Victorian Extravaganza
knowlegable brummie
Myself (Andy Roffey) pictured in the Express and Star May 1994 a few days before the 1994 Newhall Street traction rally helping get the museum's Burrell engine 'Busy Bee' ready for the rally.
-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Science Museum Newhall Street
- Thread starter ASTONITE
- Start date
Myself (Andy Roffey) pictured in the Express and Star May 1994 a few days before the 1994 Newhall Street traction rally helping get the museum's Burrell engine 'Busy Bee' ready for the rally.
Richard Dye
master brummie
Love the "L" plate!
Science Museum traction engine rally, May 1975 early in the morning.
Richard Dye
master brummie
Congratulations! Now that's a wheel I would love to get behind!
Myself (Andy Roffey) pictured in the Express and Star May 1994 a few days before the 1994 Newhall Street traction rally helping get the museum's Burrell engine 'Busy Bee' ready for the rally.
Victorian Extravaganza
knowlegable brummie
Absolutely! This roller was owned by Steve Arrowsmith, who sold it to Robert Bates of Wolverhampton. Steve later attended the science museum rallies with a Fowler roller named 'Bacchus'.
Victorian Extravaganza
knowlegable brummie
Seems such a long time ago now. My dad Keith worked at the museum for over 30 years. He passed away in December 2019, but both my dad and the museum are fondly remembered.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
“The Locomotive Hall of the Museum of Science and Industry, Birmingham. The cladding of this building is made of steel covered with vinyl. It was opened in May 1972.”
(Timber, iron, clay : five essays on their use in building by Linstrum, Derek, author. Publication date 1975)
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Internet find on a postcard sellers website - these are original vintage B&W postcards from the old Newhall St Science Museum shop - hopefully most of the items here still exist either at Thinktank or the Collections Centre:-
1921 Indian Motorcycle and Sidecar
1958 Scott Motorcycle
Tramcar 395 (in Thinktank)
Jaguar Sport Coupe
1910 Rover Chassis
Railton Mobil Special without body (in Thinktank)
Aveling Porter Steam Roller
Also found this one labelled Birmingham Science Museum
1921 Indian Motorcycle and Sidecar
1958 Scott Motorcycle
Tramcar 395 (in Thinktank)
Jaguar Sport Coupe
1910 Rover Chassis
Railton Mobil Special without body (in Thinktank)
Aveling Porter Steam Roller
Also found this one labelled Birmingham Science Museum
Richard Dye
master brummie
Newhall Street had a fine collection of polyphons, gramophones and music boxes. They could be heard working. When I was working in Millennium Point, I managed to get into Think Tank cheaply on special days. It isn't worth paying full price I'm afraid, though some of the engines can be seen in steam.
Mark Tooze
master brummie
I believe virtually all of exhibits are in trust so cannot be easily sold off. Although our council would find a way to sell its own grandmother to cover the cost of its cock-ups......
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Hi Stokkie - most of these are in the collections centre although they are scattered around a bit - silent at present but you never know for the future. I posted photos of some of them a few months back after the open day.
Thanks Mark,
I've never been to Dollman Street, so I should really make the effort when they are open this year. A nostalgic read through this thread with many memories.
Derek
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Details on website https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/museum-collection-centre
They have an open day in September (on Heritage Day) and are open on Fridays 12.30 - 14.30 - both need pre-booking. Friday tickets have to be purchased - open days have been free up to now - that may change in the future........
Richard Dye
master brummie
Thank you Mark, the link is very informative! Really if they want people to see this they should be open a full day at least, there is so much to see there. Their revenue would increase and I am sure they would not be adding more people!
Thank you, Mark. That's better opening than I'd hoped for.
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Nice unusual one for you - Dunlop Tyres advert for the Railton Mobil Special Car above - 1951:-
Richard Dye
master brummie
That’s the first thing I went to see when I went to the museum on Newhall St. It was not actually a very large vehicle.
Richard Dye
master brummie
Yes, I remember reading somewhere that even though the tires were smooth, to reduce drag and be more aerodynamic they had difficulty balancing at over 400mph. I believe one of the runs was slightly over 400mph.
Think Tank does contain John Cobb's Railton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railton_Special
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railton_Special
A few locomotives for the enthusiasts at a traction engine rally outside the Museum of Science and Technology on Newhall Street, Birmingham
Below: Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. CL 4483, number 3847, Princess Marina. Built in 1920 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. J 3471, number 3471, The Rover, built in 1913, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Burrell Scenic class Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. NR 965, number 3909, Winston Churchill. Built in 1922 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 8 Nhp compound steam engine. With Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. J 3471, number 3471, The Rover, built in 1913, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine. Both supplying power for the Wonderland Fairground Organ built by Charles Marenghi & Cie. In France.
Below: Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. CL 4483, number 3847, Princess Marina. Built in 1920 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. J 3471, number 3471, The Rover, built in 1913, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Burrell Scenic class Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. NR 965, number 3909, Winston Churchill. Built in 1922 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 8 Nhp compound steam engine. With Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. J 3471, number 3471, The Rover, built in 1913, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine. Both supplying power for the Wonderland Fairground Organ built by Charles Marenghi & Cie. In France.
More from a Science Museum rally.
Below: Loaded on the flat bed trailer for the trip home is Marshall General Purpose Engine, regn. E 9624, number 78085, Henry. Built in 1924 by Marshall, Sons & Co., with a 7 Nhp single-cylinder steam engine.
Below: Ransomes Sims & Jefferies General Purpose Engine, regn. HI 2816, number 42032, Velfrey Queen. Built in 1931 by Ransomes Sims & Jefferies at Ipswich, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine. With Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. CL 4483, number 3847, Princess Marina.
Below: Burrell Scenic class Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. NR 965, number 3909, Winston Churchill. Built in 1922 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 8 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Fowler T3A2 class Road Roller, regn. FF 4913, number 21629. Built in 1937 by John Fowler & Co. in Leeds, powered by an 3 Nhp compound steam engine. With Aveling & Porter F class Road Roller, regn. WK 5769 number 12088, Margaret. Built in 1928 by Aveling & Porter at Rochester, powered by a 5 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Loaded on the flat bed trailer for the trip home is Marshall General Purpose Engine, regn. E 9624, number 78085, Henry. Built in 1924 by Marshall, Sons & Co., with a 7 Nhp single-cylinder steam engine.
Below: Ransomes Sims & Jefferies General Purpose Engine, regn. HI 2816, number 42032, Velfrey Queen. Built in 1931 by Ransomes Sims & Jefferies at Ipswich, powered by an 6 Nhp compound steam engine. With Burrell Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. CL 4483, number 3847, Princess Marina.
Below: Burrell Scenic class Showmans Road Locomotive, regn. NR 965, number 3909, Winston Churchill. Built in 1922 by Charles Burrell & Sons at Thetford, in Norfolk, powered by an 8 Nhp compound steam engine.
Below: Fowler T3A2 class Road Roller, regn. FF 4913, number 21629. Built in 1937 by John Fowler & Co. in Leeds, powered by an 3 Nhp compound steam engine. With Aveling & Porter F class Road Roller, regn. WK 5769 number 12088, Margaret. Built in 1928 by Aveling & Porter at Rochester, powered by a 5 Nhp compound steam engine.
Last edited:
Radiorails
master brummie
The engine J3471 was from Jersey. hence the Jersey registration. As stated it was made by Marenghi, in France, who were also famous as organ makers for fairs ans the portable street versions to be seen in Holland and Belgium.
9 Mauser C96 7.65mm Broomhandle
if it was 9mm 9 with be stamped on
grips so this is a Export version
10 Rds Mag
10 9mm Artillery Luger
Ladywood 2
knowlegable brummie
There was a way to beat the foxes, we could beat them on every visit
Richard Dye
master brummie
I remember going to the traction engine show at the Science Museum, late ‘50s as i recall. Not sure if they were annual but I would see a poster while visiting the museum and make sure I went on the date.
The compound steam engine was a great invention, developed very early on for mine pumps and is actually the for runner to “regenerative hydraulics”. Regeneration makes hydraulics more efficient and physically compact operating at higher pressures. A key feature to those steam engines is the large flywheel which was often used like a starter. You don’t want to be around if/when one of those comes off!
Great photos!