Stationary Engines from the collection of the Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc
Engine

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Record 26/139
Copyright Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc
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Collection VFM (unaccessioned) General
Date pre 1914
Description Green Blackstone stationary engine - serial number 104051. The Blackstone horizontal engine is four horse power and it has a three cylinder horse power pump. The engine, pump and tank were purchased by Trevor Murray of Wharanui, Clarence Valley.

From a note supplied when the pump was donated, written and signed by J.G. Murray, of Matariki on 14 June 1987, comes the following: "The three "plunger" water pump and Blackstone engine now at Brayshaw Heritage Park Vintage Museum.
This three plunger pump and direct coupled Blackstone engine, supplied by Andrews & Beavon, Christchurch, was installed in 1914 as a water supply unit for the 150 cow dairy herd established at Woodbank, from which shipments of butter were dispatched direct to the United Kingdom market.
[missing piece] although this unit was not directly associated with the Butter Factory and situated some quarter mile distant, further up the gully, it was indirectly all part of the scheme.
The water was pumped through a two inch Galvanised steel pipe to Top Flat, a near vertical lift of some 150/200 feet, to supply the milking shed with acceptable drinking water, where it was depastured after morning milking, until the second milking in late afternoon, natural water being non existent at an altitude of 500 feet above sea level.
In the first year of operation it must have proved a godsend when the rainfall was only 58% of average.
The installation of such a stock watering system undoubtedly enhanced future pasture development and stock health on this isolated plateau at an altitude of 500 feet.
Later the advent of bulldozers made possible the building of earth dams to retain run-off water for this purpose, but again severe drought conditions even made these dams unsatisfactory when insufficient run-off water eventuated to even fill the dams, despite being strategically placed. This occurred on two occasions and extending our twelve months far in excess of those in 1914 and again stressed the value of the original installation, which was eventually replaced by a local Rural Water Supply Scheme which now covers some 30,000 acres between the Clarence River and Kekerengu."

The wheels and chassis that the engine and pump sit on was not part of the original donation. They were donated by T. Latter of Kaikoura and the whole has been restored by Ken Anderson of the Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society.
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From page 10 of Norm Brayshaw's duplicate letter book 24 July 1973-11 July 1974, which is in Archives, Bay 91, Shelf B, Box MHS Correspondence 1964-74.
Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society Inc.
P.O. Box 308, Blenheim
30 August 1973
Mr. Jim Murray,
Clarence Bridge
Dear Mr. Murray,
A note of appreciation for the Blackstone engine and pump which we collected in March last. Thank you for returning the trailer - we regret that the return of the boiler took so long - due to no transport available - I would have returned it immediately if I had a more powerful car. The misunderstanding arose through Ralph Denton telling me that a boiler was there and I naturally presumed he had asked for it and it was available. I regret my jumping to conclusions - however I hope no ill feeling has been caused.
Many thanks for your donation of the engine which will be set up complete as it was during the next few months.
Kindest regards
Norman H. Brayshaw
Hon. Secretary..............................................................................................................................
Object ID VFM0.800.0144
Object Name Engine
Other # VFM552
People Murray, Trevor
Anderson, Ken
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Last modified on: December 15, 2014