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“First Display Of Engines From A Bygone Age”

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Description: These images were taken for the November 19th, 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper, the first of which was published with the caption: “Right- Doug Chambers with what is considered to be "the Rolls Royce of stationary engines", a 4 hp Blackston kerosene-powered piece of machinery.”

The short article read: The first big display of working stationary engines to be held in the Manawatu takes place on Sunday (November 26). The display will be held on land belonging to the Manawatu branch of the Vintage Car Club at Kelvin Grove, about three miles past the city boundary on Kelvin Grove Road, said one of the men involved in organising the display, Mr Stan Corlett.

The location of the display will be well signposted on the day. He's not sure how many old engines will be there, ‘but at a hazardous guess I'd say 30 or 40’. Many of the engines were made in the 19th century, he said. A similar display in Auckland attracted thousands of visitors recently, catching organisers ‘on the hop’ with the display's unexpected popularity. The Palmerston North display will start "in the late morning and end when it finishes".

It is being organised by the Vintage Car Club, although people exhibiting their engines will not necessarily be club members. Mr Corlett said the event will give all the enthusiasts a chance to get together, as well as bringing the club some much-needed finance for its planned building programme. As well as the stationary engines, some old tractors and even the odd traction engine are expected to take part.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.