Sections of the Society

Engine Drawing Library

The Society’s Drawings Collection is now at the Museum of Rural Life at Reading

Engine Lists

One of the most important aims of the Society is the maintenance of as complete a record as possible of traction engines, wagons and rollers etc., which have worked in Great Britain and Ireland. The records are kept in two different forms and the Records Officer is responsible for updating them as new information is acquired. The owners’ lists are kept alphabetically by counties and the registers of most engine builders have been copied. The records have been in existence for some 50 years and with information from members, observations, scrutiny of periodicals, and from the registers of vehicle licensing authorities, have become more comprehensive. Subject to certain conditions, lists are available for borrowing by individual members, and the Records Officer is always ready to deal with specific enquiries.

Information

The Section Officer will be pleased to advise on any point in connection with research, operation, repair or restoration.

Journal

Published quarterly, this carries articles and photographs of historical and technical interest. The publication of this magazine must rely heavily on contributions made by members, and anyone who feels inclined to contribute is cordially invited to do so. Official notices, Society publications and members' advertisements are also included within its pages.

Library

The Society library is unique in that it is the largest collection of literature devoted to the steam road vehicle. There are over 700 individual items, catalogues of all the major builders and some of the obscure ones, manuals and rare out of print books, also many of the present day publications. Most of the items are available on loan to members who pay postage both ways; the non-loan items may be inspected at the library by appointment. The librarian is always pleased to advise members and to help with their special interests.

Liveries

This section can provide detailed information on the works colours and specifications for painting, lining out etc., also detailed information regarding transfers. It covers principle makers, and is constantly being augmented.

Modern Photographs

This section covers the photographic record of the preservation era. The Society is aware that the history of the Road Steam Vehicle does not end with its commercial demise. Much of interest has occurred since the dawn of preservation in the early 1950’s and this section in concerned with the changing scene. Much of the material is in colour and specific interests are dealt with by the Section Officer. This is probably the fastest growth area with new material being gathered continuously through the generosity of members who donate their prints to the collection.

Photographic Library

This contains several thousand photographs of most makes of agricultural and road engines taken when they were at work. These are divided into three groups; firstly the general collection from which members may freely borrow, two makes at a time for a period of fourteen days; secondly, the historical collection consisting of old and especially valuable photographs which cannot generally be borrowed; finally, there is the exhibition group which are enlarged and mounted. The entire library has been collected by the generous donations of members past and present. The non-loan photographs may be inspected by arrangement with the section officer.

Portable Engines

This section is devoted to the portable steam engine in all its forms and includes folders of material with photographs of most makers. The Section Officer is always pleased to hear from members about past and present information, and is prepared to attempt answers to any queries.

Portfolio Records

This consists of folders of material created by editing the contributions of members among whom the folios were circulated. The library of information so generated is now available to members on loan and titles are arranged to cover specific makes, types and applications. There are over 140 folios available varying widely in volume but all are adequately and some profusely illustrated with many photographs that have never been published. A list of titles is issued to all new members.

Publications

The reprinting of manufacturer's catalogues and other small publications and books forms an important part of the Society’s activity. Not only does this make available to members some of the Society’s non-loan items, but disseminates information to a wider public in line with the trust document and generates an important income.

Slides 

The collection of several thousand-colour slides is of engines in preservation. These may be borrowed by arrangement with the Section Officer. The Society also owns a large collection of monochrome slides which are copies of old photographs. These are not currently available for loan.