I post this message on behalf of the Flemish Association for Industrial Archaeology ('Vlaamse Vereniging voor Industriële Archeologie', www.vvia.be )
The Flemish Association for Industrial Archaeology is trying to find out how many Carels-Van den Kerchove Steam engines are still existing in Europe and elsewhere. They found traces of export to many European countries, but also to Egypt, Turkey, Russia,...
So question is if any of these engines is still existing ?
The Carels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carels_Fr%C3%A8res) and Van den Kerchove (sometimes 'Van den Kerckhove') workshops in Ghent were famous steam engines builders from the mid 19th c. until the second world war. They built mainly horizontal single cylinder and compound engines, but also maritime engines and locomotives, later also steam turbines. Carels was also the first company in the world to be granted a licence to build Diesel engines.
Both companies merged after the first war, and were later joined by CEB Constructions Electriques de Belgique.
One of the last tandem compound engines they built is now a protected monument (in the old power station of Izegem - see https://www.flickr.com/photos/erfgoed/9493881996/ )
They sold steam engines all over the world, and VVIA is now trying to find out how many Carels and Van den Kerchove still do exist. One of their engines is standing in front of the engineers department at Sevilla, another is being restored by volunteers in Oisterwijk (The Netherlands, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_4CnwIdSNg)
If you know of any of these engines still existing in your country, please tell the Flemish Association for Industrial Archaeology at [log in to unmask]
PS: they are of course also interested to know of steam engines built by other Flemish Companies as Bollinckx (Buizingen), Le Phoenix (Ghent), Van Coppenolle (Berchem), Gilain (Tienen/Tirlemont), De Nobele (Ghent), Nolet (Ghent), etc .. and still existing somewhere abroad
Thanks for your help
Adriaan
