Reflections

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26/9/15
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26/9/16
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26/9/20
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26/9/21A
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26/9/21B
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26//9/22A
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26/9/22B
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26/9/22C
26/9/22C

26/9/15 Moto-Mower Q. Here’s a photo of a
Moto-Mower I got this spring. I have it running, but restoration is
still ahead. It is a Detroit Model, 27-inch machine, s/n 12548,
made in Detroit, Michigan. Is anyone able to supply the build date
on this engine, or the Briggs engine on it? The engine is a Model
PB, s/n 27005. Also, my thanks to everyone who helped on an earlier
inquiry on a tractor which appeared in the February 1991 GEM.
Clif Williams, RR5, Box 244, Rye, CO 81069.

26/9/16 Sterling Marine Q. See the photo of an
early Sterling Marine Engine, 40 HP, 5×7 inch bore and stroke. It
is missing some parts, so I would like to hear from anyone who
might have a complete engine or another parts engine. Edgar E.
Wagner, 1918 Hillison Rd., Amboy, IL 61310.

26/9/17 Eclipse Hot Tube Q. I have an Eclipse
hot tube engine built by Myrick Machine Co., Olean, NY, s/n 509,
450 rpm, 4 HP. I need to know the original colors of the engine,
and would also like to know when this engine was built. Any help
will be appreciated. Robert Bishop, RR 1, Box 164, Crothersville,
IN 47229.

A. Except for telling you what you already
know, that being that this is a very early engine, we can tell you
little more. Anybody out there willing to try?

26/9/18 Finishing EnginesFrank Taylor, RR 2,
Tamarack Rd., Whitewater, WI 53190 has sent us. a step-by-step
procedure for sanding and finishing your engines. It is very
informative, and may be helpful to you. While we’re always
reluctant to put someone in the position of having to do a lot of
extra work, perhaps if you’ll write Frank, enclosing a
self-addressed and stamped envelope, plus something for the
photocopier kitty, he’ll send you a copy.

26/9/19 Information Needed Q. Can anyone tell
me the years for the following engines:

Waterloo Boy 6 HP, s/n 37326

Waterloo Boy 2 HP, Style K, s/n 208188

Waterloo Boy 2 HP, Style H, s/n 226419

Fairbanks-Morse 1 ? HP, Style D, s/n 784569

New Idea 1?-3 HP, s/n AH1390.

Any information will be appreciated. Kenneth David, RR 1,
Box 107, Farmersburg, IA 52047.

A. We can tell you that the FBM engine was
built in 1935. So far as we know, no serial number information
exists on any of the other engines of your query.

26/9/20 FBM Hoisting Engine Q. This
Fairbanks-Morse engine looks like the picture on page 159 of
American Gas Engines. The engine is about 5 or 6 horsepower, but
the nameplate is gone, as are some other parts. I would like to
correspond with anyone with one of these engines so that I might
restore it. Any help will be appreciated. I also have an Alpha
engine as illustrated on page 122 of the above book. It looks to
have been an olive drab color. Would this be about right? David
C. Nester, 5465 Chena Hot Sprgs Rd., Fairbanks, Alaska
99712.

A. If anyone can help on the hoisting engine,
please contact Mr. Nester. The color of the Alpha as described, we
would guess to be about right.

26/9/21 Unidentified Q. See the two photos
submitted for inquiry. This cast engine is two cylinders,
two-stroke design, and apparently minus the flywheel and/or
propeller. Also, the ignition apparatus appears to be missing. If
anyone can provide any information on this engine, please contact:
Frank J. Burris, 1102 Box Canyon Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028.

A. Could this engine be of WW 2 vintage?
We’ve never seen anything like this one before.

26/9/22 Cement Mixer Etc. Q. See the two photos
of a Lansing mixer and the engine that operates it. It is said to
have been used during construction of the overseas highway to Key
West, Florida. DuPont Paint Co. at Jacksonville, FL, matched the
paint and came up with DuPont Green No. 4932D, called Box Wood
Green. Photo 22-B shows the engine used on this mixer. However, we
haven’t identified it. This engine has a 41/8×4 inch bore and
stroke and 20 inch flywheels. Any information will be appreciated.
Photo 22-C shows an Invincible corn sheller. We have the colors
etc. for the sheller, but would like to know who made it.

Also, in the August 1990 GEM you mentioned the use of DuPont
49920-H Crimson as the original IHC Red. We checked this against an
IHC Grist Mill, and the paint matches perfectly! S. A. Spencer III,
1285-A Lovett Rd., Orange Park, FL 32073.

A. Several references have been made to the
Lansing Company in back issues of GEM. They were well known for
their cement mixers. The Invincible corn sheller was built by
Keystone Farm Machine Co., York, Pennsylvania. We also should add
that we believe that the above cited DuPont color is more than
likely a close match, or perhaps a perfect match, for the early IHC
Red. Just when this changed, we don’t know, but we would hazard
a guess that the 49920-H Crimson was in effect until IH decided to
paint their tractors red, and at that time they adopted the
well-known IH Red as the standard bearer.

26/9/23 Red River Special Q. Can you give me
the year built for an Oliver Red River Special Thresher, s/n 52690?
Was this machine built at Charles City, Iowa? Is there a source for
the decals? Dave Brink, RR 1, Box 159, Bronson, IA 51007.

A. This thresher was built in 1945, and all
thresher production ended in 1948. All threshers were built at
Battle Creek, Michigan, in the old Nichols & Shepard plant. We
have seen the N & S decals with the green background, but not
the ones with the red background. Perhaps someone has made them up.
If you know of a source, contact Mr. Brink.

Readers Write

Empire Tractor Prince E. Stevens, RR 1, Box
1830, Gardiner, Maine 04345 writes that he has located a total of
eleven Empire tractors so far, and up to the time of his inquiry in
the June, 1991 GEM, he had never heard of another Empire, except
for his own copy. Possibly the Empire owners might even bring their
tractors to a show in 1992.

Banner EngineRobert J. Kubisch, 2111 Gilbride
Rd., Martinsville, NJ 08836 writes that he has had some input
regarding his query on the Banner engines. Apparently, this engine
originated with the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, Waterloo,
Iowa. However, it was sold as the Banner by Banner Engine Co.,
Lansing, Michigan.

26/6/9 New Old Style EnginesIn response to the
above, I recently discovered that Lunenburg Foundry Co. in
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is still making engines on a special order
basis. So writes John Fielding, 37 Ledminster Rd., Princeton, MA
01541. Their 3 HP, single cylinder model with a 4 inch bore and
stroke retails at $2,020, while the 14 horsepower two cylinder
model with a 51/8 x
51/2 inch bore and stroke sells for $5,220.
So, there is still someone building ‘old-style’
engines.

26/9/49 & 49-A Standard Etc. On page 30 of
the April 1991 GEM, photo 49A text for photo 49 is about the
Standard marine engine. Do you have any information on what appears
to be a motorized cultivator or garden tractor in 26/4/49-A? It
appears similar to the Little Farmer cultivator we have. I
don’t have much information on it though. It was made by
Will-Burt Co., Orrville, Ohio. Kenneth and Verna Doerr, 6003 J Rd.,
Waterloo, IL 62298.

Eds. note: Our printer erred on the April issue, and put
photos belonging on page 30 on 31 and vice versa. This should
explain the confusion–if the captions remain where they
are!

Repairing Cracks Some recent articles tell of
different ways to weld and repair cracks and splits in cast iron.
There is an easier way to repair some of the damage. It is simple
with solder. Just grind it out real clean and fill with solder. It
flows in smoothly and usually doesn’t require any grinding to
finish. This works on any cast iron, even large truck motor blocks.
Pat Ince, PO Box 199, Frankford, MO 63441.

Spark Coil Capacitors The capacitor in the
Model T and most other vibrating coils is about 0.5 microfarad. I
use a 0.47 mfd 200 volt paper capacitor to replace them. The actual
size is not critical. Most capacitors from older car ignition
systems work well, although they are less than 0.5 mfd. If the coil
will vibrate, but has a weak spark or no spark, you can test the
capacitor by placing a good capacitor across the points. If this
gives a good spark, the capacitor needs to be replaced. It is not
necessary to refill the box with tar. Instead, hold the capacitor
in place with fiberglass insulation between the coil and the
capacitor. E. W. Hollier, RR 2, Box 508, Pearcy, AR 71964.

Modelmakers Corner

How Did You Get into Model Engine Building? The
following are excerpts from a letter sent in by J. A. Blair, 415
Timothy Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23505. Also note the several photos
sent in by Mr. Blair, illustrating new and old model engines, and
even including some toy model electric motors.

My brother claims that as far back as he can remember, if
something had a motor on it, I was interested in it. I will always
remember by 14th birthday when my parents presented me with my
first gasoline model airplane engine, a Brown Junior. As time
progressed, I added more engines to my collection. At age 17, I
went to work for General Electric as an apprentice tool and die
maker. At age 18, I went on active duty in the US Navy, becoming an
aircraft mechanic, and eventually, Chief Engineer on a 60,000 shaft
h.p. steam turbine driven ship.

After retiring from the Navy, I became a Math Professor at a
local college, and then became involved with antique cars. At a car
show, I bought a Maytag, and thereby became involved with old
iron.

I started building my own engines after attending the show at
Luray, Virginia. After building several model steam engines, my
confidence had risen to the point that I decided to build a
hit-and-miss engine from scratch. I recommend that anyone starting
in the model engine hobby, start by building an oscillating steam
engine from a kit. You will have all the materials provided, the
model will look good when finished, and there is a very high
probability that it will run. Pick a simple single-cylinder model,
because the main thing you need is success. As success feeds your
ego, try more complex designs until you become a master at your new
hobby.

A Closing Word

We were indeed happy to include Mr. Blair’s letter and his
advice on model engine building. Please keep his sagacity in mind
when starting the model engine hobby. It can be very rewarding, but
it can also be very challenging, to the point of utter frustration.
See you next month!


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  • Published on Sep 1, 1991
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