[Vintman]

Hi Folks,

I have just spent a week on the tiny Greek Island of Paxos which is off the beaten track in the Ionian sea, reachable only by ferry. I was therefore hoping that some old cars may be scattered around but apart from one 1940s Mercedes, came across this interesting device just outside the town of Gaios. Seems to have a Ruggerini ‘stationary engine’ with big pulleys linked by belts to a first gearbox with equally big pulleys which takes the drive through 90 degrees and an enclosed chain to a horizontal drive shaft which goes into a second gearbox with ratios. Seems very solidly made and despite deep rust seemed to have enough metal left to last a couple of more centuries. I thought I discovered something home made but then came across a couple of other wrecks on the island with the name Candia just visible. Seems thousands were made in Crete and other Greek Islands by little agricultural workshops during the 1980s but were obsolete by the 1990s. Grossly over-engineered but I suppose that if you are stuck for many weeks between gale lashed boats to the mainland in winter, - things have to last. Although info is available on the Web on Candia, not many photos, - so I thought this may be of interest. Seems Wikipedia have the only photo, and theirs has a steering wheel.

Regards

Vintman (UK)
www.svvs.org