| Collection |
VFM (unaccessioned) General |
| Date |
1914 |
| Description |
Green stationary engine known as the "Marlborough Engine". No model or serial number. 8 horse power. Built and designed in 1914 by John North (Bill) Birch [see below for information on Mr. Birch] at the Marlborough Engineering Works - which later became W.G.G. Cuddons - for John A. Crump of Ocean Bay, Port Underwood.
This engine was made to drive an electricity plant [but see letter from Wilf Crump below] at Ocean Bay during the time of John Crump. He was a farmer there, and headmaster of his own Boarding School which opened in 1909. [source: Archives scrapbook 9, page 42.] The peak at the top [image 7] is the radiator. The engine has a very efficient exhaust system and runs sweetly. The fuel tank, with the yellow logo on, is in front of the water tank [image 1]. The engine can also be used to drive a generator or saw bench.
This is the engine pictured on all of the Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc. stationery.
MHS Minute book 5, page 214, dated 29 March 1971: Ocean Bay. Mention of Mr. Lamberts going and he would like to have the Marlborough Engine and other items removed beforehand."
MHS Minute book 5, page 219, dated 26 April 1971: Ocean Bay. Secretary advised that Marlborough Engine and other relics had been brought from Ocean Bay to Museum Park."
Email to Jenny Pierson, data entry person, 1 December 2008, from Graham Gibson, compiler of VFM records. Information found in Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Incorporated minute books:
6 February 1979, "Marlborough Engine to Tua Marina field day and return to museum."
6 March 1979, "Marlborough Engine to World Ploughing Championships in Canterbury."
Found by Jenny Pierson in Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Incorporated Newsletter No. 15, dated April 1979, "Collections. Among the collections made is the notable one of the 'Marlborough' engine made in 1914 by the late J.N. Birch in Blenheim for the late Mr. John Crump of Ocean Bay."
Email to Jenny Pierson, data entry person, 1 December 2008, from Graham Gibson, compiler of VFM records. Information found in Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Incorporated minute books:
7 May 1979, "Thanks to Murray Adrian for returning the Marlborough Engine from [R.D. (Bob)] Thoms to Brayshaw Park after restoration."
4 June 1979, "A letter of thanks to R.[D. (Bob)] Thoms for restoring The Marlborough Engine ex Lambert [of] Ocean Bay."
Restored by Bob Thoms of Blenheim and in going condition, owned by Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc.
The following can be found in Bob Flood's book.
"The Marlborough Petrol Engine.
Mr. Bill Birch was a motor engineer operating from a garage in High Street, Blenheim, directly opposite the Seymour Gardens about 1910 to 1916. He was very good at lathe work and any of his work he did was very precision. He was a very quiet chap by nature, but as stated very clever at his trade. One of his remarkable feats was the building of two 4 cylinder car engines and fitted them to the cars which he completed building. One of these cars I can remember which belonged to Mrs. Ada Redwood of Spring Creek. This car at that time was lying unused under a walnut tree on the farm in 1936.
"Bill Birch also built 2 single cylinder 6 H.P. stationary engines, one was in Blenheim and is now in the Vintage Engine Club [this is part of a Birch motor which was purchased from the Ron. W.J. Osgood Estate] and the other one was doing very satisfactory work for Mr. Crump at Ocean Bay, Port Underwood. It has been said by more than one person who knew this engine that a penny on any of the head nuts would stay there all day while the engine was running. The vibration of the motor was almost nil." [Source: Memories too Good to be Forgotten, by A.R. (Bob) Flood, page 29, first print April 1993, published privately by Mr. Flood.]
Letter from Wilf Crump, R.D. 1, Havelock, to Neville Matthews, dated 21 March 1979.
"Dear Neville, ....... The engine was built by Mr. Bill Birch in 1914 for my father [Reverend ] John A. Crump in premises now occupied by High Street Motors. The quoted price was 90 pound, but before completion Mr. Birch was already out of pocket and my father met him with costs and paid about 120 pound. I think Eckford's landed it at Ocean Bay on the way from Blenheim to Wellington.
"When first installed there was no belt pulley fitted and my father ran the belt off one fly wheel. Needless to say the saw was whistling and it was difficult to keep the belt on! Mr. Birch was horrified to hear the engine was put to use and explained that the pulley had yet to be fitted which he did. The engine was used solely for sawing. In the days of Ocean Bay School (1909-1924) about 100 cord of firewood were needed annually. This was cut and sledged from the bush during winter. According to my memory the engine (8 h.p.) would run for 3 hours to a gallon of petrol, and never gave any trouble except turning it over to start when only one man was available.
"Mr. Birch turned out several similar "Marlborough" engines as well as, I believe, 2 cars, one of which was used to drive the Prince of Wales about Blenheim in 1921. He also contracted to build a marine engine for Mr. Tom Davies Senior for the launch "Sally", but a court case ensued, resulting in a gaol sentence for Mr. Birch, who refused to deliver the engine after running out of funds, though I think that Mr. Davies had already agreed to pay more than the original figure. However, after a time in gaol Mr. Birch agreed to complete the job and was released. Another "Marlborough" engine was in the fishing launch "Marlborough" working out of Picton and later the Chathams. The "Sally" later was converted to fishing on the West Coast.
"One accident occurred in connection with the engine. Following a fire in the Ocean Bay homestead in the early 1930s, Mr. Tom Smith in the mail launch "Twilight" brought down Mr. Murray Wemyss to repair the damage. With Tom was his nephew Vic from Kaikoura who, to hasten the completion of the job, offered to help Mr. Wemyss, as Tom hoped to catch the tide at Wairau Bar the next day. Experienced in sawmilling, Vic suggested ripping 8 x 1's with the circular saw to save time, but while so doing caught his hand in the saw and was badly cut. He was taken in the launch to Rarangi and by ambulance to Wairau but lost his index finger and a court case followed, Mr. Wemyss having to pay compensation as the court ruled that Vic was employed by him.
".......... Further, I think that included in the quote of Mr. Birch of 90 pound was a hardwood saw bench (sliding) on steel shod runners. This was run out of the shed when in use........." Signed Wilf C. [Source: Archives/VF/Birch].
From an article in Better Business, March, 1968, page 9, titled "Before the Nova".
When ANZIEL announced plans, last year, to pruduce a New Zealand-made car, there was immediate public interest..... Had such a venture been attempted before? We started to delve. ..... Then, arriving at 1930, we stumbled on a unique car and a story which took us back, ultimately, to a small town in England, to the birth of the bicycle, the motor cycle, and the automobile. It is the story of John North Birch, a brilliant inventive engineer and a superb craftsman, who spent 40 of his 78 years here in New Zealand. ....... The story of this remarkable character begins on page 10 and will run over two issues. |
| Object ID |
VFM0.800.0116 |
| Object Name |
Engine |
| Other # |
VFM400 |
| People |
Birch, John North
Crump, John A.
Osgood, Ron W.J.
Lambert, Mr.
Thoms, R.D. (Bob)
Redwood, Ada Mrs.
Prince of Wales
Davies, Tom Senior
Smith, Tom
Wemyss, Murray |
|
