Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Campbell gas engine from Llandrindod Wells pumping station. 1 cylinder : 18½" x 30". Efficiency : 25%. Made by the Campbell Co. and installed at Llandrindod Wells Pumping Station in 1914 (where it was in use until 1967). It powered a three-throw horizontal ram pump which pumped water 280 feet up from the River Ithon to a reservoir overlooking the town. Anthracite coal was burned in a special chamber to produce gas, which was then blown through the engine.

This massive single-cylinder gas engine was used to drive a 3-throw ram pump which pumped water 280 feet from the River Ithon to a reservoir serving Llandrindod Wells. The engine, made by the Campbell Company of Halifax, spent the whole of its working life from 1914 until 1967 at Llandrindod. The gas, acting as fuel, was derived by heating anthracite coal. Before starting the engine a mixture of air and gas was sucked manually into the cylinder and, when conditions were right, the mixture would then be ignited with a candle. For a short period in the late 1940s Campbell oil engines (direct descendants of the gas engine) were made under licence by the Tubal Cain Company of Cardiff. (Source: Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum Guidebook, 1984).

Following dismantling and relocation the parts of this engine have been labelled and recorded as follows: 1996.155 (1) piston 1996.155 (2) pump and engine bed 1996.155 (3) small black flywheel 1996.155 (4) cam shaft 1996.155 (5) pallet of bolts, bearings etc (all painted original green) 1996.155 (6) pallet of gas engine parts (some green) 1996.155 (7) pallet of gas engine parts (some green) 1996.155 (8) larger grey flywheels