About the Rally
The rally was held to mark the the first traction engine being built by
the two brothers. This machine their number 1, left their Midland works on
20 March 1877. Of all the Mclarens built 65% of them were exported; Today
New Zealand has the largest number of McLarens surviving than any other country
in the world.
Machines from all over New Zealand come to the small village of Halkett,
in Mid Canterbury. The shipping company of Pacifica helped bring some down
from the North Island so they could join in. The rally had the
largest gathering of McLaren traction engines in the world, 30 of them;
All were on show to the public with all except one being in steam. The machines
ranged from the 4 HP models right through to the 10 HP models. Included
also were 2 convertable rollers, one steam roller, and a puddock!
Now most will be wondering what on earth is a puddock, well its a traction
engine that has had its cast steel wheels removed and had earth moving
wheels fitted in its place. Also the installation of hydraulic brakes.
A canopy has been installed with electric lighting around the outside. Its
said to have a top speed of 50 km/h.
Traction Engines
In total there were 50 traction enginge present. There were representitives
from the builders of, Burrell, Fowler, Foster, Aveling & Porter, Robey,
Marshall.
The rarest machine present was the little Foster, the only one to come
to new Zealand this has been restored by the well known Frank Heron &
Family of the Heron Steam Museum.
Model Steamers
Present were some
minitures, there were 2 steam trucks both modelled on Fodens. These were
real eye catchers, and they could pull a good sized load of about 7 kids!
The Calders Foden could be seen all day chuffing backwards and fowards
around the rally ground.
Also there were 2 traction engines, one was modelled on a Fowler, while
the other was a 3 speed burrell. On show was a partly built model of a McLaren
No.227. This model is being constructed by Mr A Familton. All of these models
were finished to a very high standard. All had gleaming paint work and polished
brass work and made a grand site puttering around the rally ground.
Events
As well as the traction engine sitting and basking in the sunlight, there
were chaff cutting, threashing mill and saw mill displays. Some machines
even had a go on the banencing beams, these are two parrallel beams that
the engine has to clim on nad balance. Sounds easy well it isn't. It was
interesting to watch, the slightest movement in either direction could mean
that the whole machine wasn't balenced.
