Brouhot 6nhp portable
Little is known of the working history of the engine, which was built in France in 1927 with works number 5215. The plate also carries the legend Anciens Establissments A Vierzon that could indicate that the engine is a Brouhot & Cie design; SFV Societe Francaise Vierzon could actually have made it.
The portable was brought to England by Donovan Eastwood around 1968 having laying in a sand pit and was used to drive a stone crusher. About ten years, later the boiler inspector allowed them to steam at low pressure. With tubes fitted, he did 
not know what to make of the stayless crown and firebox which was completely foreign at that time.
It was seen at the Eastwood premises, Grovehurst Farm at Horsmonden, where it housed in a for many years.
The collection moved in the early 1980’s to the former Guinness establishment at Quarry Farm Bodium, East Sussex, where it was lagged, painted and a new set of lagging sheets made locally fitted. It was purchased at auction on October 14″ 1995 by a private collector in Maidstone where it remained undercover for 20 years in working order, but never steamed.
In 2014, Bill Best took opportunity to add the Brouhot to the Bredgar collection. The motion had completely seized solid. the belly tank had rusted through, but the boiler and tubes where in good condition.
In 2023 the boiler inspector restricted the maximum pressure as it was suspected that the tubes and crown were not capable of handling its standard pressure and detailed inspection was not possible at that time. After running every event day in 2024 it was withdrawn from service and stripped for a full detailed inspection. The tubes were found to require replacement but the rest of the boiler is in good condition. During the winter of 2024/5 work on re-tubing is taking place. The tubes are now expanded into the front plate however, the fire box is small and expanding the tubes into the rear tube plate requires strength and an ability to work in a very limited space!
Front tube plate with tubes expanded into place.
The wheels and flywheel have been repainted. The metal boiler covers have been shotblasted and painted ready to be refitted.