Crossley Type SE 126, No 84239

This a favourite of mine, a Crossley Type SE 126, No 84239 gas engine.It was used at an engineering company named B. Smith & Son which was based in Bingley, Bradford and was a sawmill engineering company. It ran a line shaft like the one they have at Bradford Industrial Museum where it’s located now but on a much bigger scale. The company was incorporated in 1936, and the company dissolved in 1954 as far as I’ve found. It was named ‘Madge’ after the owner’s daughter, made in 1924.

Currently ticking over on compressed air unfortunately but non the less still moving and sounding great rather than lifeless. Of course, it ran much faster in that factory at a rated 64hp compared to the speed it runs now, but it still sounds great to hear and see it in motion. It used to be fuelled on producer gas which is a by-product of coal but here it’s been altered to work on compressed air along with several other machines. The cylinders are 17” Diameter with a stroke of 26” and fired from a trip magneto and a moving electro plug I’ve been informed

Not 100% sure if this company was based on the same site as Airedale Mills which is now apartments like many other mills in Bradford. Least it’s not been demolished.