Restoration Workshop

We seem to make all sorts of things – mostly one offs. We manufacture new smokeboxes, tenders, belly tanks and chimneys.

We have restored a number of engines from derelict to show standard. This is a Brown and May portable engine which has had all the boiler work carried out including new firebox, motion machined as required, re-lagged, painted and now lined out to the original Brown and May colour and detail.

This is a Brown and May portable engine which has had all the boiler work carried out including new firebox, motion machined as required, re-lagged, painted and now lined out to the original Brown and May colour and detail.

This little 2 1/2 hp Ransomes has been fully restored in our workshops. Again a complete restoration, firebox, front tubeplate, smokebox, door ring and new door; motion and bearing machined as required; stub axles and wheels refurbished, machined pump; governor refurbished, all boiler fitting repaired, new perch and chimney castings, new lagging sheets, I think the list is endless!

Ransomes two and half HP Portable Steam Engine

As well as the new smkokebox, she has a new smokebox door ring, new pressed smokebox door, complete with hinges and handles.

2 1/2 hp Ransomes new smokebox door ring.

The new chimney base and perch castings all fitted and looking good!

New chimney base and perch castings

New big end and crank bearings – I have the pattern if you need one !

The little Ransomes portable required a new cast chimney and new cast perch bracket. Patterns for these items have now been made, machined and fitted. She will look much smarter now. The top hinge ring is original.

Ransomes portable required a new cast chimney and new cast perch bracket
Ransomes portable required a new cast chimney and new cast perch bracket

The wheels were in a poor state too. They have been machined and new cast iron bushes fitted. And of course new crank bearings……. 

The wheels were in a poor state too. They have been machined and new cast iron bushes fitted. And of course new crank bearing

The wheels were in a poor state too. They have been machined and new cast iron bushes fitted. And of course new crank bearing


These tractor wheels have been manufactured to original Aveling drawings, patterns made, hubs cast in steel machined on site, profiled spokes, new rolled T rings, rivetted up, rubbered and painted. 

These Aveling road roller wheels have been bushed, axle machined to suit, wheels repainted and linned. 


All the motion on the M-class Aveling has had ‘attention’. The cylinder has been bored, the piston valves have had new liners manufactured, new valve rods, new piston rods, way-shaft bracket bearings, new die blocks, new link pins….the list is actually endless. It is all looking good now !

The M class Aveling has had considerable work done to the motion. It needed new piston rods and a new piston. Here it is with the newly arrived rings fitted.

New piston rods and a new piston. Here it is with the newly arrived rings fitted.

These are the two reburbished piston bobbins fitted with their new rings. 

These are the two reburbished piston bobbins fitted with their new rings.

The first stage of machining the new build Aveling wheels on the Kearns boring machine.

Fowler new steel cast axle boxes on the borer.

Chimneys always seem to be in demand over the winter months. This is for the 12hp Marshall Britannia – 9′ tall; a pair of Aveling chimneys with new copper tops and a Fowler road locomotive.

This is for the 12hp Marshall Britannia - 9' tall Chimney.
Chimnet Fabrication

The cylinder block having the slide valve face machined on a small Ransomes portable engine.

The new valve rod and faced original valve fitted.

The new valve rod and faced original valve fitted.

When we opened the slide valve cover !

When we opened the slide valve cover !

New regulator rod.

New regulator rod.

Machining the face on the regulator block.

Machining the face on the regulator block.

Regulator block with safety valve castings either side.

Regulator block with safety valve castings either side.

Re-machined eccentrics with new oiler cups.

Also in the workshop is a new marine type big end bearing. Just need the final fitting and the oil grooves now.

Marine Type Big End Bearing.

The tender and front tanks for a Fowler road locomotive have been in the workshop recently.  New side plates have been formed in the workshop, the divider plate has been repaired and Sam has been fitting the original fittings before it is all stripped down again for painting. Just a few casting left to do now.

These are the before and after of the rear coal bunkers of a Wallis and Stevens road roller made recently in the workshop.

Wallis and Steevens Coal Bunkers

And before.

Wallis and Steevens Coal Bunkers that were replaced.

We seem to be doing new and repaired belly and rear tanks at the moment. These are repaired tanks from the Aveling convertible.

Repaired rear tank.
Repaired belly tank.

Hot – rivetting repairs to portable steam engine wheels.

Hot - rivetting repairs to portable steam engine wheels.