Aircraft Engine components [Paskell/Pither]
Maker and role
Herbert Pither, Constructor
Jimmy Paskell, Assembler
Production date
Circa 1913
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1982.709
Maker
Production period
Description
4 Cylinder engine. Large metal base with two large cylindrical tube protruding at an angle with another protruding at 90deg.
The original Paskell / Pither aircraft engine. Herbert John Pither built an aeroplane in Invercargill starting in 1909. Pither claimed that on the 4th of July 1910 he flew the aeroplane, however there were no witnesses. If he did fly, his flight could have been the first sustained flight in New Zealand by a heavier-than-air powered machine. On becoming bankrupt Pither left some engine parts in his workshop in Invercargill, which were sold at public auction.
It is believed to have been built by Jimmy Paskell, an Invercargill scrap metal dealer around 1913. Paskell was an amateur mechanic who used the engine in an aircraft which was trialled on Riverton Beach near Invercargill but did not fly.
4 cylinder V type, 40 HP, 160 lbs.
The original Paskell / Pither aircraft engine. Herbert John Pither built an aeroplane in Invercargill starting in 1909. Pither claimed that on the 4th of July 1910 he flew the aeroplane, however there were no witnesses. If he did fly, his flight could have been the first sustained flight in New Zealand by a heavier-than-air powered machine. On becoming bankrupt Pither left some engine parts in his workshop in Invercargill, which were sold at public auction.
It is believed to have been built by Jimmy Paskell, an Invercargill scrap metal dealer around 1913. Paskell was an amateur mechanic who used the engine in an aircraft which was trialled on Riverton Beach near Invercargill but did not fly.
4 cylinder V type, 40 HP, 160 lbs.
Brief History
During 1909, Herbert John Pither built an aeroplane in Invercargill. He claimed that on 4 July 1910 he flew that aeroplane, although there were no witnesses to support this claim. If Pither did fly, his flight could have been the first sustained flight in New Zealand by a heavier-than-air powered machine.
Pither's aircraft was made of steel tubing and measured 7.9 metres in length, with a 8.5 metre span. Pither built a 4-cylinder, 40HP engine for the aircraft, weighing 72.5 kg. According to Pither, it flew for about 1.6 km at about 9 metres before being forced to land. On becoming bankrupt Pither left some engine parts in his workshop in Invercargill, which were sold at public auction.
The engine you see here is believed to have been built by Jimmy Paskell, an Invercargill scrap metal dealer around 1913. Paskell was an amateur mechanic who used the engine in an aircraft which was trialled on Riverton Beach near Invercargill but did not fly. The engine was later dumped down a well on his property and later retrieved by his son.
It was first believed this engine was the one built by Pither but experts believe it is not of his workmanship, and that it was built by Paskell using parts from the Pither engine.
Pither's aircraft was made of steel tubing and measured 7.9 metres in length, with a 8.5 metre span. Pither built a 4-cylinder, 40HP engine for the aircraft, weighing 72.5 kg. According to Pither, it flew for about 1.6 km at about 9 metres before being forced to land. On becoming bankrupt Pither left some engine parts in his workshop in Invercargill, which were sold at public auction.
The engine you see here is believed to have been built by Jimmy Paskell, an Invercargill scrap metal dealer around 1913. Paskell was an amateur mechanic who used the engine in an aircraft which was trialled on Riverton Beach near Invercargill but did not fly. The engine was later dumped down a well on his property and later retrieved by his son.
It was first believed this engine was the one built by Pither but experts believe it is not of his workmanship, and that it was built by Paskell using parts from the Pither engine.
Media/Materials
Collection
Credit Line
Herbert Pither et al. Circa 1913. Aircraft Engine components [Paskell/Pither], 1982.709. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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