WITH ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE OF THE REVERSE GEAR. The motorized packet barge De Tijdgeest (The Zeitgeist) and its engine, a horizontal Van Rennes petroleum engine of 20 hp with an open crankshaft, date from the same year: 1897. So they are now 125 years together. De Tijdgeest was built by shipbuilding master A. Pannevis in Alphen aan de Rijn and transported pete from Vinkeveen to Amsterdam. The current owner, Gooike van Slooten in Amsterdam, came into possession of De Tijdgeest when the former owner, the farmer Toon Voordeveld, had to give it up because of health reasons. Gooike explains the survival of the practically unique engine from the fact that the last three owners were in no hurry. ‘When the diesels came up, around 1920, they snatched away the cargo, because they could make it faster. These engines were souped up by mixing the petroleum with gasoline or holding ether before the air intake. They all exploded or had an accident. Luckily, this one was always owned by people in no hurry.’ Gooike demonstrates the starting procedure with the aid of two ‘human starter engines’ and explains the working of the reverse gear. Then he takes us sailing on the canals of Amsterdam, passing under the famous Skinny Bridge. More information on De Tijdgeest can be found on the website De Tijdgeest Amsterdam ( detijdgeestamsterdam.wordpres... ). The exterior shots were filmed from the saloon boat Grutto.
00:00 Intro
01:00 About the engine 1
02:10 Filling the oil glass
03:01 Filling the oil reservoir
03:16 Filling the Primus reservoir
06:07 About the engine 2
07:34 First start attempt
08:15 Second start attempt
08:50 Sailing away
09:24 Under the Skinny Bridge
09:59 Running engine
10:19 About the reverse gear 1
11:22 About the reverse gear 2
12:31 History of De Tijdgeest
14:10 Stopping the engine