-
My collection of steam and electric engines and motors is quite small and old. Barely any newer models from this century, and only one Stirling (hot air) from PM Research. Since I recently sold an old 1951 Chevrolet engine, and was mildly flushed with extra cash, I got a wild hair to sift the interwebs for another Stirling.
Got somewhat of a mixed perspective. The internet array of Stirling engines were uber abundant but 99% came from a geographic local dominated by a dubious government regime hell-bent on world domination and total thought control.
On the sparse positive notes ; those "communal" engines were cheaply inexpensive, and they were certainly shiny and looked cool.
To the negative perspective, most of what I found came from a part of the world that openly steals intellectual property and then forces children and slaves to work in a horrid industrial nightmare to produce those stolen creations into cheap toys. Such is the passive aggressive human value of a "cheaper" toy engine.
Since the cheaper totalitarian engines often provide the added Karma of not working properly (or even working at all) when they finally arrive, I am avoiding that "suckers" route of paying for an engine and then having the burden of me laboring for days to get it working.
So, I looked at the Kontax Stirlings from Maidenhead, England. I took a chance and wrote to them to see if they were still truly Made In England. This is their July 2020 reply:
100% designed yes. 100% of all CNC machining is done in our factory.
Glass is made in England for us, to our spec. Assembly done by us in our factory.
Screws and bearings are purchased from suppliers in England but we don't know if they are made in England.
We recently applied and successful grant use of a "Made in Britain" logo that has strict requirements.
We calculated that at least 98.24% of the value of the product is from parts or assembly here in the Britain.
Regards,
I bought a Kontax Nano disc Manson, and ordered an LTD Stirling. Got the Nano and it's made very well and didn't need anything but fuel to get it started running exquisitely ! The LTD KS90 should arrive soon. Both were more expensive than the engines made in the cheaper repressive part of the world.
https://www.stirlingengine.co.uk/default.asp
-
-
Pleased to see you have invested in a few British made Kontax Stirling engines Jasper. I've had the solar LTD model for many years and it has always been a crowd pleaser. I'm glad the company is still trading even in these hard times we are facing. I'm certainly tempted to get one of their high temp models, i quite like the Nano Rhombic model.
-
-
Bravo to all of that I say!!!
-
-
-
Here here....my investment in a country determined to destroy my native land is over. I am determined to be extra diligent to that end . Good for you for buying from friendly countries
-
-
I have a few Kontax stirlings both high temp and LTD. They have been flawless engines and I highly recommend them. For steam, try their Heron ball, it spins so fast it's scary!
-
-
I also have a Kontax LTD stirling given to me for Christmas (with a hint from yours truly). My daughter assembled the kit in a few minutes and it runs beautifully. Definitely a cut above the usual Ebay fare. Well packed and also shipped promptly (to US in my case). Highly recommended.
-
-
Well pleased to say i've ordered one of their high temp models. I was going to get the Nano Rhombic but opted for the Manson instead because it is different to the usual Stirling cycle engines and nice to have something a bit unique, plus i thought it was good value too. I also ordered a USB warming plate to use with my LTD engine i already own.
I'll post some photos and a video when it comes.
-
-
Well pleased to say i've ordered one of their high temp models. I was going to get the Nano Rhombic but opted for the Manson instead because it is different to the usual Stirling cycle engines and nice to have something a bit unique, plus i thought it was good value too. I also ordered a USB warming plate to use with my LTD engine i already own.
I think you will be pleased with the Manson . I got the Nano Disc Horizontal (Mason) with a tungsten piston. It came with the ‘free’ glass display dome. Mine runs like a jewel. That is the one of the smoothest and quietest engines in my collection. I will post a still pic of it next to PM Research engine for size comparison.
I'll post some photos and a video when it comes.
I should be receiving the LTD soon, it appears to take about 10-12 days from order placement to my doorstep here in the middle of the USA .-450.jpg)
-450.jpg)
-180.jpg)
-
-
I also opted for exact same model with the tungsten piston and i'm pleased to hear it runs well, very much look forward to receiving mine very soon.
I also got the free glass dome which will certainly help keep the dust off it and nice to have that as a free extra.
I'm sure you will enjoy your LTD Stirling model when it arrives.
-
-
The LTD arrive safe and sound. It ran excellent on a hot cup of coffee 30 seconds after unpacking! I will post pic of it soon. Here is the Nano disc Manson next to an older Jensen 76 and a PM Research #13 for a size comparison.
-
-
Nice to see your Nano against your other engines for scale.
Pleased to hear you have received your LTD engine from Kontax, i also like to run them over a mug of something hot.
-
-
After reading all the comments about the Kontax engines, I went and ordered a KS90 in the blue anodized finish. It took about 12 days to arrive here in Minnesota. What a great little engine. The machining is excellent. It took about 20 minutes to assemble using the online instructions, and it runs great. Thanks to everyone who gave a "thumbs up", for Kontax and their quality.
Mike
-
-
Welcome to the Kontax club Mike!
That looks nice in blue.
-
-
After reading all the comments about the Kontax engines, I went and ordered a KS90 in the blue anodized finish. It took about 12 days to arrive here in Minnesota. What a great little engine. The machining is excellent. It took about 20 minutes to assemble using the online instructions, and it runs great. Thanks to everyone who gave a "thumbs up", for Kontax and their quality.
Mike
Looks great
But you forgot to order a second one to send down to me 
-