Marten Howes & Baylis steamplant

[Eddy Matthews]

I thought some of you might like to see the steamplant I bought at auction the other week. A delightful little twin cylinder diagonal paddle engine with a 3/8" bore and 1/2" stroke. It came complete with horizontal boiler, gas tank, burner, and all fittings...

This engine is no longer produced by Marten Howes & Baylis, so it was an opportunity not to be missed - The engine was brand new and unrun when I bought it, but since then it's been steamed once. It's still a little tight and needs more running in, but even so it runs like a dream and is silky smooth and as quiet as a Rolls Royce.

To say I'm happy with my purchase would be the understatement of the decade! :-)

[derekwarner_decoy]

All looks superb Eddie & will compliment the recently acquired brass paddle kit - I have looked at a Marten Howes & Baylis web page but via links only, they appear to market top end of range type goods & kits etc

Looks more like a real boiler than a model version - you have lagged steam lines at both ends of the boiler but I cannot make out where    the water glass is - when you get a chance please take the components from the box & post a few more snaps

So apart from the Japanese Saito, your engine example is the only other "QUALITY" version of a horizontal paddle engine of reasonable size that I have seen & will certainly deserve an open vessel design - regards Derek :clap2 - PS I think your Glen Sannox project will have to be put on the back burner

[derekwarner_decoy]

OK - I have ZOOMED in & found the water gauge on the left hand side of the boiler in snap 367-1.jpg, but are my eyes mistaken, or is that not a condenser on the opposite end of the boiler :?:  - talk about a great package - Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

OK - I have ZOOMED in & found the water gauge on the left hand side of the boiler in snap 367-1.jpg, but are my eyes mistaken, or is that not a condenser on the opposite end of the boiler :?:  - talk about a great package - Derek

The photos are actually the ones that the auctioneers provided when I asked for more details of the engine. Next time I get it all setup to run I'll take a few more snaps to show things a bit more clearly. And yes, it is a condenser that you can see...

What a shame that Marten Howes & Baylis don't produce this anymore! It really is the Rolls Royce of commercially produced steamplants.

[Eddy Matthews]

So apart from the Japanese Saito, your engine example is the only other "QUALITY" version of a horizontal paddle engine of reasonable size that I have seen & will certainly deserve an open vessel design - regards Derek :clap2 - PS I think your Glen Sannox project will have to be put on the back burner

I have to admit that I've been thinking along the same lines Derek. The Glen Sannox may just have to be temporarily shelved in favour of an open paddle launch.

So far I've been unable to find an open paddler that really appeals to me, so it may be a case of designing my own vessel with all the features I like.

[thewharfonline]

sounds like the way to go Eddy!

[mjt60a]

That's a superb looking engine, certainly vastly superior to my wilesco D48 - which, though better than a 'mamod' or other wilescos (which are mostly not self starting or reversible) is still only entry level with no condenser, funnel, lubricators, somewhat cheap construction...etc...

Probably not too bad enclosed out of sight though (it's the same as the engine recommended for the Graupner 'Glasgow' paddle tug, for steam operation)

[Khephre]

Gee Eddy that's a really attactive power plant, and so complete as well - right down to the drive shaft and reduction gear.

Like Derek I've drooled over the Marten, Howes and Baylis website and have thought many times " maybe one day, the one after I win the national lottery...". Looks like your lottery numbers just came up!

I can see why your interest has so suddenly moved from the Glen Sannox to an open steam launch. And like Derek, I can see the Glen Sannox taking a back seat for a year or two.

Wonderful stuff!

cheers and thanks for the teaser photos - I'm dying to see some progress on this new project.

Tony
Auckland, NZ

[derekwarner_decoy]

As Tony said --- "right down to the drive shaft and reduction gear" - this opens an interesting point & from the snaps Eddie it would suggest a substantial gear reduction

Stuarts snaps of his PS Reliant chain drive reduction suggest a similar reduction ratio....

The Saito specification for their steam paddle engine quotes from memory 4000 RPM unloaded so my guess is say 15 or 20: 1 reduction - I mean if worst come to worst you could always count the teeth & let us out of our quisical misery - Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

As Tony said --- "right down to the drive shaft and reduction gear" - this opens an interesting point & from the snaps Eddie it would suggest a substantial gear reduction

Stuarts snaps of his PS Reliant chain drive reduction suggest a similar reduction ratio....

The Saito specification for their steam paddle engine quotes from memory 4000 RPM unloaded so my guess is say 15 or 20: 1 reduction - I mean if worst come to worst you could always count the teeth & let us out of our quisical misery - Derek

The gear reduction is 10:1 - My initial tests showed a paddleshaft speed of approx 120-130 RPM at full throttle, that's not an accurate RPM figure, but purely based on counting the number of turns made in 5 seconds or so.... The engine is still not run-in, so I guess that will increase as the engine beds in.

[Engineman]

The photos are actually the ones that the auctioneers provided when I asked for more details of the engine. Next time I get it all setup to run I'll take a few more snaps to show things a bit more clearly.

Could you please post more photos of the engine? MH&B stuff is very interesting. As for me-I never heard that they produced the steam plants for paddlers.

[Eddy Matthews]

Could you please post more photos of the engine? MH&B stuff is very interesting. As for me-I never heard that they produced the steam plants for paddlers.

Here's a few photos of the engine - The engine hasn't been made for some time now, mine is dated 1996. Apparently, according to Brian Marten of MH&B, the engine was made for the Graupner paddletug "Glasgow".

Remember, you can click on the image to view it full sized...

[mjt60a]

That is one very nice engine!

[Engineman]

Here's a few photos of the engine - The engine hasn't been made for some time now, mine is dated 1996. Apparently, according to Brian Marten of MH&B, the engine was made for the Graupner paddletug "Glasgow".

Thank you very much for the photos. The only thing which is not clear for me yet - is it with Scotch yoke (like MH&B vertical engines) or not?

Regards,
Engineman

[Eddy Matthews]

No it doesn't have a scotch yoke Engineman.  But it looks like a work of art and runs like a Rolls Royce. What more could I ask for? :-)