August 2001
PARAFFINALIA No 12
Hello All!
Saying of the month: In a recent The
Old Machinery Magazine from Australia, came some good advice. It is for
use when tackling a restoration project, and it goes something like this:
1.Warn the family that the project is/isn't more important than they
are. 2.Triple the cost estimate. 3. Quadruple the time estimate. 4.
The part you most needed to complete the project was thrown away by somebody
just the other day. 5. When the project's finished, some smart Alec will find
fault with it.
Big Show at Brandvlei: Friday and Saturday 10th &
11th August were the days of the Annual Show of the Western Cape Tractor
& Engine Club, of which many of us are also members. Members or not,
anybody was welcome to attend, exhibit, and at the payment of a small fee,
be able to stand a chance of winning a prize. Derick Kleynhans
won First Prize for his Ronaldson-Tippet, and Second fro his Delcolite.
Petrus Roux won a deserving Third prize with his Swedish
Berg engine, which we had not seen before. Many thanks to Arthur
Wilding for doing the judging, which in our non-competitive Society,
is not a thing any of us enjoy. Exhibitors also included Oom Flip
Viljoen, Philip Gray-Taylor, Arthur Wilding, John McGregor, Johnny &
Pieter Verreynne, Hermann Geldenhuys, the Stemmet family
of Johan, his Dad, and his sons Willem & David,
and myself. Derick was pleased to be able to get his B&L running
with the help of Arthur Wilding, who brought along the
magneto from his B&L engine. Although Arthur's engine was sold in Stutterheim,
in the Eastern Cape, and Derick's in 
Heidelberg, they have consecutive serial numbers! Lots of other members
came along to look, and we appreciated their support, so did the rest of
the Trekkermanne, who asked me to say how they had appreciated our input
to the Show. We in turn should thank them for laying on the show in the
first place, because as we know all too well, shows don't just happen. Particularly
to be thanked is Herman Neethling. Also to be thanked amongst
the Trekkermanne must be Herman Giliomee, for bringing
a lot of Derick's engines to the show. The variety and unbelievable
quality of restoration and presentation of the tractors was breathtaking!
Next year, the show will be held at Kleinplasie museum, in Worcester and
we hope for a big turn out of both exhibitors and spectators. See details
below, under Tractor & Engine Club.NEWS: Flip Viljoen
has come home with another haul of engines, including a Fowler Diesel, type
D, 5 HP at 1000 RPM. We haven't come across one of those before, along with
a National horizontal diesel, in poor uncomplete condition, although one
of its flywheels is intact, and he will be able to use it in place of the
broken one on his other National. 
There was also a 2-cylinder Bamford diesel, and a machine for processing
grain, although we're going to have to ask the experts what in fact it is!
Oom Flip is also helping Petrus Roux with the restoration
of his Ruston & Hornsby 6X HR, and we were able to measure up the side-shaft
skew-gear of Oom Johan Bruwer's engine which was with me
for repair, to have a replacement made by Speedwell Engineering in Cape
Town.
There was also a 2-cylinder Bamford diesel, and a machine for processing
grain, although we're going to have to ask the experts what in fact it is!
Oom Flip is also helping Petrus Roux with the restoration
of his Ruston & Hornsby 6X HR, and we were able to measure up the side-shaft
skew-gear of Oom Johan Bruwer's engine which was with me
for repair, to have a replacement made by Speedwell Engineering in Cape
Town.The job on the Ruston & Hornsby 6X HR of Johan
& Pierre Bruwer is progressing nicely, with teeth built up
and machined on a damaged crownwheel in the governor by Izumi Engineering
in Cape Town. We hit a snag with the paint matching. Two attempts by Plascon
in Cape Town to match a sample in ordinary enamel produced laughable results.
I asked Pippa what to do, and she told me to go to Johan Ryke
and fetch some yellow & black. Yellow and black?? Well, I know better
than to argue with my wife, and in a jiffy, we had a colour that was closer
to the sample than any of the so-called experts had produced. It helps to
have an artist in the family!
Johan Stemmet reports that, while on holiday
in the Verwoerd area, he came across Oom Kobus Grobbelaar,
who has restored several engines and cars, among them, a Ruston & Hornsby
2Y HR, which was below a dam wall in Philippolis. The wall washed away and
buried the engine. When oom Kobus retired, he decided to
dig it out and restore it. Interestingly, the engine was installed and serviced
by none other than C R Wolhuter, of Robertson. The original engine man can
remember the engine being brought from Robertson in crates and being
set up, way back in 1937. Trouble is, according to Andre Du Toit's
RAC Route book of '38, that's 512 miles away! 820 km is a
long way to change a filter!
Peter Boast and Lindsay Madden have just been
on a trip to Xai Xai in Mocambique. (pronounced Shy Shy). On the way, they
found an old Deutz 2-stroke diesel, on an original factory-supplied trolley. They
have made arrangements to collect it later this month, and we look forward
to seeing it restored and running soon. See Right:They were able to look around the railway workshops in Xai
Xai, all driven by one engine with line-shafting intact, but were unfortunately
forbidden from taking photographs.
Peter Gildenhuys rang in to say that he'd
found a place in Durban where he was able to source spares for the Ruston
& Hornsby 1 HR which he's restoring. The firm has 30 years experience
in Rustons, and it's called Prelora Parts, Phone No 031 705 4130, ask
for Logan. He mentioned in passing that the place in Gauteng where he managed
to get a conrod for his Lister A is Bush Engineering, Phone No 011 493 6077.
Ask for Corena (Corrina?). When he was there, he noticed reconditioned Lister
D's amongst the engines for sale, but didn't think to ask prices!
Johan Mundey has written in to say that Alfie Shand
has contacted him from North Queensland in Australia, to say that he has
sent all the information Johan needs in connection with the missing parts
of his Bentall engine. See Right: Look at that magnificent badge! We
look forward to progress reports from Johan on that project. (Johan has now received the envelope, and
the contents are more than he had hoped for.) He now feels he can tackle
his Bentall, so that he can try out his magnificently restored Stamford
mill.Hendrik van der Berg in Douglas reports that
at long last he has managed to get hold of a very old Case baler. After three
years, he eventually persuaded the 96-year-old owner that it was unlikely
that he would be needing it commercially!
Jan Wicht was at the Brandvlei show, and reports
that he has made progress on his big Crossley. First he was helped with a
workshop manual by Geoff Challinor at the Anson Museum in
Poynton, near Manchester, then Arthur Wilding was kind
enough to lend him the big-end complete from his similar engine, which has
been used as a pattern to cast a replacement. This and the big-end bolts
are being machined by Federal Mogul in Paarden Eiland, and a white metal
bearing will be poured into this, and machined by them also. Watch this
space!
Hermann Geldenhuys has found this web page,
http://www.old-engine.com/fm15yh.htm in which Harrry F Matthews explains
all there is to know about the Fairbanks Morse YH, like Dries and
Mynhardt Mulder are busy with, of Julian Melck.
(And like the one of Piet Bliksem Liebenberg, which we
started up and wrote the article about) I'm sure it will be most useful
to Dries & Mynhardt, and I wish we had all that information with us
when we were messing around at Piet's place!
Australian News: Brian Arton
has been on a visit to the Cape, and called in to the workshop
and farm, to have a look at our toys. He had a good look at the Clayton
& Shuttleworth Trusty engine, and took photo's. He's planning to look
in on Ron Keech at the Gunnedah Rural History Museum after
he gets back. Brian attends the Gunnedah Agri Expo with the firm he represents,
Satloc in August each year, so a visit to the museum is a must, as Ron has
the only other 'fixed' C&S Trusty known to exist. The two with the Timms
family are both portables. If he can get to see the two Timms
Clayton & Shuttleworth Trusties at Doreen, on the outskirts of Melbourne,
then he will have the rare distinction of being the only person to have
seen all four! Brian says he recently visited the Caboolture (rhymes with
vulture) Historical Village, just North of Brisbane, Qld, and thoroughly
enjoyed it. The advertisement in The Old Machinery Magazine says that a
visitor should allow at least 3 hours. Sounds like some of us would need
3 days!
New Zealand News: Some time ago, I
saw a report in the Australian The Old Machinery Magazine by Gordon
Hayes from Christchurch in the South Island. From the photographs
he sent in, it seems that their views on restoration are similar to ours,
with an accent on driven machinery also. I was pleasantly surprised by a
reply from a 'Japie' member of their club, Keith Brinch, who hails from
Durbanville in the Cape! He has just got hold of a 3HP Blackstone, and he
says they have members with 2, 4, and above Blackstones, but none with a
3. Can anybody help? He is missing parts of the fuel control mechanism,
as this engine, like our Clayton & Shuttleworth Trusty, was converted
to carb and spark-ignition. He can be contacted at Brinch.Fam@xtra.co.nz.
USA News. Allen Shively from Maryland
wrote in to say: "Talking about pumps, I just bought a Gould's Pyramid
style 2x2 size pump. It is on a wagon belted to a 3 ½ HP Hercules
hit and miss gas engine. Bob Lemmert and I had it
pumpming water today for the first time!! It will make a nice show
piece!" See Right:Some of you will by now have heard of the dreadful accident
which occured at a Fair at Medina USA. A traction engine is reported to have
been transported to the show fired up, and with low water. The engine was
driven forwards down the ramp, exposing the firebox crown, which became
overheated, and when they levelled out, the thing exploded, resulting in
four deaths and many injuries. This will no doubt lead to more rules and
regulations being put into force, but the main lesson is: Don't Take Chances!
New Members. (Remember, membership
involves opening and reading the newsletter only, no rules, no subs!) Last
month, I introduced Neels Booyens in Pretoria as Booysens.
Sorry Neels! Philip was contacted recently by Marius Meiring
in Port Elizabeth, looking for decals for a John Deere, and he reports that
the second show of the year at the Bathurst Museum is about to take place.
We'd like also to welcome Kobus Grobelaar, who Johan
Stemmet met on holiday, as mentioned above. Johan also introduced
me to Gawie Rousseau, 
who gave him his little red Ruston & Hornsby YB water-cooled, like mine.See right: Gawie has got hold of an R&H
2V SH, in just-reconditioned condition. It had hardly worked a week after
overhaul, when electricity was connected to the farm where it worked. Ian
Gillon found out about us through Yuri Peila.
Ian is in the heavy vehicle section of GUD Filters, and was bitten by the
bug by having to take a Lister D and an SR3 along with a Myford lathe he
was buying. Being interested in old 'bikes,
who gave him his little red Ruston & Hornsby YB water-cooled, like mine.See right: Gawie has got hold of an R&H
2V SH, in just-reconditioned condition. It had hardly worked a week after
overhaul, when electricity was connected to the farm where it worked. Ian
Gillon found out about us through Yuri Peila.
Ian is in the heavy vehicle section of GUD Filters, and was bitten by the
bug by having to take a Lister D and an SR3 along with a Myford lathe he
was buying. Being interested in old 'bikes, stationary engines were a logical progression. Kobus
Groenewald from Stilbaai made contact at the Brandvlei show, saying
he has been collecting along with his 47 tractors, an interesting array
of stationary engines and driven equipment, including a pair of Ruston &
Hornsby's 5HR's connected by a split flywheel. So it's not a normal
5HRCm but something else, along with its generator, which he plans to mount
in a stand-by generator room, which will double as a museum. If his restored
engines are going to look like his prize-winning tractors, watch out folks!
I took a chance and lifted the address of Rob North from
an e-mail of Denis Usher, and sent him a newsletter. He
is the Secretary of the Natal Vintage Engine & Machinery Club, and he
wrote that he was delighted to have made contact with the Western Cape,
as we are to have linked up with them. Fanie Smit called
in at the Brandvlei show, he is Hermann Geldenhuys' brother-in-law,
and he helped him with the bearings of the Fairbanks Morse YH which he restored
in conjunction with Tizzie, from the Caledon Museum. Fanie
runs the Engineering Shop in Graafwater. Hermann's wife (and
Fanie's sister) Elana has also reported that she
has been badly bitten by the bug, and that she particularly likes BIG engines!
We met Pieter Fourie at the Villiersdorp Show last year,
but somehow, didn't make further contact. He and his wife, Carolyn,
were at the Brandvlei show, and are now completely hooked! Pieter is going
to take over the project of a Wolseley 'Cistern-hopper' with close coupled
pump, which John McGregor had partly restored (to his usual
high standard), and handed over to me, on whom it was like throwing pearls
to swine! Let's see what Pieter can make of it! Pieter also suggested we
make contact with Gordon Riley in Greyton, who has similar
interests. A piece of paper with an e-mail address was thrust into my hand
by somebody at the Brandvlei Show. (was it you, Christie Koch?)
It had the name Pieter Le Roux, of Mollevel Voerkraal
in Waterpoort. Well, he's been sent a newsletter, and we look forward to
hearing from Waterpoort. I was also pleased to find that fellow members
of the Trekker & Enjinklub committee are coming forward and reporting
that they have engines which they are keen to restore. Chairman Pierre
Rossouw has a FM ZD, Herman Neethling of Worcester,
something that sounds like a FM ZB, incomplete, needing identification first,
then Hennie De Jongh of Malmesbury admits to owning a number
of engines including a Bernhard petrol, and a Deutz. Don't forget Ceres
delegate Jacques Hough with the big Tangye's.
He has set himself the task of having one at the next year's big show at
Brandvlei. I nearly forgot, Hennie Richter, the Secretary,
has found a Lister which used to drive the water supply pump for Yzerfontein.
He is looking for somebody to restore it for their museum. Then Johnny
Verreynne (Montagu) and Johan Stemmet (Robertson/old
lorries) have always been enjinmanne, so that leaves only Oom Jan
Du Toit, and Herman Giliomee, See Right, on his tractor, whose son Louru
was lending me a hand with my FM ZB, which gave problems at the show!
It had the name Pieter Le Roux, of Mollevel Voerkraal
in Waterpoort. Well, he's been sent a newsletter, and we look forward to
hearing from Waterpoort. I was also pleased to find that fellow members
of the Trekker & Enjinklub committee are coming forward and reporting
that they have engines which they are keen to restore. Chairman Pierre
Rossouw has a FM ZD, Herman Neethling of Worcester,
something that sounds like a FM ZB, incomplete, needing identification first,
then Hennie De Jongh of Malmesbury admits to owning a number
of engines including a Bernhard petrol, and a Deutz. Don't forget Ceres
delegate Jacques Hough with the big Tangye's.
He has set himself the task of having one at the next year's big show at
Brandvlei. I nearly forgot, Hennie Richter, the Secretary,
has found a Lister which used to drive the water supply pump for Yzerfontein.
He is looking for somebody to restore it for their museum. Then Johnny
Verreynne (Montagu) and Johan Stemmet (Robertson/old
lorries) have always been enjinmanne, so that leaves only Oom Jan
Du Toit, and Herman Giliomee, See Right, on his tractor, whose son Louru
was lending me a hand with my FM ZB, which gave problems at the show!Tractor & Engine Club Preparations
for next year's show are well in hand. The plan is that the tractors will
be displayed in rows, by make and age, with, at the most recent end of the
row, a trade stand of the current distributors of that make, or its successor.
We have been allocated a pleasant central place under trees not far from
the grandstand, but far away enough for our noise not to disturb the Public
Address system. We are looking for a sponsor firm who would have a commercial
stand next to us, preferably, but not necessarily, somebody who now
sells stationary engines. I am open to suggestions, please.
For Sale / Available:
If anyone out there knows of
any commercially manufactured hot air engines going, in any condition, please
contact Mike Thurgood on (021) 552-6634, or mikethurgood@yebo.co.za.
Remember, Philip Gray-Taylor has a good selection of engine
transfers, as advertised in Stationary Engine Magazine, and he
can also supply stickers of the official shape Ruston, in gold, in any length.
They came out in 7", and 9".Special offer Wolseley transfers
@ R27/pair postage paid in R.S.A. See right:
He also has a locally-developed type of flat-belt
fastener which you break off the length you need accorcing to the width
of your belt, and hammer it down on a flat surface, or squeeze it with a
G-clamp. Ideal for the rally-field! Contact him on (021) 552 3247, or ptaylor@worldonline.co.za.
Philip also spotted this pile of Lister A's at Faure Engineering
the other day:
See Right:
Wanted: Philip Gray-Taylor is looking
for a Carb for his rare A Wafflard engine mentioned above, which Kees
Fitters says should be a 'Longuemare'. No harm in asking! He
asks: How does one ensure that an engine doesn`t manufacture
black soft gummy carbon from running unloaded, too cold and probably using
a little oil as well, as opposed to a modern engines'` hard white carbon?
It has happened to my Inters as well.
Chris Dry is desperately looking for parts for his 1962 Mercedes truck, Model LK332. He is particularly looking for the cab marker lights, badge and grille. Perhaps a bumper also. He'd also appreciate a manual or any technical info on it. He's also looking for a Carb and a Magneto for the Crossley PH 1050, 7 BHP, 550 RPM mentioned above.Contact him through me, or at haraka@worldonline.co.za.
Kobus Grobbelaar is looking for an injector for a Petter 2-stroke. Please contact Johan Stemmet if you can help.
Chris Dry is desperately looking for parts for his 1962 Mercedes truck, Model LK332. He is particularly looking for the cab marker lights, badge and grille. Perhaps a bumper also. He'd also appreciate a manual or any technical info on it. He's also looking for a Carb and a Magneto for the Crossley PH 1050, 7 BHP, 550 RPM mentioned above.Contact him through me, or at haraka@worldonline.co.za.
Kobus Grobbelaar is looking for an injector for a Petter 2-stroke. Please contact Johan Stemmet if you can help.
Directory of Services/Spares. Hermann Geldenhuys
is drawing up a list of suppliers of goods and services to our
hobby. Another Engine Rebuilder has offered his services to the restoration
movement, and that is Hammond's in Robertson. As mentioned above, Federal
Mogul in Paarden Eiland are equipped to pour and machine white metal bearings.
Hermann himself has found Cape Solder Supplies, a useful source of supply
of Babbit Bearing material, under the trade name of WM 8.Above are mentioned Prelora
Parts in Durban, and Bush Engineering in Gauteng. Louis Chanu here in Grabouw
can help with small-run 'investment' castings, also known by the name of
the 'lost wax process'. Also mentioned above for gear making are both Izumi
Engineering, and Speedwell Engineering, both in Cape Town. Please contact
Hermann with your favourite supplier's details, and he'll add it to the
list. Please contact Hermann on his home number after hours at (028) 212
3304, or geldenhj@telkom.co.za
What's On:
Friday 24th & Saturday 25th August, 2001. Tractor Road Run to Calvinia Meat Festival. Contact Simon de Jongh on 021 987 2920, or Deon Joubert on 022 461 2814.
Thursday 30th August to Saturday 1st September 2001.
Piketberg Show. Please support Peter Gildenhuys, he came
all the way to the Winter Warm-up! Last year, a few of our members were there,
let's make it more this year.
Friday 14th & Saturday 15th September 2001.
Tractor Road Run through the Langeberge, starting from Riversdal, over the
Garcia Pass, overnight at the Hot Springs at Barrydale, over the Tradouw
Pass to Heidelberg. Contact Kobus Groenewald 082 450 2055.
7th to 10th September, 2001. Are the dates of the Caledon Spring Festival/Lentefees. Hermann Geldenhuys and Tizzie have suggested that we attend with some engines and machines, in the vicinity of the Ransomes Portable and Threshing drum. We are most welcome to be there on the Saturday, when there will be floats, Drompoppies, the works, going right past us. For those who may want to come along but are not interested in engines, the main flower show is right opposite. Linda Jones is our contact there, on (028) 212 2505, or linda@parkland.co.za
Thursday 4th 'till Saturday 6th October 2001. Robertson Show. Let's go and make some noise at Johan Stemmet's show! Ring him on 023 626 1189 and tell him how much space you need.
Friday 19th & Saturday 20th October, 2001. Villiersdorp Show. A special field has been set aside and will be planted, for harvesting in the old-fashioned way. The whole accent of the vintage section of this show will be on working exhibits.
Early November 2001 Bien Donne Show!
Sometime in December, 2001. Harvest Day on Brakfontein, Riversdal. Contact Emile Cronje on 082 713 2892, or Herman Giliomee on 028 722 1869
How about another Harvest Festival at De Hangen, Clanwilliam in December?
8th, 9th & 10th August, 2002. Tenth annual show of the Tractor & Engine Club of the Westen Cape, at Kleinplasie Museum. See Tractor & Engine Club news above.
Please remember your name-tags, even if you are just coming along as a spectator! (I have made a whole lot more, and will give them out whenever I first see you, so turn up and claim it!)
Andy Selfe, Sec. (021)8592430 (home & manual fax) e-mail aselfe@mweb.co.za