[MSN] State police are looking for burglars who stole an antique engine from a museum in Kinzers that may be worth thousands of dollars.

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Burglars nab antique engine in Kinzers
Was stored at Rough and Tumble Museum

By Brett Hambright
Intelligencer Journal

Published: Jan 08, 2007 5:51 PM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - State police are looking for burglars who stole an
antique engine from a museum in Kinzers that may be worth thousands of
dollars, an investigator said.

The 1919 New Holland gasoline engine was taken sometime in the past few
months from a garage at Rough and Tumble Engineers Museum, 4997 Lincoln
Highway East, Trooper Ryan Stephens said.

The ½-horsepower engine is about the size of a chair, according to Stephens,
who estimated it would sell for about $17,000 at auction.

The burglary occurred sometime after Aug. 18, Stephens said.

“That’s when it was seen last, so it could have been stolen anytime between
then and (Saturday).”

The engine was taken from an unlocked storage garage.

“The (burglar) just opened up the door and took it,” Stephens said.

It’s not clear who owns the engine, which probably was donated to the
museum, Stephens said.

“That’s how they acquire a lot of their stuff.”

It’s unlikely a passerby witnessed the theft because the garage is not
readily visible from the road.

“It sits way back there off (Lincoln Highway),” Stephens said, noting there
are no surveillance cameras on the site.

Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association is a group dedicated to
preserving and restoring antique machines, most of which were used for
farming.

Members also are interested in antique railroad engines, cars and trucks.
The group hosts about seven events each year, Stephens said, at which the
antique machines are run.

The last time the stolen engine would have been shown was at the Annual
Thresherman’s Reunion, held Aug. 15 to 18, according to Rough and Tumble’s
2006 schedule of events.


Brett Hambright’s e-mail address is bhambright at lnpnews.com.