Engine a slice of machinery history

Manchester-founded Crossley company revolutionised car, train and boat travel with its pioneering work in producing internal combustion engines.

Attendees to this year’s Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days were given insight to the company’s feats with a 114-year-old engine on display — the 1905 model Crossley SB Benzine.

Machinery enthusiast David Uren acquired the piece of history, once owned by Quairading’s Royce Boekeman, last year after hearing about it through the Quairading Vintage Club grapevine.

Mr Uren, of Kellerberrin, set himself a goal to have the engine functioning by this year’s 55th Dowerin event.

“I wanted to do it up because of its age,” he said.

“It didn’t take me too long to finish up, it wasn’t too bad so I made one out of two as a bit of a project.

“They only made about 340 of that model and only 63 came to Australia and New Zealand.”

The engine is believed to be the oldest item exhibited at this year’s Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days. It had not run in more than 50 years before Mr Uren restored it to full health.