Help needed identifying engine

[John Smith 3Participant @johnsmith3]

Hello I am needing help to identify this engine, would greatly appreciate your help

Edit: Had to remove links.

Can you upload the pics to an album please?

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 29/06/2023 22:36:00

[John Smith 3Participant @johnsmith3]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

FAQ Here

[John Smith 3Participant @johnsmith3]

Hello sorry, this is the engine that I need to identify thank you

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Looks very much like a "Bitza", or to be more polite a "Freelance" model.

Phil

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

No idea of the make but looks to be the start of a showmans engine by the look of the generator mounting in front of the funnel.

regards

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

No indication of scales. Are the rear wheel rims an aluminium casting? If it is about 15inches long it may6 be a 'Mnnie' design being freelance converted to a showman's engine.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

It may help if you can replace those photos with ones taken outdoors, in full daylight, with as neutral background as possible; and with a clearly-visible tape-measure or rule alongside it.

Some of it at least is almost certainly freelance. Scale? The laundry-basket in one of the photos gives a slight hint at about one-inch scale or thereabouts – maybe 'Minnie' length.

I think a spoked flywheel is unusual on large road-locomotives as used by the showmen, but common on some general-purpose traction-engines, as this more likely replicates, and some of those were converted to fairground use.

I don't know the 'Minnie' design, though many have been made, so I don't know if the controls layout is 'Minnie'. It is unusual to have the steering-wheel on the off-side. Most traction-engines were built to be operated by two men, the driver on the off-side, the steersman on the near-side so he could see the kerb… somehow, beyond the bloomin' great flywheel whirling round just in front of him. This layout though might help identify this engine, as also might the arched spectacle-plate top (more often straight across).

.The dynamo bracket seems a bit over-scale, and that projecting side-bracket looks odd, but presumably it was made to carry a particular machine obtained for the purpose.

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The flywheel profile is not prototypical. The shallow groove suggests the original builder intended using round belts to the dynamo and governor. It should be crowned to carry a flat belt, but I think this is more difficult to carry off successfully in a small scale.

.

The hind wheels do look as if cast, or perhaps turned from billets (extravagant, but feasible). And what is that rather curious part draped down the smokebox's nearside, passing below the dynamo-bracket mounting? Two details that may also help identify it.

.

Incidentally you might be able to straighten that bent bunker edge, using a big G-clamp (although it's unkind to the clamp). An extra pair of hands will make this easier. Put a stout length of timber or padded steel flat across the bunker so it bridges the outer corners, and pull the centre of the buckling towards it with the clamp. Place a pad between the clamp foot and the metalwork. Take it very gently and stop if it looks as if might make things worse, as the knock will have stretched the metal and you don't want it distorted even more.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It is not a Minnie cylinder and the trunk guide suggests it may be an Allchin look alike as most other designs used bar guides. Pump and Clack down on the left side also not Minnie, more a Burrell position.

As said better photos with the light source behind you not the engine would help

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