woa2 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I have been Volunteering at MERL in Reading, processing the records for Fowler Traction Engines. One detail that cropped up today was a Traction Engine supplied to the Ministry of Munitions during WW1. It was requested 21st Aug 1916 and issued 9th March 1918. What was interesting was the colour scheme - Black, picked out in Amber and lined in Red and Yellow. It had WD painted on the tank back and each motion cover. I have noticed other Fowler traction engines supplied to the Army and they are All painted Black, mostly with Red lining. Not one was painted Khaki. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BosunAl Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 If you come across drawings for the Fowler (or any other traction engines for that matter) would you be kind enough to post them? Thanks Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 (edited) I only have access to the record books I am processing, but if you have an engine number, write in to MERL (Museum of English Rural Life) in Reading and they can search the drawings. I know they have some drawings but I have not seen any. I will get you contact details for MERL as soon as I can, but might be a few days. Edited June 21, 2018 by woa2 More details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 That's interesting Rob. I had never thought about this before but they were probably not used on the Western Front like that were they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 There is also mention of Steam Tractors used in the 1899/1902, South African Boer ar as prime movers for supplies, were these Fowler Engines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 A number of FOWLER TRACTION ENGINES were in use during the Boer war as a few other makes as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Not as new an idea as people are inclined to think then. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero-Five-Two Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 14 hours ago, Tony B said: There is also mention of Steam Tractors used in the 1899/1902, South African Boer ar as prime movers for supplies, were these Fowler Engines? 45 Squadron Royal Engineers was formed for exactly this. They became known as the Steam Sappers, using a mixture of engines from various manufacturers including Fowler. If you bung "Steam Sappers" into your search engine you'll find loads of info and pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8_10 Brass Cleaner Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 (edited) On 6/20/2018 at 8:35 PM, woa2 said: I have been Volunteering at MERL in Reading, processing the records for Fowler Traction Engines. One detail that cropped up today was a Traction Engine supplied to the Ministry of Munitions during WW1. It was requested 21st Aug 1916 and issued 9th March 1918. What was interesting was the colour scheme - Black, picked out in Amber and lined in Red and Yellow. It had WD painted on the tank back and each motion cover. I have noticed other Fowler traction engines supplied to the Army and they are All painted Black, mostly with Red lining. Not one was painted Khaki. Black, picked out in Amber and lined in Red and Yellow is standard Fowler livery of the period To be fair you can see in some photos of WD Fowlers that this is the livery that they left the makers in. As this These are a batch supplied to the Ministry of Munitions. Class TE2 Haulage and Winding engines. Essentially a heavy artillery tractor. I suspect your currently looking at the info for one of the same or later batches. For info, a large order of identical and similar engines was supplied via Vickers to the Tsarist Russians during the Great War and I can share some photos of these in use if it is of interest. To this day the surviving ex MoM engines are termed ''Russian Fowlers''. You will find the Russian order specification notes a Khaki green finish (to match a sample of cloth sent in). 1 coat of grey, 1 coat of Khaki. Edited June 22, 2018 by 8_10 Brass Cleaner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Thanks Rob, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwardle Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 On 6/21/2018 at 9:59 PM, Tony B said: There is also mention of Steam Tractors used in the 1899/1902, South African Boer ar as prime movers for supplies, were these Fowler Engines? There is someone on this forum (I won't mention his name) who owns an ex Boer war 1899 Fowler, he is a regular poster on here and I know that he has photos of the Fowler in use in South Africa, maybe he will see this thread and post the photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 On 6/21/2018 at 9:59 PM, Tony B said: There is also mention of Steam Tractors used in the 1899/1902, South African Boer ar as prime movers for supplies, were these Fowler Engines? On 6/23/2018 at 3:15 PM, johnwardle said: There is someone on this forum (I won't mention his name) who owns an ex Boer war 1899 Fowler, he is a regular poster on here and I know that he has photos of the Fowler in use in South Africa, maybe he will see this thread and post the photos. I have found records of Fowler supplying steam engines 1890/1900 to the War Office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Used as armoured road trains too! https://www.farmcollector.com/steam-traction/steam-tractors-power-behind-first-motorized-armored-vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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