Engineering celebrated in Len Rutter Park

What started as a mere exhibition of engines turned into a celebration of model engineering at Len Rutter Park on Saturday.

The Rand Society of Model Engineers’ (RSME’s) preservation group held an exhibition of restored stationary engines at the Park to the pleasure of local engineers. Collectors exhibited old engines that have been cleaned and restored to working order. Young and old were fascinated by the workings of these old machines.

Those who were interested could also take a tour of the RSME stationary engine museum, where engines dating back to 1905 were on display. A few of the engines were still in the process of restoration, explained RSME secretary Colin Retief. Some of the engines had been donated to the Society by the Engineering Department of the University of Witwatersrand. The engines in the museum were used for smaller or larger workshops and factories in previous years.

Ron Huart who heads the preservation group was helped by Deon Bouwer and Gustav van der Westhuizen to get one of the museum’s engines running to the enjoyment of visitors. A restored sheep sheering machine belonging to Neville Botha was among the many engines on display outside the museum.

“We aim to please local collectors, hobbyists and engineers but also hope to enrich the experience of student engineers and other interested residents,” Retief said.

The Society also has an intriguing engineering library inside the museum. For more information about the RSME or the museum, contact Colin Retief on 083 307 1475.

For galleries of the event, click here.