2007/64

A. F. W. Smith (Maker)

Model of Robinson and Auden Portable Steam Engine, of a type originally made in Wantage, No 1038, 7HP. The model itself was almost certainly made by Bill Smith (A. F. W. Smith), who was for a long time the Records Officer of the Road Locomotive Society. Smith worked for the Wantage Engineering Company (which had at one time been known as Robinson and Auden), followed by employment at Harwell, and finally as a Technician for the University of Oxford.

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – ‘Description: Model of a portable steam engine; a replica of a Robinson and Auden machine. // Associated information: See email correspondence for details. This model was found unentered in 2011 and given a 2007 number retrospectively. See also 2007/65.', Email, Alfred van de Geer to Ollie Douglas, 12 December 2011 - 'Two accession numbers // We discussed this before. During the inventory check carried out on Thursdays with Bill and Terry, we came across two models which were un-accessioned. Roy’s response was as follows: // Now that model steam engine and threshing machine. I'm surprised they're not accessioned as they were variously the source of much discussion. They were given by the widow of Bill Smith, a steam enthusiast who had connections with MERL over many years. It must have been about 2007. Jonathan Brown will know all the details and I think some archive material may have been given at the same time. // The discussion was between Roy and Will. // Jonathan Brown does know a lot about Bill Smith, his initial response was: // Bill Smith (A.F.W. Smith, 6 Brookside, Gillingham, Dorset) was for a long time the Records Officer of the Road Locomotive Society. He worked for the Wantage Engineering Company, followed by employment at Harwell and finally as a Technician for Oxford University. // The Wantage Engineering Company was known in one of its earlier incarnations as Robinsons and Auden. The Portable Steam Engine model is a Robinson and Auden replica. The Threshing Drum is a Ransomes. // The Bill Smith archive (including drawings and details of models) is deposited under DX 1576. // Is it OK if I use 2007/64 and 65? // Fred.'

Gillingham [Norfolk]

pre-2007

Engine, steam, Model