Mahan Heritage Centre World Stirling Engine Collection

In 2022 I shifted my Stirling engine collection to the Mahan Heritage Centre in Geraldine New Zealand where it will be on permanent display. There are, currently, 16 Stirling historic engines, Whispergen and Fabrum displays and 11 own make Stirling cycle air engines.

Historic engines: 

Robert Stirling’s engine built for Edinburgh University, 1816 to 1823, (replica).
Lehman by Paul Lochman, 1881, for Sir Julius von Haast and what is now Canterbury University.
10” Robinson (made by Gardners)  1895 - 1920
6” Hayward Tyler (Rider style) circa 1900.
8” Ericsson pumping engine circa 1900
Bing model hot air engine, approx. 1910.
20”Stirling cycle Jost fan, 1919.
55mm Heinrici early 1900’s, unrestored.
65mm Heinrici, early 1900’s- said to have been used for a dentists drill in Kumara.
80mm Heinrici, early 1900’s, used in nearby Temuka for pumping town gas.
Philips 102C 300watt Stirling engine generator set,  probably 1951.
Philips cryocooler Stirling cycle liquid air machine 1970’s (?)
Philips cryocooler liquid air machine converted to run as an engine
Infinia 3.0kw free piston Stirling engine, 2010
Infinia Solar Mirror with free piston Stirling engine.
Envirocooler free piston Stirling cycle chilly bin ~2020

Whispertech, (1988 to 2011 Christchurch based combined heat and power (CHP)  Stirling engine developer).

Cutaway demonstrator Whispertech engine.
Whispertech core engine,
Demonstrator with external flywheel that operates in engine or refrigeration mode. 
First Whispertech test unit for the European market.
Euro 1, final development of European CHP unit.
24 volt DC Whispertech CHP

Fabrum  (Christchurch based manufacturer of Stirling cycle cryocoolers): 

First two prototype cryocoolers developed by the Callaghan Institute for Fabrum.
Early own make developed liquid hydrogen cryocooler

LSM (Lynn Stirling Machine) series air engines:   

11 LSM engines- my exploration of unpressurised hot air engines in light of the improvements in materials and construction methods, and better understanding of thermodynamics since the 19th century.   LSM 12, LSM 14 and LSM 21 (Ringbom) are refinements of conventional arrangements.  The others are attempts at improving air transfer and more radical layouts.

Peter Lynn, Ashburton, New Zealand, June 2025

Although we make every attempt to be accurate with our descriptions and captions, there will inevitably be some errors.  We will be pleased to correct any that are brought to our attention