Historical information

Ordered by Langwill Bros., & Davies Ltd Melbourne
Used for saw milling, dam constructions and log hauling

Significance

Foden Traction Engine
This engine is a compound traction engine built by Foden Ltd of Sandbach England in 1914 – builders number 4525. This was ordered by Langwill Bros and Davies Ltd of Melbourne and was used by Mr F Orr on his farm at Bullarto South Victoria.
On the farm it was used for many agricultural purposes and was used at times as a stationary engine to run a wooden thrashing machine. The unit was last used on the farm in 1947 and put aside on the farm with a “museum” of other old agricultural tractors and machinery. Mr Orr gave us the engine as an exhibit for the Menzies Creek Museum of Puffing Billy in the 1960s. At that stage he was an elderly gentleman of 97 years and maintained a great interest in his farm which had been in his family’s hands for three generations at that stage. His grandfather had cut the farm from the bush.
The traction engine in its youth was used to go around other farms in the district and went as far away as the Wimmera and Mallee farms thrashing crops of wheat, barley and oats. It towed the wooden thrashing machine behind it on its trips to these farms on hire to the farmers.
Foden Compound Traction Engine
Built by Foden Ltd., Sandback, England in 1914 to the order of Langwill Bros., & Davies Ltd., Melbourne, it was used on a farm for sawmilling, dam constructions and log hauling.



Donated by F. Orr of Bullarto South, Victoria.

Physical description

Foden Compound Traction Engine -
made of Steel (Painted)

Inscriptions & markings

Foden