Has anybody got a Mamod traction engine.. ?

I have. This beauty is nearly 50 years old. Not seen it run since I was a boy. Looking at YouTube maintenance videos. A nice summer pub project. It’s all original & intact. Will strip it down & clean. Undecided whether to restore the paint or keep its natural patina? Best try & get it working first.

 

What a belter!
Great memories, Brittains toyshop on Shambles Street used to sell them and in the 70's I very genuinely had 2 paper rounds. I saved up for months and bought 2 things. A transistor radio I could carry around on my paper round, and a Mamod steam engine.
I can even now smell the meths I used to burn to heat the water!
To see it up and running was a sight to behold, mine was a stationary engine, would have loved a wagon like this!

 

I think ours came from Brittains. Brother had the tractor. I was only 5 when I got this one Christmas. My Dad pretty much bought them for himself, I reckon. Like Scalectrix, mechano & Airfix kits. Kids barely got a look in..

 

You'll be better off cleaning then waxing it...painting might destroy the value

 

Yep, it's taken ages too look that good - light clean and wax only.

 

My 20 years of museum conservation experience agrees. My boy toy devil is saying paint job.!! Going with the former, will even save the little rust, but prevent more.

 

Paint it red and white with a Toby Tyke on the smokebox door, John Smiths on the roof and BFC 1 as a number plate.

 

Aye. If Quest tv want to give me 10k to make a ‘Pimp My Mamod’ documentary, we could do that. Shell out £2-300 for another ‘72 model & keep my boy historically pure..

 

En,put an electric motor in it; steam's had its day.

 

Wash your mouth out right now, soap & water. Heathen.

 

Or is it a girl? I’m confused. Definitely a girl. Calling her Audrey. After my Mam.

 

I think my mum still has my late dad’s, looks similar to yours but doesn’t have the cab / flatbed. More of an actual traction engine shape. I’ll see if she can send me a picture and post it on here.

My dad used to fire it up very occasionally when I was a kid. As someone else above has said, it’s the smell of the paraffin that immediately comes to mind. I’m sure it had a long handle that screwed down the chimney which you could then steer the wheels with too.

Good memories!

 

Just sold this recently. Still got a traction engine and showmans engine. Will look for them and bring them out. The wonders of steam

 

My mum’s sent me this pic. No idea whether it still works, probably not tried it for 30 years or more..

Edit: she says it was bought in the late 60’s, so this one is over 50 years old too. Things were built to last in them days!

 

I had that same one as a kid, probably 1970 give or take a couple of years, no idea what became of it.