Details come from “The Bolton News“:

FRED Dibnah fans are being invited to act as guides at the TV steeplejack’s old home.
….
Now he is looking for volunteers to show people around the heritage centre on guided tours.

At the moment there are four tours a week — Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and two sessions on Saturdays.
….
Mrs Powsney said: “Everything is going really well so far — and now we want to give Fred Dibnah fans the chance to volunteer with us.

“Enthusiasm and a knowledge of Fred and his work is important and we will help build on that.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people to get involved and it only needs to be a few hours a week.”

Anyone interested in volunteering should call Mr Powsney on 07801 255486 or e-mail freddibnahtours@live.com

The estimated price was in the region of £120,000 – £140,000, but in the end it sold for twice that.

(credit: Lovejoy3755)
It has been announced that the engine was purchased by Michael Oliver, the founder of Cheshire-based manufacturer Oliver Valves. (source)

After securing the item for the North West, Mr Oliver said: “Fred Dibnah is a cult figure and national institution. It is vital that his engineering genius and his priceless contribution to our cultural heritage continues to be celebrated for years to come.

“We are already planning outings at steam shows, so the thousands of steam enthusiasts and Fred Dibnah fans – and their children – can continue to enjoy this iconic machine.”

(source)

In another quote, Mr Oliver said:

“I’m going to use it to go to the pub. There’s no point in owning something if you don’t use it.”

Cheffins also mention:

Michael Oliver has also offerred to Fred’s son Jack to have the opportunity to drive the engine and it is intended that the engine appears at Steam Shows across the UK.

Pictures from the auction

Fred' s traction engine being viewed at Cheffins before auction

(many thanks to Philippa for sending some of the above pics along)

See more picture of the Traction Engine section of our Picture Gallery.

It’s now with Jack and Roger Dibnah on the Isle of Man. Congratulation to Jack, Roger and team for finally being able to get her ‘home’.

Home at last

Yet more on Roger Dibnah’s Facebook page.

Lot 1584
Details: On instructions from the beneficiaries and exors of the estate of Fred Dibnah MBE (Deccd)
1912 AVELING & PORTER LTD Class KND CONVERTIBLE TRACTION ENGINE
Engine No. 7838
Reg. No. TA2436
Weight: 10tons
Built: December 1912
Compound
One of the best known engines in the country having been owned and tirelessly restored by the late Fred Dibnah over 27 or so years and featured in the BBC TV series Made in Britainn. Its restoration having been enthusiastically documented through the various TV shows that Fred presented over two decades in television. There is nothing more to add here about Fred that has not already been said about one of the iconic figures in the steam preservation movement. It is clear though that the enthusiasm he amply displayed on TV is reflected in the restoration of this excellent traction engine. Engine No. 7838 was dispatched from Aveling & Porterss Rochester works in December 1912 to West Sussex County Council, together with 7836, 7837 and 7839 respectively. They were described on the build records as KND 4hp motor tractor and roller combinedd. 7838 was delivered on 4th December 1912 and was fitted with a two-tine scarifier No. 1256. It is believed that all four engines were identical and were supplied with a set of rolls and straked wheels. Aveling & Porter built more steam rollers than all the other manufacturers combined and also built traction engines, wagons and even a couple of pairs of steam ploughing engines. In producing a convertible engine capable of being used for both rolling and as a traction engine their product became more desirable particularly for larger organisations such as County Councils, who could keep their costs down by purchasing one engine capable of doing two jobs. It is believed that in 1916 No. 7838 was commandeered by the War Department and was subsequently acquired by Devon County Council after the war for use as a roller as Fleet No. 20 (dated 1927). By 1967 the engine had been laid up and was purchased by Peter Froud after it had been discovered in a layby. Fred acquired the engine from Peter Froud in 1979. Fred started restoration of this engine in tractor form with many new parts manufactured and produced by Fred in his workshop at his home in Bolton. The restoration of the engine was completed shortly before his death on 6th November 2004 following his 3 year fight against cancer but not before it had featured in the BBC TV Series Made in Britainn, which Fred presented. The engine is a tribute to Fredds perseverance and attention to detail which was evident in everything that he did. The engine was last used to pull Fredds coffin through Bolton to his funeral on 16th November 2004. It is understood that there is a current hydraulic test, which is due for renewal by 15th April 2011 and that the last boiler certificate expired in August 2005.

What is also interesting is that there are two other Fred related items in that same auction:

Lot 1048
Details: Tangye, Birmingham. Single cylinder high speed stationary steam engine, fitted with a centrifugal governor. It was rescued from a brewery in Warrington, probably Greenalls, by Fred Dibnah, who used it to drive a saw bench and stone cutting saw in his yard. It was apparently in working order when he died, but hasnnt run since

and

Lot 1047
D. Stewart, Glasgow. Double diagonal V form 2 cylinder stationary steam engine, in unrestored condition. It was the back-up engine for one that drove a machine that Fred Dibnahhs father operated at Stephen Glaister Ltd, Dyers and Finishers, of Bolton. It was sent to a scrap yard in 1985 from where Fred rescued it in 1996, with the intention of using it for underground winding in the pit shaft he was building.

I note that neither of the two latter items seem to be listed in connection with the “beneficiaries and exors of the estate of Fred Dibnah”, which makes it look like a private seller.

I would be interested to find out who selling these two Fred engines, anyone know?

Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre

Roger Dibnah just made a post over on the excellent Traction Talk Forum (free registration required), hinting about the reason for the sale of Fred’s traction engine, but on a more up beat note letting us know that Betsy, the green living van and Fred’s Land rover, Landy, will be making a welcome return to the rally scene next year. Here’s a screen shot of the post, but it’s well worth registering on the Traction Talk Forum.

Fred's back garden mine shaft

After months of planning and hard work Fred Dibnah’s former residence has finally opened today as a Heritage Centre.

Booking is essential to visit the heritage centre. For details email freddibnahtours@live.com.

Details will be added here as they come in. If you attended the event or saw some media coverage that we’ve missed please post details below. Thanks!

Update #1: Leon posted that he was up at 6am this morning:

Hi all, Many thanks for all your kind words, we are truly moved by your good wishes, its 6am on the morning of our grand opening and I am just about to go out in the yard tidying up after the last minute work that needed to be done, still got some work to do this morning like filling in the 20ft long 2ft deep trench dug for the new underground cables and putting the floorboards back in the house where they had to feed the cables to the fusebox, ouch my backs not what it was, in the yard last night till midnight with the sparky’s getting the lighting right, we now have a lighting extravaganza at night better than Blackpool Illuminations so if you are passing take a peek.

Update #2: BBC Radio Manchester interviewing several people:

Phil Humphries is one of the volunteers at the Heritage Centre and he described the whole thing as “magic”.

Adding: “You can see for yourself, it’s got an ambience about it and this is all to do with Fred Dibnah.

“It’s the mine shaft, it’s the workshop, it’s the top of the chimney – it’s magic, pure magic.” (source)

Update #3: We are reminded that you can buy official Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre Memorabilia. Click here for details.

Update #4: “THEY travelled from as far as Sutton Coldfield and Loughborough to look around Fred Dibnah’s “Aladdin’s cave” of a work yard.” (source)

Update #5: “Full steam ahead for Fred Dibnah museum” (source)

Update #6: “”Fred’s yard tour is a proper treat”

..the idea of looking around a yard full of old junk (in my eyes) didn’t exactly fill me with joy.

But the enthusiasm of Leon and his team, which includes Fred’s mate Alf Molyneux, is very infectious and you do get a real sense of history and the spirit of Fred, who spent decades working in the yard and its various workshops.

The mineshaft which caused so much controversy has been lit from within to give visitors a glimpse at the project Fred had always hoped would be his legacy while in the main workshop, which stands silent for now, you can imagine the belts and the machinery whirring and clattering away as Fred went about his business.

And there are even a few reminders of its previous owner, with Fred’s work pants, jumpers and raincoat hanging from various pulleys and ropes used in years gone by to lift ladders and anvils.

(source - source)

More pictures of the opening day can be found here.

BBC North West Tonight News Footage

(credit)

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

He said in a recent interview with “This is Lancashire“:

“We are halfway through the job, but I could really do with some help from the public and Fred’s fans to pay for this. It has completely wiped me out.

We will be opening on Tuesday, make no mistake about that. We have worked very hard and we have complied with everything that has been asked of us.

I am still glad that I bought the property and I am in love with the place.”

FH Brundle have recently donated fencing and mesh for around the mine shaft, as well as many members of the public donating money as part of the “Sponsor-a-Brick” competition and purchasing official Heritage Centre Memorabilia.

Leon also mentioned that they have made their first group booking:

The first coach party is booked for September and we have some people booked in for the tour on Tuesday. It is going to be a very historic day because it will be the first time we have done a tour of the new heritage centre.

Remember that there are still lots of items for sale on their official eBay shop, click for more details:

New Bust for Bolton Museum

As we learned late last year, Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive will open later this year with a new bronze bust of Fred Dibnah by Bolton born artist Dr John Pilkington.

The making of a portrait bust cast in bronze would mean that Fred’s bust would undergo the industrial process of being poured in molten metal, something that Fred loved so much.

(source more )

I have to say it looks much better than other busts of Fred that we have seen before. What do you think?