A well engineered model of a Simpson & Shipton short stroke rotary steam engine, built by Mr D. Russell of Fraserburgh from drawings by Stewart Hart based on the 1851 original engine, the steam chamber linked by connecting rods to the open crank, having brass cup oilers, set on eight reeded architectural column supports, eccentric driven steam valve, metal clad steam chamber, steam inlet, spoked flywheel 17cm diameter, finished in black paintwork, mounted on hardwood plinth measuring 21cm x 21cm, overall 24cm high. Note: This engine was patented in 1848 by two Manchester engineers - Joseph Simpson and James Alfred Shipton. It is a rotary steam engine, but it still uses connecting rods to drive the crankshaft. The 'cylinder' or perhaps better described as a chamber, sits on a table carried on four short columns. Inside the chamber is a piston lying on its side. Passing through the piston is an eccentric shaft, connected to the outer ends of the shaft are cranks. Connecting rods drop from these cranks to the crankshaft carried on bearings fixed to the base. Steam enters the chamber through a balanced slide valve and impinges on the side of the piston rolling it around inside the chamber.