{"product_id":"stuart-814-generating-set-stock-code-2438","title":"Stuart 814 generating set","description":"\u003cp\u003eDuring the war, Alco put together a portable steam-powered generating set  designed to be parachute-dropped behind the lines allowing forces on the ground  to recharge their radio batteries. Comprising a portable boiler connected to the  1930's-designed Stuart Turner Sirius engine, many were made and, reputedly,  deployed. They're somewhat scarce now, although I did have one in last year.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eFollowing on from the success of the little \"Firefly\" set, a  larger, purpose-designed unit was built. Stuart Turner supplied a single  cylinder, piston valve engine with the generator end-plates cast in to the  crankcase. This sat in a cradle coupled to the 6 volt generator and included a  variable stroke boiler feed pump.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe boiler came in three parts: grate, firebox and horizontal cast-aluminium  barrel. The chimney was again in parts, collapsing for transit. The boiler is  coupled to the engine with flexible pipes for steam and exhaust, there is  another pipe terminating in a perforated rose designed to be thrown into the  nearest stream for feed water. Working pressure is 60 psi, the boiler is  designed to be fired on anything that came to hand - it goes well on wood. There is a very  heavy-duty water gauge which looks designed to be squaddie-proof.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThis unit is substantially complete - a couple of the rubber hoses have been  replaced over the years and there is no regulator valve (which was a simple  wheel valve). It fits into the wooden crate rather neatly, although the original  box was a huge great thing designed to be parachute dropped and weighing about a  ton.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eI believe that 400 of these units were made, with 200 disposed of by the  military on the surplus market after the war - the rest are probably still in  strategic reserve and will be issued to key personnel in the next one. Very rare  nowadays, I have only ever seen one other which came in last year.  In the spirit of enquiry we're renowned for here, I steamed that one up to see  how it went - amazingly, for such a barmy looking contraption, they go very  well and actually do the job intended!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54009884541269,"sku":"2438","price":695.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/2438-1.webp?v=1779899460","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/stuart-814-generating-set-stock-code-2438","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}