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Did you know there is a museum devoted entirely to engines – in France? I didn’t until David Boulton told me that the Perkins Heritage Group was in dialogue about exhibiting Perkins outboards (remember them?) and could I take one of them out there when I visited France on my caravan holiday!
I brought David up to speed on maximum weight limits for caravans and we compromised on my taking a box of Perkins leaflets, service instructions etc., mainly in French, with the engines to follow by truck later. In fact, the Heritage Centre is intending to loan a P6 and a T4.38V (as fitted in Renault Trucks) too, all to go to France together.
Jean-Claude Chauvin is a trustee of the museum in 49400 Saumur, and I arranged to meet him there to hand over the box of papers and have a gossip about the times we were both in sales – we both retired about the same time in 2005.
It is no accident that The Musée du Moteur is located in Saumur, as the local University Sadi Carnot is the leading academic centre for diesel engineering in France. They help finance it but like many similar institutions it relies heavily on fund raising. Jean-Claude is not the only graduate of Saumur to be employed by Perkins France since Pierre Chambrillon, Michel Eschalier, Frederic Fleury and Alain Boucard, who is currently MD in France, all share this Alma Mater.
Engine Paradise
I spent an absorbing morning at the museum - it is a paradise for anyone interested in engines – diesel, petrol, big and small. Everything is delightfully mixed up; you get a single-cylinder stationary diesel circa 1890 next to a 1980’s F1 unit. Fantastic! Perkins, Cat and Rolls Royce all feature, as well as just about everyone else who ever made an engine.
I fully recommend putting a day aside if you are anywhere near Saumur. It’s in the town centre, with plenty of parking. Look them up on the web, www.museedumoteur.fr (in English too!). You may be lucky enough to bump into Jean-Claude or Pierre Bruneau, another trustee, who puts a lot of time and energy, into the museum.
John Baxter, October 2010
P.S. Have a look at my photos – including a very poignant one of Iceberg – complete with its handwritten label saying “stood down November 1983” – as the Product Manager I remember it all too well!
View a BBC Look East News Item from October 1982 about Project Iceberg below:
Jean-Claude Chauvin (right) and Pierre Bruneau outside the Museum. David’s book in J-C’s hand!
Jean-Claude Chauvin (right) and Pierre Bruneau about to examine David's book!
Perkins 4.107 – ex-show engine
Perkins 4.107 – ex-show engine
Perkins project Iceberg – one of the few left in captivity!
Label still attached to Iceberg – complete with poignant message!
Rolls Royce Genset engine
Not forgetting Caterpillar – they used to make small engines – remember?
John Baxter (right) and Pierre Bruneau outside the Museum. This time David’s book in John’s hand!
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