| Charles Burrell and Sons of Thetford were internationally acclaimed manufacturers of steam engines and agricultural machinery. Towards the end of the 19th century the company was one of the major employees in Thetford and were exporting engines world wide. Burrell produced a single cylinder portable steam engine in 1848, and in that same year the first threshing and dressing machine ever to be offered to the public. The firm also produced the Burrell-Boydell self moving engine and during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries Burrell's made steam engines of all types. General purpose traction engines, ploughing engines, wagons, road locomotives and stationary engines were among the many products. The company also patented and produced items like threshing drums, straw elevators, portable corn mills, bacon slicers, ice-cream machines and even steam launches. 1928 saw the closure of the firm having produced 4094 steam engines of which ten percent survive in preservation today. Display stand not included. |
