Historical tractor running again

The Esperance Historical Society has restored a unique tractor of local significance that is believed to be the only one of its model in Australia and one of three left in the world.
Six weeks ago Society members Trevor Loton and Ken Sime started up the Saunderson and Gifkins tractor from 1909 for the first time since about 1920, more than four years after being challenged to the task by Museum Curator Dorothy Andre after she witnessed them successfully restore two other vehicles.

Most of the information on the tractor is hearsay, but credible information supplied by amateur enthusiasts is regarded as factual.

It would have originally been used in England as a mobile stationary engine, transported from farm to farm to drive implements such as grain thrashers and chaff cutters.

Mr Sime said the tractor has numerous design features unique to its model, such as the large water funnel for steam tractors being present although it was the manufacturer's first foray into fuel engines.

Its production number says 454, but Mr Loton said that is unreliable, as manufacturers traditionally avoid launching new machines at number one.

The Turner family shipped the tractor out from England to assist building the Esperance to Salmon Gums railway line.

Mr Sime said the tractor was not successful in working on the railway line or for farm use as the steel wheels failed in the sandy ground.

It weathered the elements for many years on the Turner's Six-Mile-Hill property before the family donated it to the Historical Society.

Standing outside the Museum for 24 years, stripped of anything removable, it was in very poor condition when restoration began.

The two restorers managed to do what professional opinion said was impossible and welded its old cast iron pieces and cracks in the cylinders.

Glynn Slade was working on a magneto for a two-cylinder motor obtained by John Dickerson, when it was discovered they needed an anticlockwise magneto.

The badly cracked and broken gearbox was repaired by Jack Collins, who also donated an anticlockwise magneto with a lot of machining done by Les Hanks.

Neal Sime rebuilt its water tank with materials donated by Sheet Metal Supplies and painted the inside of the tank with materials supplied by Feature Paints.

After restoring almost every part of the tractor, it will now be available for everyone to see at the Museum's 30th birthday.

Source: esperance.yourguide.com.au