Kuno Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Saw this steam tractor once outside a factory. Actually two of them. Both in a fenced yard so that I could not go closer. Has anybody an idea of the type etc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well, it appears to be a Ploughing Engine with that big winch underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuno Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Now I see. Then this vehicle was stationary at the end of the field and towing the plough by its winch; correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Now I see. Then this vehicle was stationary at the end of the field and towing the plough by its winch; correct? Hi Kuno, That is correct, and they work in pairs, hence why you saw two, so that they can pull the plough both ways, also used for dredging lakes, ponds, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younggun Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 looks like a fowler built in leeds built in pairs sold in pairs worked as a pair nowadays pairs are hard to come by making these two worth a fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuno Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 Oh; yesssss! There was once a quite big area which contained the water coming from the mountains. The "lake" was there until summer. And it has been dredged then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 What an interesting picture! Do you have any more? This engine certainly has a British look about it but I don't think it is a Fowler. The cylinder block is unusual in that it appears to have piston valves rather than slide. Also, the front wheels appear very spindly with far too few spokes. I would expect that to be a weakness in a machine which is subjected to heavy side loading whilst working. I think that it is more likely to be of German manufacture or, in view of the colonial history of Libya, Italian. I know that Ansaldo built steam rollers under licence from Garratts of Leiston so I wonder whether perhaps they also built ploughing engines? I am going as crew on a steam waggon to a show this weekend. I shall show your picture to some steam real experts and see what they think. I may have better information next week! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Hi Kuno. Sorry for the delay. My knowledgeable steam friends are of the opinion that this engine is a 'Kemna' which is German. Unfortunately, I know little of the company but a 1917 Kemna haulage engine, built for the German Army, exists in the UK. I will try and find a picture. Cheers! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Try these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Super pictures. Thanks Rick. The very few and lightweight spokes in the front wheels are quite distinctive I had the great good fortune to have an outing on Mike Retmans Kemna and I have this pic. Unfortunately, as I was steering, I was too busy concentrating on what I was doing to take a decent pic! This is me anyway. Cheers! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuno Posted October 8, 2008 Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 Great news. Many thanks. Unfortunately this is the only picture I could take that time. Just next to the place is a police checkpoint on the road and they do actually not like to see foreigners with cameras in their vincinity... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I have been in contact with Mike who owns the Kemna in the pictures above and he doesn't think it is a Kemna! He believes it's a MAN, produced in Germany between 1919 and 1921 of which a handful were exported to North Africa. The cylinder block shape suggests it's an MAN. What is unclear is what the odd arrangement of levers are for around where the crankshaft and con rod should be. Presumably these are something to do with the tackle. So there you have it. Cheers! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuno Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 Recently I came across two pictures in a book about the East African campaign of WW1; the German "Schutztruppe" used the wheels of some steam tractors as a carriage for the heavy guns they removed from the Kreuzer "Königsberg" after the vessel was destroyed. Looks a little bit odd - but it has worked... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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