Historic steamers under the hammer
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STEAM BUFFS had a field day on August 4 (a date memorable for another entirely different reason) when Robin M. Addyman of Clitheroe auctioned part of Tom Varley's collection from the Todber Steam Museum at Gisburn.
One was an Aveling 10hp traction engine believed to be about 120 years old. It was accompanied by a pair of aristocrats from 1879 — Burrell ploughing engines named "The Earl" and "The Duke".
Pendle Laddie — a 1927 Yorkshire WG — must be one of the few steamers ever built as the tractor of an artic. It was rebuilt later as a ballast tractor and is now immaculate in the livery of the Gisburn Steam Cartage Company.
For me the most attractive of the 80 assorted lots for auction was a 1919 Stanley 20hp steam seven-seat open tourer with a sharp 'V radiator like that of the Mercedes of the period.