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Single cylinder two stroke vertical oil engine, coupled to a Mather & Platt generator capable of producing between 100 and 140 Volts. 1 cylinder : 10" x 13". Able to run on either deisel or heavy oil with separate ignition. Used during early 20th century to generate electricity for Gregynog Hall.

At the beginning of the twentieth century electricity was only available within large towns. Elsewhere houses or farms needing electricity had to install their own generators for the purpose. This was done at Gregynog, near Newtown in Powys, the home of the renowned Davies family who founded the Ocean Coal Company and who were responsible for building the Barry Railway and Barry Docks.

The D.C. generator was driven by a Marshall vertical single-cylinder (10" x 13") oil engine. Starter motors, as used on every modern car, were not provided on these engines and the operator would have to rotate the engine manually to the correct starting position by inserting a lever into the notches in the flywheel. Despite the massive size of the engine and generator they could provide only sufficient electricity to light a few arc-lamps which consumed far more power than filament or fluorescent lamps. The engine could also be run as a diesel without ignition.

Source: Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum Guidebook, 1984