Object number
63/180
Title
Single Cylinder Road Locomotive,
Creator
Description
This is a working model of a single cylinder road locomotive at the scale of 1/2 inch:12 inches. It was made by George A. Froud in 1921 at the age of 16, and was the first model engine he made. The model was presented to the Museum by Vickers Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd. Model Club in 1963. The model is stored in a wooden box.
Physical description
1 model traction engine in wooden box: metal; good condition
Label Text
Traction engine model. Made by 16 year old George Froud in 1921, this traction engine model is fully working; it is fuelled by injecting the brass pole at the rear. It was presented to the MERL by the Vickers Armstrong model club in 1963. Traction engines are mobile steam engines which became popular in the latter half of the 19th century. Though they did not fully replace horse power, they undertook a number of agricultural tasks. For example, the agricultural general purpose engine was a versatile machine used for tree pulling and threshing.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: JMB // Date: New sheet 4.10.88 // Description: Model traction engine of type used in agriculture? Stored in a wooden box. // Made by Mr. Froud when he was 16. // Details on attached copy of card inside box. // Dimensions: Length: 26.0cm Width: 11.0cm Box: 29 x 15 x 18cm. // Associated information: Address labels on box: G.A. Froud… // & W.J.B. Titcombe … // See also photographs in MERL Library. // References:', Card inside model's box – ‘Single Cylinder Road Locomotive // 1921 constructed by George A. Froud (1905–1953) Weybridge Surrey. The engine was Mr Froud’s first attempt at model making at the age of 16. // A gift to the Museum from Vickers Armstrong (aircraft) Ltd., Model Club 1963. // Make unknown, suggestions welcome. // Scale 1/2in.–1ft. // A working model the fuel is injected by filling the brass pole at the back of the engine. // The locomotive has chain steerage with only the road speed. // The model is incomplete, the winding drum is without rope and the strakes are back handed.’, MERL Miscellaneous note, 1963 – ‘Models, and associated photographs, articles, plans, etc. made by the late Mr G.A. Froud, Amerford, 29 Brooklands Road, Weybridge, Surrey. // These have been presented to the Museum by Vickers Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd., Model Club // The Chairman of the Model Club, W.J.B. Titcombe, Clova Studio, Ripley, Surrey // bought the articles over on August 13th, 1963 and was seen by M.D.F [Margaret D. Fuller]. However an ‘official’ letter of thanks should be sent to the Chairman, Mr. Titcombe. Mr T.C. Parker, General Works Manager of Vickers Armstrong’s would also like to receive a letter from the Museum, as he has had a great interest in these models for many years. // Notes The smallest and comparatively crude example was Mr. Froud’s first attempt at model making, done at the age of 16. (He died this year [1963] at the age of 58, so that would be in 1921.) // Mr. Titcombe is going to try to discover which harvester was copied. It may, after all, be a ‘composite’ one.
Production date
1921 - 1921
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_12021.tif - High resolution image
