I purchased the Wolseley from a Stationary Engine friend (John Southall) in October 2000. It runs well, has a recon Magneto, however the trolley is made from a piece of railway sleeper so the first job is to make a new trolley.

The engine is in reasonable condition externally and has been primed ready for repainting. This is a job that I will hopefully get to in the Spring, and I have purchased a new set of decals ready to apply after painting.

This Engine is a 1 1/2 HP model, engine number 42648 and was built around 1957 however exact dating is not possible as the records were all destroyed in a fire at the Factory

The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Company was founded in 1887 at "Witton Works" Birmingam. This Company was a well established manufacturer of sheep shearing and associated equipement. They produced their first engine in 1911, was rated at 3 HP and powered six sheep shearing handsets.

They produced various engines in the early 20th Century with the WD1 series (Built for the War Department) making an appearance in 1942. These were for shipping to the Western Desert and made an appearance in the home market in Sept. 1943. The series developed through to the WD2 and then the WD8 in March 1949 starting with engine no. 24005.

The WD8 was offered in three sizes, 1 1/2 - 2 HP, 2 - 2 1/2 HP and 2 1/2 - 3 HP, the main differences being the governer spring which set the RPM. Production of the WD8 ended in 1961 when it was replaced with the WD9 which remained in production until the early 1970s.