<P> James Livingston of Patea owned one of the first Reid cars . Its steam engine ran on a small primus burner under a tank of water . When Livingston bought a Darracq in 1904 the Reid was destroyed . Its engine was removed and used by a local farmer to run a pump, and the chassis was converted into a trailer . The trailer was sold in the 1920s or' 30s . </P> <P> At the same time he was producing his steam cars, Reid was also developing a mechanical milking machine . Innovations included were a variable - speed pulsator and rubber cups with reinforced sections which simulated the natural sucking action of a calf . Mechanical milkers of the time were difficult to clean and therefore created a danger of contaminated milk . Reid's AWR machine was designed to be easy to clean . He founded the AWR Milking Machine Company Limited to produce and market the machine . He also had it patented . The first AWR machines came on the market in about 1907 and were sold as far away as Australia . The application for a patent for his machine was challenged in Australia in 1913 with the Commissioner of Patents . Reid was granted a hearing . </P> <P> In his later years, Reid created his own caravan . His first was a pop - top in which one pulled a rope, the top came up and the sides came down . The next was made from a hardboard - like material . </P> <Ul> <Li> Biography of Alexander W Reid </Li> <Li> Photograph of the Reid car </Li> <Li> Photograph of AWR milking machine display in 1915 </Li> </Ul>

Who was one of the first inventors of the milking machine who lived in taranaki