H. Cegielski self-propelled traction engine (1)

About the sound

Sounds accompanying the H. Cegielski self-propelled traction engine in operation. The recording was realized in the National Museum of Agriculture and Agricultural-Food Industry in Szreniawa (Poland).
Traction engine is a movable steam machine. It was designed for the first time by Alexander Dean in 1842 in Birmingham. Traction engines were used in agriculture in the second half of the 19th century and in the early 20th century for driving machines and for transport works. They were used among others for plowing. Two traction engines were placed on the opposite sides of a field and rope wound around spools was stretched between them. Traction engines arranged in this way moved a plow plowing the field between them. In the years 1857-1918, steam traction engines were in the territory of Poland manufactured by in total nine factories. Only Hipolit Cegielski Factory in Poznań developed their production and continued it until the end of the interwar period.
The recorded traction engine has a four-wheel chassis, steam boiler made for the pressure of 13 atmospheres, twin steam engine with the power of 35-40 HP. Two speeds are available: 3.4 or 10.2 km/h. The traction engine could pull the loads up to 60 tons, consumed ca. 500 kg of coal and 3000 l of water per day.
In 2006, the traction engine underwent full renovation and its original technical efficiency was restored.
Manufacturer: H. Cegielski Stock Society, Poznań, Poland
Year of manufacture: 1919
Weight: 9500 kg

Sound recordist: Monika Widzicka
Photographer: Piotr Leszczyński
Video recordist: Piotr Leszczyński