BELLISS & MORCOM GENERATING SET

Bellis and Morcom reciprocating compound steam engine electricity generating set comprising: 470 bhp vertical twin cylinder reciprocating self lubricating steam engine, serial number 7314, Mather and Platt 320 kW alternator, serial number 9561, Mather and Platt P7 5kW exciter, serial number 9562, Ellison 600 amp oil circuit breaker starter and steel clad 2 section switch panel with BBV Type A21 voltage regulator serial number B13853. The engine was 'works ordered' for stock on 17/10/1924 and subsequently sold to the Alloa Coal Company limited for the Devon Colliery near Alloa, Scotland. It was installed in late 1926 and supplied power for the Colliery. It later supplied electricity for lighting to the village after World War II. The Colliery was closed in 1954 and the engine was purchased by George Cohen & Sons '600' Group and shipped to Western Australia where it was purchased by the State Sawmills and installed in the Pemberton Sawmill. It supplied electricity for the sawmill. The engine remained in service until 1981 when it was decided to sell the sawdust that fuelled the boilers. With spiralling oil prices sawdust attracted high prices as a competitive fuel and the engine was taken out of service. It was removed to storage in Manjimup where it remained for several years. It was donated to the then 'Energy Museum' by Bunnings Limited. The engine was restored to original condition and placed on display in 1991.