World Stirling Engine Collection - Mahan Heritage Centre, Geraldine

World Stirling Engine Collection
Mahan Heritage Centre, Geraldine

A permanent display of the entire history of Stirling engines and Stirling cryocoolers (cold temperature refrigerators) from a replica of Robert Stirling’s approx. 1818 Edinburgh University demonstration engine through to a 2011 3kW free piston engine/generator with a 5m diameter solar mirror.

 Other significant items: 

The 1881 Lochmann Stirling engine that Sir Julius von Haast purchased for the heat engines laboratory at Canterbury University.
Antique Hayward Tyler, Robinson, Ericsson and Heinrici engines.
Antique and contemporary models- ‘coffee cup’ engines for sale.
A 1953 Philips 102C 300watt generator set – the first modern Stirling engine.
A Philips liquid air cryocooler and a Stirling cycle beer cooler.
A Stirling engine powered replica of a 19th century gentleman’s fantail launch.
A Stirling engine powered mobility scooter and rocking chair.

The Whispergen story:  Products, components and descriptions of the 1987 to 2011, multi-million dollar development of a domestic combined heat and power unit (Ashburton then Christchurch).

Fabrum: History, prototypes and an early production unit from this very successful Christchurch business (founded 2004) that provides the world market with Stirling cycle cryocoolers for liquifying air and hydrogen.