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 a growing collector of Petter engines with the M being a firm favourite, I wasn’t feeling confident enough to check it over alone and enlisted the help of a close friend Robert Cole (Mr. Petterfest himself). Upon inspection it was found although filthy, to be in excellent condition with good bearings and even a small promising spark from the Thompson Bennett magneto!
Once home and in the following weeks I washed it down and a lot of good paint found, a closer inspection was carried out and mains greasers cleaned out of old hard grease, points cleaned and a lovely strong blue spark found, base tank and fuel lines cleaned of a stale tar’y’ fuel, wet sump cleaned out of old oil, oil pot cleaned out and the obligatory fabricating of a new fuel diaphragm.
Truthfully it was in so much better condition then either me or Rob could have imagined and my deduction from my checks are that it is had been restored in the past and then very little done with it after.
After an attempted run it it was found to only backfire suggesting incorrect timing which was checked and confirmed to be out, once that was sorted and a ‘note’ had been heard it was time to swap it onto its ‘new to the engine’ trolley with cooling tank and plumb it in ready to give it a longer ‘shake down’ run which went well with its first proper outing at Fendicks Fishery this January. So I feel it is now ready for the upcoming season and I look forward to thoroughly enjoying sitting next to it on the rally field!
A little detail on the my ‘Vic’ provided by Internal Fire museum
Built 14th October 1921 as part of an identically specified batch of 4 engines possibly for use on Crichton threshing drums
The 4 engines being 48467, 48077, 48122 and my engine 48078 (Do any other engines from the order still survive?).
Dispatched to Agent James Crichton Engineer and Millwright of Strichen, Aberdeenshire.
You must be logged in to like this post.
Country: GB