By: Tasman Library10th Jun 2022 11:17AMMcLaren 720

Harry and Philip Best of Appleby lived on Lansdowne Road. Philip was a Waimea County councilor. The McLaren traction engine was owned by their very close neighbor Harry Schwass at the time of this photo which is taken pre 1913. Shown hauling a log, suggests it is on its way to Schwass's sawmill for milling.

McLaren 720, a 7hp single cylinder, was bought new by J T Snowden of Brightwater in June 1903.

Subsequent owners were
H Schwass of Appleby,
WA Jessop of Hope,
Balman around the Hope area.

In 1950's Maurice Wells of Appleby purchased it along with Clarence Satherley's Fowler to wreck for the back wheels to make a farm roller. This roller was owned later by Andy Whiting and currently 2022, Edridge contractors. David Walker of Appleby has the chimney which had been used as a letter box stand in Takaka.

Exerts from Papers Past

22.5.1906 Herbert Schwass drove his traction engine over railway crossing at Annesbrook without regard to the approaching train.
15.11.1907 H Schwass drove traction engine and broke utility pipes in a Richmond street, Council is not impressed.
20.11.1912 H Schwass sawmill in Appleby burns down. He had moved the engine the day before.
7.4.1916 W A Jessop fined 27s for driving a TE at night without a red signal light.
18.3.1919 W A Jessop writes to WCC with a price per day to drive the stone crusher.
12.1.1916 Chaff cutting prices set by group of contractors.

In 1913 Harry and Philip Best bought a new Ruston and Proctor 6hp compound 45715 traction engine now being restored at Fielding. It was sold to PE Ford of Hope then to Christians sawmill in 1930, and ended up at Frys tobacco kiln in Riwaka before being sold for restoration around 2000.