It was announced last month that controversially Fred’s traction engine was going to be auctioned off. The auction house has now launched the on-line catalogue for the 24th July 2010 auction has it has these details of the traction engine.
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?
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