FredDibnah.co.uk

Correction: Betsy is not going up for sale as previously stated. The auction is for his Aveling and Porter traction engine.

On the day that Fred’s former residence is opening to the public as a Heritage Centre we are getting news that Fred’s Aveling and Porter “Betsy“ traction engine is going up for auction:

Cambridge auction house Cheffins has been instructed by the executors of Fred’s estate to sell the engine. It will go under the hammer at auction next month.And the engine – serial number 7838 – has a guide price of between £110,000 and £130,000.

The auction will be held in Sutton, Cambridge- shire, on Saturday, July 24.

(source – source)

Update #1: Leon over at the newly opened Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre has put a call to action out asking people to donate what he can try to make an offer to buy the engine, we’re told that even if he doesn’t succeed in purchasing the engine the money raised will be put into the Heritage Centre.

The message also says that the Heritage Centre is currently applying for “charitable trust” status.

Full details follow:

from : leon powsney
date: 18 June 2010 05:51
subject: Fred Dibnah Tractor

To all Fred Dibnah fans, this is a call to action, Freds fabulous Tractor is to be autioned off in JULY 2010 which does not give us much time so this is an urgent call for help. The rightfull home for freds tractor is here at Freds home so please donate £1 ( or more if you like ) to raise the money to buy it and bring it home, Fred would be thrilled to know it was back where it was built and where it belongs, the guide price is £130,000 but we expect it to go for possibly double that, if we can get 250,000 people to donate just £1 we have a chance of buying it and if we are successful the tractor will be put into the charitable trust we are setting up ( application is already being dealth with by the charity commission ) so the trust will own it, and we will bring it back to its original conditiion with the help of volunteers, if we are not successful in raising enough to buy the tractor the money raised will be put to good use, it will be spent on improving the Fred Dibnah Heritage centre for the benefit of visitors.

Please Please donate at least £1 and get your friends and family to do the same, spread the word, if everybody tells ten people then this could work, and to have Freds tractor at it rightful home would be Fantastic for everybody.

visit www.freddibnahheritagecentre.co.uk to help or email freddibnahtours@live.com

Update #2: Seem that some folks on eBay have launched fund-raising items, click below for details:

Update #3: Leon over at the heritage centre has confirmed two things. If they are successful in purchasing the traction engine it will be put into the trust that Heritage Centre is currently applying for. Secondly that if they are unsuccessful all donations will be spent by the Heritage Centre or sent to a charity of the donater’s choice. Source (page 6) (you have to register to view this, so here’s a picture of the post)

Update #4This statement from the Dibnah Family regarding the sale of Fred’s traction engine was posted over at the Traction Talk Forum (registration required). A copy is posted below. Click for big.

Statment regarding sale of Fred's engines

Media Links:
“Appeal for Fred fans to steam to rescue of his beloved engine” – Manchester Evening News
“Fred’s engine for sale in bid to settle will dispute” – The Bolton News