Unusual small steam plant on ebay.

[Gas_mantle]

I stumbled across this item while browsing ebay.

Although I'm not personally interested in buying it I thought it seemed quite an attractive little set up. Anyone know what the unusual engine is or how it works etc ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STEAM-ENGINE-RARE-WORKING-SCALE-MODEL-PROFESSIONAL-STUART-BOILER-DAMPFMASCHINE/142864635798?hash=item2143655796:g:sGYAAOSwR0hbR01q

[AOG]

It’s a coomber (SP?) engine. I’ve occasionally seen secondhand castings for them around in the usual places but the most common ones I’ve seen are made from Elmer’s plans.

http://www.john-tom.com/ElmersEngines/46_rotary.pdf

Tony

[Gas_mantle]

Thanks Tony, it's the first one I've seen and thought it looked quite an attractive little set up.

[zeeprogrammer]

The ad says it's rare. On similar ads you might see 'vintage' or even antique.

Unless there's a plaque (and even if there is), I wonder what makes such things rare and how does one know it's vintage or antique?

[Jasonb]

Looks like a tarted up Stuart boiler and a Coomber. You can get also castings for that from Polly though I don't think the one in the photo is from them.

[Jo]

I wonder what makes such things rare and how does one know it's vintage or antique?

All non commercial hand made model engines are "rare" as not many were ever made, some commercial ones are also rare as the runs were very short whereas some are common as muck 

Maybe they are measuring "vintage" like when we talk about a vintage cheese 

Jo

[Ian S C]

Here I'v seen antiques wanted, older than 1980.
Ian S C

[crueby]

Here I'v seen antiques wanted, older than 1980.
Ian S C

That explains why that guy tried putting me in that display case...

[Jim Nic]

E-bay Speak is a unique form of English, in a similar way as Estate Agent Speak is. 
Vintage is when the item is heavily corroded, antique is when the item is heavily corroded and there are clearly bits missing, rare means the seller has never seen one before.
Jim

[zeeprogrammer]

Vintage is when the item is heavily corroded, antique is when the item is heavily corroded and there are clearly bits missing, rare means the seller has never seen one before.

 

So I'm antique...but worthless.

And rare only to others.