John Brown, left, Eric Green and Mike Cooper fire up the 1920s Lister shearing plant which Eric will have on display.
John Brown, left, Eric Green and Mike Cooper fire up the 1920s Lister shearing plant which Eric will have on display.
Three vintage machinery enthusiasts from Katikati will be displaying some of their equipment at an 'Old Cranks' day at the Tauranga Historic Village this Sunday, which promises to entertain and educate people of all ages.
Eric Green, John Brown and Mike Cooper will join other members of the Tauranga VintageMachinery Club in a unique display of vintage engines, machinery, tractors and small scale models.
World-renowned tractor collector Jim Richardson (known as Barefoot), from Edgecumbe, will also have some of his vintage tractors.
Eric will take two engines to display - a Lister two-stand shearing plant from the mid-1920s in original condition and a New Zealand-made Anderson engine.
The shearing plant was pretty common in its day, he said, "so it will be good to get people along who remembered using them to shear".
Being mobile, the Anderson engine was often used for running shearing plants and pumping water.
John has a couple of engines lined up and Mike Cooper, who is known for his veteran machinery collection, will have a 1919 Warwick Spirit stationary diesel engine, imported by Booth MacDonald and a 1907 National gas engine.
The gas engines were built for running on coal gas and were used as generators. Mike said most towns had gas plants to run their engines on.
Eric Green with the Anderson engine made in Christchurch.
"As long as the gas pipe ran past your place you could run engines."
The aim of the Old Cranks day is to attract younger folk into the world of old machines, which are not often seen today. This is an ideal time to head along and find out more and talk to the "old fellas" about their prized machines.
Bring the family along - there will be food, icecream, a barbecue, coffee and a bouncy castle for the kids.
This Sunday 10am to 3pm at the Tauranga Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga. Entry is free.
