As part of the chip shop development we have been keen to incorporate as much original material as possible in what is, after all, a new build. You will have read about the chip van in these pages in the past, we also have three coal fired ranges/fryers (two of which will operate), some gorgeous tiling from a wet fish shop in Berwick and we have just acquired (through the kindness of Geoff Challinor at Anson Engine Museum) this Robinson gas engine and potato chipper.

Robinson advertised in the chip-shop press (yes, there was such a thing!) their range of stationary engines that could be used to drive various mechanical aids in a chip shop, including peelers and chippers. This one is an X type built in around 1900 and made by the famous L Gardner & Sons under licence (they produced these Robinson engines at their Cornbrook, Manchester, works from 1894 until 1919). The engine is in running order and it comes with a potato chipper, which has been used recently for the production of fast food for hungry volunteers at Anson!

The pair were collected on Tuesday and are already stripped in David Young’s workshop for overhaul and repainting, which he confidently predicts will be completed next week! We can then install them in the chip shop and plumb in a low and high gas supply for its operation. The low pressure supplies the cylinder whilst the high pressure goes to the hot tube (which provides the ignition for the gas in the cylinder). Originally using town gas, it will use Calor gas (propane).

The inclined cylinder is clever in allowing partial submersion into the water space, saving on complicated casting and coring. The casting is very slender – something we hope we will be repeating with the sandboxes for Lewin.

As ever, watch this space for restoration progress…

Below: A selection of views taken of the engine and chipper.