When we originally added this engine to our collection, we believed we had a very unique vertical open crank George Waller engine complete with gas pump.  We never imagined it would turn out to be an extremely early Campbell gas engine. 

Restored Campbell Gas Engine

Our first knowledge of this engine came in the early 1990’s when it was offered for sale at an auction in Queensland, Australia.  Pictures of the engine appeared in the TOMM post the auction sale and we realised that we had missed an opportunity to acquire a unique engine.  A local collector purchased the engine, several years later we heard who had the engine and decided to place a call to the owner to see if he had progressed the restoration of the engine.  As so happens the collector had not had the time to invest in the restoration project.  In 2001 we were offered the opportunity to purchase the engine. The odd open frame design was irresistible, so following a detailed conversation about condition we purchased the engine and gas pump.

Campbell in as found condition

Following a 4000+ kilometre round trip the engine arrived home. The engine had suffered during its life, the flywheel had one spoke missing and the three remaining were broken. Part of the rim was badly corroded and we could only imagine what else we would find during restoration.

We started to make enquiries with regards to the history of the engine.  With the help of collectors in the UK, research was started in the history of the company of George Waller & Son.  Unfortunately finding any information on the company was extremely difficult, and whilst many people spent many hours trawling through archives, some of which are not open to the public, we were still none the wiser on the history of the engine.  From the research it was not clear that George Waller & Son ever built engines themselves, it was possible that they brought-in and re-sold engines.

With this thought we started to look at the engine in a different light and it became apparent during conversations with other collectors that parts of the engine bore a remarkable resemblance to engines built by the Campbell Gas & Oil Engine Company.

The Campbell Vertical Gas Engine, The Implement and Machinery Review, March 1894.

We proceeded to catalogue the resemblance and with Patrick Knight’s help sent the information to the ‘Stationary Engine’ magazine helpline for Campbell engines.  The information came back that whilst the serial numbers did not match the records, there was no doubt that this engine had been built by Campbell.  Further information from the records showed that Campbell’s had supplied George Waller and Co with two vertical engines in late 1894 and early 1895.  The ledgers indicated that the two engines were destined for gas works in the UK.

Amazingly one of these engines had survived and somehow had reached Australia.

Restoration of the engine started in 2003 and was finally complete in May 2004. The project involved a new flywheel being cast and machined.  A new liner was fitted to the cylinder.  Most of the internal parts of the gas pump were remade.  All new nuts and studs were machined from stock, the only nuts not replace are those securing the main bearing caps.

Flywheel key being cut by Grant Timms and Dave Allen

The engine was first run at the 16th International Stationary engine Rally in Nuenen, Holland.

Open Frame Vertical Gas Engine