Peter Stanwell
Back in 2011 I posted a blog about the Stirling Society event at Kew Bridge Steam Museum and I mentioned that they would be awarding the “Peter Stanwell trophy for innovation in the field of Stirling engines”. Julian Wood was picked for the award that year.
I was contacted shortly after by Paul Bird who was researching Peter Stanwell in view to creating a biography.
I first met Mr Stanwell in about 1979/80 at his address in Wanstead where he was the owner of a faulty Bendix washing machine and I was the engineer sent to repair it. It was evident from fairly early on in my visit that this was no ordinary customer. He led me into the kitchen and without further ado produced a long bamboo cane with a wire running along it on one end of which was (presumably) a thermocouple and on the other end of which was an electrical gauge
Kit And Paul
Who is Peter Stanwell?
Peter was born in 1915 in West Ham, he had a career as a mechanical engineer working at Imperial Airways in Croydon in the 1930s and later at Plessey. Whilst at Plessey, Peter was named on patents for several items including bearings, electric motors and constant speed drives.
Peter had a great interest in internal combustion engines and took out several patents for his work. These were later sold to Petters Limited but none of them were developed further.
One major project was a rotary engine called the Rotorfugal which was shown on Tomorrow’s World in the 1970s. It was also shortlisted for the Prince of Wales Award for Industrial Innovation and Production but the “Optica Light Aircraft” won that year.
Peter Stanwell with Sam Innocent From Coborn Engineering and the Rotorfugal Engine
Ref: On the wire
A small two cylinder prototype for these engines is still surviving and I had the privilege of seeing it in Kit’s garage.
Later in life Peter gained a love of Stirling engines and was a prolific maker of them. The engines lined the hall of his house and there was usually one on the bench in the workshop.
Stirling expert Roy Darlington now looking after 30 of Peter’s old engines.
What is the trophy?
When Peter died in 2003, he left his friend Kit some money. As Peter was such a big fan of Stirling Engines, Kit approached the Stirling Engine Society and suggested the idea of a trophy. The trophy is awarded annually at the meeting at Kew Bridge Steam Museum for improvements and innovations in Stirling engines. The trophy itself is one of Peter’s small Stirling engines.
Posted in: Inventors
Tags: Patents, Stirling Engine
Metal sculpture in brass, mounted on an 1800s French Coin
Hi, I have recently acquired the prototype Stanwell rotorfugal engine pictured in you blog. Would you have any pointers to finding out a bit more about it? I was hoping that there may be some drawings or articles and the like somewhere. It would be great if I could get it running, but I would prefer to have some knowledge about it before trying to recommission. Many Thanks. Dave Mullard
Hi, the engine was featured in Motorcycle News in the 1970’s.
wow , where are you located .. is it complete?
It will need some work. Kit told us at the time of the visit that it had never run properly because the case opened slightly on compression however that doesn’t mean it can’t ever run. It’s an interesting concept, it was complete when we saw it, as to drawings I don’t know, Peter took out various patents and it may be patented
It will need some work. Kit told us at the time of the visit that it had never run properly because the case opened slightly on compression however that doesn’t mean it can’t ever run.