Come out, come out wherever you are
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ANYONE who thinks he may have an old Perkins diesel may be able to help us in our search for the oldest working engine.
Fox and Vixen were the names given to the first Perkins engines to be built as long ago as 1932/33 and the Wolf and the Leopard followed over the next few years.
Perkins launched this worldwide search in March this year and plans to announce the result at the beginning of 1982. The owner will receive free a new diesel to replace the veteran, and the veteran will take pride of place as a Perkins museum exhibit.
To date, there are 60 or mor contenders for the title — but are keeping secret the date of the engine that is so far leadin the field.
There is a feeling that a Fox a Vixen, or even an older Wolf Leopard than those which hay so far been traced, may be chugging away somewhere in South America — Argentina, f example, was a popular expor market for early Perkins units in India or South Africa.
Anyone who thinks they hay an old Perkins diesel should fir look for its serial number, by which we can trace the exact date it was built. On the Wolf and Leopard engines, the serial number was stamped on a brat plate riveted to the side of the valve rocker cover on the fuel pump side of the engine, towards the timing case end.
In case the brass plate has been removed, or the rocker cover is not the original, the correct number can be checket by examination of the cylinder block where the serial number was also stamped in quarterinch high letters before paintin You can see it by removing the paint on the small machined face on which the cast aluminium oil drain pipe from the cylinder head to the cylinde block is bolted — just behind th front timing case.
Anyone who thinks they hay or knows of, a contender is asked to write to Mike Beard, Director Public Affairs, Perkins Engines, Peterborough, Engler or contact their nearest Perkins distributor.
Entries should be received b' mid-October at the latest, and anyone who gives information leading to the discovery of the oldest engine will receive the. equivalent of £100 sterling.
SANDY ERSKINE Perkins Engines Peterborough, Northants