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A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 3:59 pm
by ianrichards
I just thought I’d share with you a few pictures and a bit of history of the engine I’ve just acquired for my build.
It was originally an auxiliary engine in the Steam Tug “Woelwater”, built by E. J. Smit F Zoon in the Netherlands in 1928.
In 1937 she was sold to Shoreham Harbour Trustees and renamed the “Harold Brown” as seen in the photo taken in 1957.
At some time in the 1960s she was sold and became a houseboat.
If anyone knows any more of her history, please let me know.

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:16 pm
by barts
Here's another photo of her, I think:

http://www.maximan.nl/ouddelfzijl/diver ... 0Eems.html

But with a shorter stack - converted to oil?

There was another diesel tug w/ the same name built in 1938, so it's all a bit confusing.

- Bart

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:45 pm
by ianrichards
Hi Bart.
Thanks.
That certainly looks like her.
BTW my project is progressing steadily, hull nearing completion and will shortly be inverting once again to start on the fitting out.
On schedule for launching summer 2020

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 4:36 am
by Lopez Mike
A picture of the engine??

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:44 am
by ianrichards
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D5AFEBD1-8DB3-484A-844D-49EE99D0AD98.jpeg

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 4:59 am
by Lopez Mike
Beautiful connecting rod. Makes me want to replace the cast aluminum one in my Strath.

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 5:11 am
by barts
That is a really nice engine... If I made one of those rods, I think I'd start with a piece of flat, center drill the ends, rough turn down the center, and then heat and twist it so I didn't have to whittle a great big piece down....

- Bart

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:46 am
by ianrichards
The fun starts when I fit the slip eccentric !

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:44 pm
by Lopez Mike
Total heresy but I'd probably whittle it out of aluminum (no problem making lots of chips!), press in some hardened inserts and then anodize it in some completely obnoxious color.

I wonder if you can anodize so as to make it look like steel? What color is steel? Silver?

Which brings up another question. Since cutting down the reciprocating mass is generally a good idea, how about aluminum pistons? It's been a lifetime since I.C. engines used cast iron.

Re: A lovely engine with an interesting bit of history.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:42 pm
by Mike Rometer
Lopez Mike wrote:
Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:44 pm
Which brings up another question. Since cutting down the reciprocating mass is generally a good idea, how about aluminum pistons? It's been a lifetime since I.C. engines used cast iron.
Already made some for my twin. If I can ever find some time to get back to it. :roll: :roll: