Back in March 2020 my son Mike and myself went to look at a Campbell Samson Pumping Engine which was for sale just off the A1 about halfway between Grantham and Stamford. The pump was directly mounted on the engine, and it did not appeal to me. However, the vendor then said that the Bates Gas Engine (4HP c1912) was also for sale and as usually happens, a deal was done. Collection was arranged for the following weekend, getting it on my trailer was easy with the help of a tele handler. Getting it off was a bit more of a problem, it was sat on some 6″ legs and came with no wheels.
I soon had a set of slave axles to allow for moving, but it is still much easier on concrete to use a pallet truck, either from the flywheel end or either side. Once home it was soon rigged up to a gas supply and it was running but not very well. There were quite a few issues with it including the piston binding due to a brazed repair on the piston skirt and even worse water getting into the barrel.
It was determined that the water was coming in through the transfer port from the hot tube. On full strip down it was found that this tube was just solid rust, and a proper and permanent repair would be needed. After much thought and talking with a friend who has an engineering business a way forward was found. During stripping the engine other issues came to light like copper and brass shim used under the gib head keys, replacement studs just left with the ends as cut with a hacksaw. All issue were dealt with and corrected.
For the August bank holiday we had an invite to a small private do in Cheshire (Covid restrictions allowed an outside gathering of up to 30 people). I chose to take this engine and see how it performed.
I was very surprised on the Saturday morning to be given a envelope by Geoff Challinor, inside were pictures of this engine when found by Les Crawley the founder of the Anson Museum. It was rescued from Marsden House, High Lane Stockport on the 3rd July 1985. This is less than 2 Km north of the Anson Museum. Les later sold the engine to fund something else.
Note the pipe extensions to the two drip oilers, this was due to having fencing round the engine for safety reasons. There is also no hot tube fitted in these pictures. The engine was supplied through Drake and Gorham and is believed to have driven a generator.
Running the engine over the weekend raised a few issues, it did not like been on grass with the legs, it ran a bit better when put back on its wheels. The main issue though was that after 1 hours running the water was boiling.
Once back home the framework was modified to remove the legs, cut about 6 inches of the back of the base and reboard using some Sapele. The plumbing was altered to lift the water tank to give a better thermal syphon, this was better but would only allow 2 hours before boiling. Over the winter of 2024/5 a new water tank was ordered with just over twice the capacity of the previous one, this had the desired effect as the engine can be run all day and whilst it gets hot it does not boil.
During running this year, it was found that the engine would start and run on just the magneto, previously in my ownership the hot tube was the only way to get it to run.
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Country: GB