Search the collections
Similar items over time
Steam Car - Herbert Thomson, Armadale, Victoria, 1898
Reg. No: ST 024990
Previous Page
Next Page
- Summary:
- Four wheel Phaeton, wooden bodied steam car by Herbert Thomson. Constructed in 1898-99 and exhibited in Victoria & NSW. Thomson operated a business at 835 High Street, Armadale, Victoria making steam engines including the twin-cylinder unit and water tube boiler fitted to this vehicle which was finished in about June 1898. Thomson and his cousin Edward Holmes completed a 794 km trip from Bathurst NSW to Melbourne in April 1900 in this car. Thomson later sold imported cars and his own steam vehicles. This steam car was later exhibited as a historical curiosity by Vacuum Oil at the Victorian Motor Exhibition in 1912, the first Victorian motor trade show. It was then dismantled and restored in about 1960 before being donated to the Museum.
Original Specifications:
Bore x Stroke: 1½" & 3" x 3" (single slide valve)
Max Power: 5 h.p. @ 1,000 r.p.m. (3.75 kW)
Rear Wheels: 44" x 2" (1120 mm x 51 mm)
Front Wheels: 34" x 2" (865 mm x 51 mm)
Weight: about 10½ cwt. (approx 535 kg)
Boiler: 12" x 12" x 16" water tube type.
Steam Pressure: 250 to 600 p.s.i. (1725 kPa - 4135 kPa)
Top Speed: 25 m.p.h. (40 km/hr) - equivalent to an engine speed of 375 or 560 r.p.m.
Range: 25 miles (40 km) with 4 gallon (18 litres) water tank
Fuel Capacity: 1¼ tins of kerosene - sufficent for range of 150 miles (240 km)
Turning Circle: 12 ft. (3.65 m) - Acquisition Information:
- Donation from Mrs O. Stening, 1960
| Discipline: | Technology |
| Dimensions: | 178 cm (Height), 142 cm (Width), 271 cm (Length) |
| Weight: | 508 kg (Weight) |
| Dimension Comment: | ORIGINAL WEIGHT AT TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. HEIGHT WITH STILLAGE - 181 CM. HEIGHT AT FRONT WITH LAMPS FITTED - 179 CM. |
More information
| Tagged with: | motor vehicles, steam cars, steam engineering, royal exhibition building history of events 1892-1917 |
| Themes this item is part of: | Engineering Collection, Transport Collection, 1912 Victorian Motor Exhibition, Herbert Thomson, Inventor & Engineer (1870-1947) |
| Primary Classification: | ROAD TRANSPORT |
| Secondary Classification: | Steam Vehicles |
| Tertiary Classification: | steam cars |
| Model Name/Number: | Pioneer |
| Patentee: | Mr Herbert Thomson, Armadale, Victoria, Australia, 03 Jun 1899 |
| Designer: | Mr Herbert Thomson, Armadale, Victoria, Australia, circa 1896-1898 |
| Restorer: | Mr W. Buchanan - Veteran Car Club of Victoria, 1958-1960 |
| Manufacturer of Component: | Martin & King, Armadale, Victoria, Australia, 1898-1899 |
Themes
This item is part of the following themes:
Add your question or comment