Last weekend, I was out on the first collection run of 2026. This came about, after seeing a Facebook post, stating that a Petter powered cement mixer was at risk of being taken to the scrap, following no interest when it was put up for sale a few months ago, and as such it was … Read more
The story of my Lister Q type The story begins in late 1999, an antique dealer friend of mine asked me if I would like to go and see a big engine in a workshop where it had been all its life, in the Village of Pode Hole near Spalding Lincs. I couldn’t get my … Read more
In late November 2025, I had the opportunity to acquire a 5hp Petter M ‘Victory model’. An engine I had admired from afar but never thought I would get a chance to own for myself. After a deal was struck with the son of the late owner, a trip to Peterborough was in order, although … Read more
Earlier in the year a small collection of engines appeared for sale on Facebook Market Place. After a couple had remained unsold for several days, we contacted the seller and made a deal to buy a couple of the engines. A 3rd engine had by this point sold pending collection. This was a Petter M … Read more
Being rather lucky I currently own 2 Petter 5hp ”Jelly mould” engines, one is the earlier single pot carb, one slightly later twin pot, this has given me a chance to compare the two. Apart from the obviouse carb differences there is actually several things that set these apart yet you can see the development … Read more
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 … Read more
A few days before Tractor Fest the phone rings with the offer of some engines and a motorcycle up for disposal, not an unusual kind of call, usually happening every month or so. This lot consisted of a Lister engine and saw bench along with an early Greeves motorcycle, “oh and the little Gardner engine … Read more
Not really a “Recovery” or a “Discovery” but this appeared at a local auction house and I thought it was worth a punt, bought blind, via an online bid left a few days before and fortunately it turned out to be worth a go! Clean of the points and carb was all that was needed … Read more
In 2014 I saw this engine whilst trying to source some info for another engine I had just purchased. The owner was looking to sell it as it had become too big & heavy for him to manage. Fast forward to early 2015 and the engine appeared on eBay and after a week, we … Read more
Picked this up from my friendly scrap man, it’s a series 1 AVA so I’d assume early 50s built, seems all there except for the air cleaner, exhaust is with it just not on the engine at the moment, manifold is broken so that’s not ideal….. Going to have a look and see if I … Read more