TRIAL OF FOWLER AND SON’S TRACTION ENGINE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1603, 9 April 1879, Page 3

TRIAL OF FOWLER AND SON’S TRACTION ENGINE.

A private trial of one of Fowler and Son’s traction engines took place yesterday at Cashmere, by permission of Sir Craoroft Wilson. The traction engine in question was imported by Messrs Wood, Shand and Co., and is provided with three or four improvements on its predecessors. Technically described it is an 8 h.p. engine, fitted with patent water lift and crucible steel gear. It has an extra front tank for carrying water, two speeds and a perfectly sufficient brake for any purpose. The contrivance for refilling the exhausted water tanks, by moans of piping, while travelling, is simple in the extreme, and will draw up sufficient to fill the tanks in three or four minutes. Economy in the consumption of fuel is a great feature, as it requires only from six to seven cwt, of coal per day cf ten working hours. The supply of water is of course required in the same moderate proportion as the coal. The engine weighs eight tons, and is capable of drawing from twenty to thirty tons on anything like a reasonable road, and can be turned on the most acute angle. In the event of becoming bogged, the engine is furnished with a steel wire rope, connecting with a patent side roller of sufficient strength to extricate from almost any difficulty. This wire rope can also be utilised for drawing out stumps of trees, shifting heavy weights, &c. The variety of uses to which ti e Fowler engine can bo applied is infinite, as, in addition to working agricultural implements, it is equally useful to saw-mili proprietors, road hoards, and, in short, in all cases where economy of time, labour, and expense is an object. The engine started from Sir Craeroft Wilson’s residence, drawing behind it a combined threshing machine, weighing five tons, and

I reached its decimation (oyer a mile) in about 1 „fy minutes. One stoppage occurred on 1 the way to take in water, and a very small 1 quantity ot coal was used. The road leading to the paddock where the threshing was to take place being very good was scarcely a test of what the travelling capabilities of the I traction engine really are, as it could easily accomplish seven miles an hour over a much worse road, with a far greater weight behind it. Altogether the trial was a highly satisfactory one,- and when the value of this engine is bettor known it is likely to bo extensively used.