80/58

Bentall & Co. Ltd (Manufacturer)

This is a 'Pioneer' 1 1/2hp single cylinder, open crank, horizontal oil engine manufactured by E. H. Bentall & Co. Ltd., in Maldon, Essex, and mounted on two wooden runners. It was manufactured around the time of the First World War. It was given to the donor in the 1940s for his son to use to saw wood on a saw bench but it was instead left unused under a pile of timber for forty years. The manufacturer's plate on the hopper cooler reads: 'E. H. Bentall & Co. Ltd, Manufacturers, When ordering spare parts quote this No. 23154. Heybridge, Malden, England'. The enamelled plate on the wooden runner reads: 'F. H. Sims, Agricultural Engineer, 154 Moor St, Birmingham.'

1 oil engine on wooden runners

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Oil Engine // Accession number: 80/58 // Classification: Motive Power: I.C.E. // Negative number: // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: ... Mr A. E. Coling [...], Sep 1980 // Store: Exhibition // Condition: Farm condition // Recorder, date: RB. // Description: Single cylinder, open crank, horizontal oil engine by E. H. Bentall & Co. Ltd., Maldon, Essex. Manufactured c. First World War. 'Pioneer' 1 1/2hp. // Original green livery. Mounted on two wooden runners. // Manufacturer's plate on hopper cooler: 'E. H. Bentall & Co. Ltd, Manufacturers, When ordering spare parts quote this No. 23154. Heybridge, Malden, England.' // Agent's enamelled plate on wooden runner, 'F. H. Sims, Agricultural Engineer, 154 Moor St, Birmingham.' // Dimensions: 2 flywheels 42cm diameter + one belt pulley 19cm diameter. Overall length 74cm. Height including runners 64cm. Max. width 56cm. // Associated information: Given to donor 1940s. Was to have been used by his son to drive sawbench but never was. Left unused under pile of timber for 40 years. Previous history or owner unknown. // References: IMR August 1 1920 P.582. Improved 'Pioneer' engine. // IMR August 1 1915 P.471 & P.1060 // IMR Jan 1 1915 P.1152 ('Pioneer' engines priced at £16.10s) // IMR Jan 1 1914 P.1230 ('Pioneer' engine described as new exhibit).', Letter, A. E. Coling to MERL, date unknown – 'Dear Sir, // I have a Bentall 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 open crank Engine less fuel Tank, would you be interested with it as I would like it to be accepted by some Museum. I have been given your address thinking you might be interested. // yours Truly // A. E. Coling // P.S. Enclosed stamped address envelope for reply.', Letter, MERL to A. E. Coling, 14 August 1980 – 'Dear Mr. Coling, // It was very kind of you to offer the Bentall open crank engine to the Museum. If you would be prepared to give it to us then I would be very interested in having it although I wonder if you could first supply me with some more details. You say it lacks a fuel tank, can you tell me any more about its condition? - whether all the moving parts are there and intact, the state of the paint work etc. What are its overall dimensions and is it mounted on a trolley or wooden runners? Do you know anything about its past history - where it was used and by whom for what purpose? We have some illustrations here of Bentall 'Pioneer' engines that were made in the early 1920s and I imagine that this is what you have. I would be very grateful for any further information that you can provide. // Yours sincerely, // Roy D. Brigden // Keeper', Letter, A. E. Coling to MERL, date unknown – 'Dear Sir, // In reply to your letter re Bentall Engine, it is mounted on 2 wooden runners. Length 32" Width 31" Height 25". All moving parts are there paintwork fair, it was last used for sawing wood on a small saw bench, it was given to my son by a friend in the village, according to his information that he received from Bentalls when he bought it, it was made at the end of the last century, if you will accept it I would be very pleased. // yours sincerely, // A. E. Coling', Letter, MERL to A. E. Coling, 21 August 1980 – 'Dear Mr. Coling, // Thank you very much for supplying the information about the Bentall engine. It sounds just the sort of thing that I am looking for so I wondered if I could see it and probably collect it on Monday, 1st September, shortly after midday? I would prefer to come on my own so if I can back our van right up to the engine this should be all right. If not, then I will bring someone with me. // If this is not convenient, I would be grateful if you would ring me. // Yours sincerely, // Roy D. Brigden // Keeper'

Heybridge

1914 - 1919