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Pictured here is a selection of old dynamos seen at the recent Great Dorset Steam Fair, all fitted to steam showman’s engines. James Hunt wonders if any of you might recognise any of the makers of these dynamos. Do any still exist?
The dynamos shown- which may or may not be original equipment - provided the electrical power for the many tens of thousands of old-style incandescent lamps (and a few LEDs) collectively fitted to these beautiful fairground locomotives, which were lined up at what is by far the biggest steam fair in the world.
The main picture shows eight such electrical machines, which are fitted to the smokebox at the front of the steam engines, and which are driven by leather belt off the heavy flywheel.
In some cases, the manufacturer’s names can be read – one is Baxendale & Co., Electrical Engineers, Manchester. A Google search revealed that this firm, established in 1863, was based in Kenyon Street (off Rochdale Road), and it made lead and brass objects, furniture, bevelled glass, oil, paint, general hardware, plumbing equipment, plus stored oils and paints. Crucially, it was also a supplier of dynamos to showman’s engines. However, this company no longer seems to exist.
Another nameplate that can be read is Mather & Platt Limited, also of Manchester. Wikipedia says: ‘Mather & Platt is the name of several large engineering firms in Europe, South Africa and Asia which are subsidiaries of Wilo SE, Germany or were founded by former employees. It originated in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, where the firm was formerly a major employer, and it continues as a food processing and packaging business, trading as M & P Engineering in Trafford Park, Manchester’.
In fact two dynamos seen at the Great Dorset Steam Fair were by Mather & Platt, and there may have been others.
Yet another read ‘John Dyke, The Star, 1912’, and with that date it is likely to be original equipment on this steam engine, but I could find no reference to this firm. Does any Voltimum UK user know anything about it?
No others had nameplates that could be read, although one had a useful cast iron plate fitted that shows the possible connections / tap-offs that can be made to the dynamo.
Each dynamo is shown also as larger individual photos – please click on them (the small circles below) to see them in more detail. Also shown is one of the wooden panels holding the voltmeter and ammeter, also generally very old instruments.
Old machines galore!
In fact, for those interested in old electrical machines (and not just steam traction, roller, agricultural and showman’s engines of which there are over 400 there – all working), the Great Dorset Steam Fair has many of them – and most seemingly still doing their original jobs; exposed knife blade switches anybody??
To learn more about the Great Dorset Steam Fair, go to: http://www.gdsf.co.uk