Summary
Portable single-cylinder oil engine. Made by Richard Hornsby & Sons, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, serial no.1887 of circa 1896-97.
This early hot-bulb assisted compression ignition internal combustion engine design used kerosene as a fuel source and was one of the first forms of internal combustion power available to Australian farmers. Originally developed by the Yorkshireman Akroyd Stuart and patented in 1890, the design was produced under licence as the 'Homsby-Akroyd', from 1892, pre-dating by several years the sparkless compression ignition design credited to Rudolf Diesel, of Germany.
This example was delivered to the Melbourne agency of R. Hornsby & Sons, in June 1897. It was acquired by the former Museum of Applied Science (now part of Musuems Victoria), from Mr G. Main, of Malmsbury, in 1959, being the first historic farm engine collected by the museum. It was externally statically 'restored' and repainted by Vivian Expositions Pty Ltd, of Clifton Hill, prior to first going on display in March 1970.
Physical Description
Portable single cylinder, oil engine, attached to a base with four metal wheels.
More Information
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Purchase
-
Manufacturer
Richard Hornsby & Son, Grantham, England, Great Britain, circa 1896
-
Inscriptions
Stamped '1887' on belt-pulley end of crankshaft.
-
Brand Names
-
Classification
Mechanical engineering, Internal combustion power, Oil engines
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Overall Dimensions
3385 mm (Length), 1450 mm (Width), 2565 mm (Height)
Dimensions checked by curator and updated, 03/06/2025.
-
Other Dimensions
2200 mm (Length), 1250 mm (Width)
Wheelbase x Track
-
Other Dimensions
140 mm (Width), 1220 mm (Outside Diameter)
Dimensions of flywheel. Two flat-belt pulleys, each 620 mm diameter x 100 mm wide rims.
-
Other Dimensions
100 mm (Width), 1110 mm (Outside Diameter)
Dimensions of rear road wheels (over rim); front road wheels 705 mm diameter x 100 mm wide.
-
Keywords
