Old Stationary Engines (Shire Library)

The versatile engine was used a prime mover to drive all kinds of machinery, working either from a fixed stationary position or as a portable- a trolley or truck was used to transport it to a location where an appliance needed power. They were available in all sizes, from diminutive models used for home-workshop tasks, to large-scale engines for driving agricultural or industrial machinery. David W. Edgington explores the many types and styles of old engine, describing their development from early steam and gas driven examples through to later versions fuelled by petrol, paraffin and diesel. Colour photographs and archive illustrations depict engines produced by well-known manufacturers such as the Associated Manufacturer's Company, Lister, Petter, and Wolseley, and those of lesser-known markers such as Morton and Naylor. This is the ideal introduction to these fascinating machines.