Summary

Four wheel Phaeton, wooden bodied steam car by Herbert Thomson. Originally constructed in 1896-99 and exhibited in Victoria & New South Wales.
Thomson operated a business at 835 High Street, Armadale, Victoria making steam engines including the vertical tandem compound engine and water tube boiler fitted to this vehicle which was finished in about June 1898. Thomson and his cousin Edward Holmes completed a 794 km trip from Bathurst, New South Wales, to Melbourne in April 1900 in this car.
Thomson later sold imported cars and his own steam vehicles. This steam car was later exhibited as a historical curiosity by Vacuum Oil at the Victorian Motor Exhibition in 1912, the first Victorian motor trade show. It was then dismantled and restored in about 1960 before being donated to the Museum.

Physical Description

Original Specifications: Bore x Stroke: 1½" & 3" x 3" (single slide valve) Max Power: 5 h.p. @ 1,000 r.p.m. (3.75 kW) Rear Wheels: 44" x 2" (1120 mm x 51 mm) Front Wheels: 34" x 2" (865 mm x 51 mm) Weight: about 10½ cwt. (approx 535 kg) Boiler: 12" x 12" x 16" water tube type. Steam Pressure: 250 to 600 p.s.i. (1725 kPa - 4135 kPa) Top Speed: 25 m.p.h. (40 km/hr) - equivalent to an engine speed of 375 or 560 r.p.m. Range: 25 miles (40 km) with 4 gallon (18 litres) water tank Fuel Capacity: 1¼ tins of kerosene - sufficent for range of 150 miles (240 km) Turning Circle: 12 ft. (3.65 m)

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