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A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 1
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 2
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 3
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 4
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 5
A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's, image 6
Various Properties
Lot 38

A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine,
English, 1920's,

15 September 2021, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £4,462.50 inc. premium

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A Rare And Original Stuart Ball Bearing Steam Engine, English, 1920's,

the gauge face signed STUART, restored to exhibition standard and working condition by K.N. Townsend in 1984, the 5-inch vertical steam engine with ball-bearing crankshaft and unique cast aluminium casing, bore 0.75 inches, stroke 0.625 inches, the boiler with original brass fittings and pressure gauge, with original propeller, racing prop and prop-shaft, the engine affixed to a slate base with brass plaque, presented in a brass-bound and glass showcase and baseboard, together with a timber toolbox and leather folder containing operating instructions,
13 1/2in x 29 1/2in x 12 1/2in (34.5cm x 75cm x 32cm) in case

Footnotes

Known as the 'Stuart B.B. Steam Plant', the engine was specially developed for tethered hydroplane racing and straight speed trails. Due to the enormous pressure exerted on the aluminium engine casing, the casing was prone to shatter the engine to self-destruct entirely. It is therefore extremely rare to find surviving engines with the casing intact, with the present Lot thought to be one of seven known examples.

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