Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club Inc. 1996

This event was held on a sunny day in February 1996 (late summer) and attracted about 3000 thousand guests over two days. The main event was a tractor pull, but as I'm into engines I don't have any tractor pictures this time. There are some interesting and unique Australian engines here.

	Brand: Cooper Type: Combined engine & sheep shearing plant Year: Fuel: petrol/kerosene Horsepower: 3hp Origin: Australia Owner: Ken Horre Story: Still used in the local community for its intended job!
	Brand: Lister Type: 7hp Year: Fuel: petrol Horsepower: 7hp Origin: Dursley, England Owner: Story: Yet another lister, not as nice as Brian's).
	Brand: Lister Type: 3hp Farm Generator Set Year: Fuel: petrol Horsepower: 7hp Origin: Dursley, England Owner: Story: This small lister is original and complete (although it would not normally be mounted on a cart). There are hundreds (if not thousands) of these scattered around the Australian countryside used as late as the 1970's when grid power reached the majority of farms and other country properties. Tragically the majority of these generator sets situated in Victoria were destroyed during the statewide bush fires in 1983 (The Ash Wednesday fires) which swept thousands of kilometres of land into ruin. Now a few examples survive. This unit ran the lights over the stationary engine compound for the duration of the show without a hiccup (although the 4 foot flames visible at night coming from the exhaust were impressive whenever the generator kicked in, the owner thinks this is quite normal).
	Brand: International Harvester Type: 2hp Year: Fuel: petrol Horsepower: 2hp Origin: American Owner: Story: Chug, Chug, Chug... any Yanks looking at this page, if you have any info on this sort of engine I'd like to see it please.
	Brand: H.V. McKay Massey Harris Sunshine (later taken over by Massey Ferguson). Type: 2hp Year: Fuel: petrol Horsepower: 2hp Origin: Australian Owner: Story: Their smallest engine. This is an enclosed crank engine with exposed timing gears.
	Brand: A.H. MacDonald Type: Imperial Super Diesel Year: Fuel: diesel Horsepower: 3hp Origin: Australia Story:
	Brand: Ronaldson Tippet Type: 3 hp exposed crank, with heat igniter Year: Fuel: petrol/kerosene/diesel Horsepower: 3hp Origin: Australia Owner: Story: This is an oldy... a petrol engine with no magneto or spark plug :-). The contraption you see hanging from the front of the engine is a kerosene burner, you heat the top of the combustion chamber to almost red hot, start the fuel supply then kick the engine over by hand. After a few turns (you have to hope so, this damn thing is HEAVY) the engine starts. After it has been running for 20 minutes or so the kerosene burner is shut off, the engine continues to run under its own heat. Because of this running method this engine will run on almost any liquid that burns - although power kerosene is best. Petrol tends to pre-ignite, and diesel is a little slow to go leading to less power.
	Brand: Various Type: Workshop machinery Year: Origin: Australia Owner: Story: From left to right... a 2hp Sundial driving a power hacksaw, a gear puller is behind the hacksaw, a tool stand and anvil, and a power drill.