered by most everyone in Britain to be the number one
showman’s engine. Many of you have probably seen pictures of
this engine as it is widely used on books, calendars, magazines and
other items. It required 12 years (25,000 hours) to restore this
engine. What a beautiful, massive machine it really is!
Never before had I seen a steam ploughing engine-they are so
massive and well-built. Steam rollers were much more common there.
It is evident that the steam traction engines built in England are
very different from those built in America -they are built much
better in many ways.
The next day we traveled back down to Westbury, in Wiltshire, to
spend a couple of days with David and Doreen Edgington. As I got to
know David, I found that he has a fantastic memory for engine
information and surely the best library of old and new gas engine
books that I have ever seen. David has an outstanding collection of
Petter engines-he also has a collection of several small, beautiful
engines.
We returned to our Cottswold home and spent the rest of the week
with Brian and Vern Money. A trip to London was made by train which
was very modern, fast and on time! We left Gatwick Sunday
afternoon, and arrived in Minneapolis, also on Sunday
afternoon.
After this trip I find that many engine names have a whole new
meaning to me. The most common and popular were Lister, Wolseley,
Villiers, and Petter; these I was somewhat familiar with. But names
like Ruston Hornsby, Richard Hornsby, Crossley, National, Tangye,
Blackstone, Hornsby Akroyd, Stuart and Gardner were strange to me.
They are such well-built, very nice looking engines. Among the U.S.
built engines which we saw there, Amanco was the most popular.
Amanco means Associated Manufacturing Company. There are also
several Fairbanks-Morse of different types, Nelson Bros., Witte,
International (both the Famous and Type M), Stover, Detroit,
Emerson Brantingham, and even my favorite Fuller & Johnson. In
fact, there were five F & J’s on display at Longleat. These
are not all the names of engines which I saw, but those come to
mind now.
We enjoyed our trip to Great Britain immensely; it is a trip
never to be forgotten. The people we met were so warm and
friendly-their kindness will never be forgotten.
Perhaps some of you will plan a trip to Great Britain-hopefully
there will be a Third Great Stationary Engine Rally for you to
attend.
