R 2, Box 195, Bedford, Kentucky 40006
I have an engine I can’t identify. It has these markings:
2VC5 on the closure plate, 1VC3 on the base, 3VC4 on the cylinder,
1V017 on the valve lifter cover, and the block has the words PAT.
APLD. FOR on it just above the closure plate. I would like to know
who made it and when. I would like to find an original ignition
system for it.
There is an engine another fellow collector inquired about. It
is in the May 1992 issue of GEM, under 27/5/32 in Reflections. It
is an OHV design, but the numbers and engine appear to be of the
same manufacture. There was no reply below the 27/5/32 so I am
still in the dark! I have jury-rigged an ignition system on it from
an old Tecumseh magneto. It was machinery grey, at least on the
inside. I added red stripes out of artistic liberty.
The lubrication and fuel systems are very interesting and remind
me of a Rube Goldberg machine. The oil and fuel are pumped by
plungers driven by the cam. The oil is pumped to a small pan from
the sump. The rod then dips in the pan. The fuel is pumped to the
carb and the excess is returned to the base. No float or
anything.
I have also acquired a mint (minor paint damage) 38 volt, 600
Watt, Delco light plant. I got it from the original owner’s
grandchild (now in his 70s). It had been under shelter on its
original base. I even got the batteries! The jars are nice, but the
cells are long since destroyed. He gave it to me with two
conditions. One, I must never sell it or give it to anyone except
him and, two, I must get it to run. It took about a day of cleaning
and it was running. I have no intention of parting with it.
Was it fueled by kerosene ? The cutoff on the mixer won’t
work with gasoline. It runs fine on gasoline but it would probably
have been dangerous indoors.
Enough on the engines. Now for a little about me. I am 20 years
old and have been collecting old iron for about three years. I have
a 1 Model E John Deere; Model 72, 2 cylinder Maytag; a Reo Model
552, Type A, Serial #133869; the Delco; a Drillgine gas drill with
an O & R Compact III on the gearbox. I have another O & R
Compact III with a 2 to 1 reduction gearbox.
I also have a Briggs and Stratton WMB; I don’t think it is
too rare, but it is my most prized engine. I found the WMB (two of
them really) in a local junkyard. One would turn and the other was
frozen and partially submerged in water. I had to have them! I paid
the junk man, after we weighed them, $12.50. At this point I
thought I might have the short end of the stick as it was far from
a complete engine.
I disassembled them when I got home. The one that would turn
became my working core. I pieced together a working engine from the
two of them with the addition of a used flywheel, coil, new closure
plate, shroud, etc. The mixer was the hard part. I couldn’t
find one. The one on the frozen engine was gone all except for the
flange on the block. The other engine had the mixer but it was
broken diagonally through the flange. I made one from the two with
a lot of hard work and TLC. The engine runs very well now.
I recently added a 7 HP Economy Model E to my collection. It is
in very good condition except for the paint and the need of an
oiler and the auto-greaser for the rod. Where can I get a greaser
for it? It is on the original double drop truck. The truck has four
holes drilled in the rear on top of the channels. Could this have
had a sawrig on it? Are there any detailed drawings of the sawrig
available?
I forgot to mention my F-20 Farmall. I am attempting to restore
it and need a kerosene manifold for it. I can’t find one
anywhere and may make one. If anyone has an idea where to look,
please let me know.
I also built a model steam engine about three years ago. I
always wanted one but could never afford the really good kit I
wanted, so I designed and built one. It runs at about 1200 rpm on
15 to 20 PSI. Beyond that, the slide valve won’t let it go any
faster. It will also run amazingly slow. It has no tendency to
‘walk’ since I re-balanced it. I run it on compressed air
now as the pressure cooker rusts the cylinder.