Bridget’s visit to the piece of machinery in President’s Park brought some comments from our readers.
Tony da Cruz says this is a steam engine or tractor, made by Aveling and Porter in Rochester England.
These machines were sent to South Africa in around 1899 to be used by various companies and municipalities after the war.
“This one might have been used in the local mines at the turn of the century,” says da Cruz.
Nick van der Westhuizen, who sent us a photograph of his grandfather, Nick Prinsloo, in front of this machine says the machine was brought to South Africa by SA Hammer in New Era and was painted later to it present colours.
Peter Denton says the engine that the Addie photographed was a steam-driven machine that the farmers long ago used to thresh grain like mielies,and wheat.
The big green wheel was used to attach a flat canvas belt which was connected to a threshing machine.
