I had quite a decision to make on May 13, 2000. Do I attend my
club’s Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association Spring
Gas-up, or go to an auction, where the engine you see here and some
other engines were up for bid – a 1914 IHC Nonpareil 2 HP Famous
vertical with serial number KG 1906. The Nonpareil line was sold by
Osborn dealers and was painted blue.
Thanks to a very good friend who took me to the auction site a
few times before the auction was held, I had a chance to really
look the engine over, and even though there were a lot of parts
missing or clobbered up, I knew there was hope for it. Needless to
say, I skipped the gas-up – the auction was more important.
There were a few engine collectors there, and even though I
didn’t know if I stood a chance in bidding against them, I sure
was going to give it a try. I made sure to point out the missing
parts to anyone who looked at it before it was actually auctioned,
and in the end it was mine for $320. After getting it home I took
it all apart, but as often happens other work got in the way, so I
didn’t get started on the engine right away.
First thing I made was the skid. I used red oak and gave it
three coats of boiled linseed oil. Next up was the fuel tank, and
then I rounded up the missing parts (mixer, fuel pump, intake valve
lock, igniter trip finger and spring-trip finger roller assembly).
The igniter had been bored out and a one-half-inch spark plug had
been installed. I filled the holes in with large pieces of cast
iron then made all the igniter parts.
At 7:15 p.m., May 26, 2001, it started – and on the first pull.
Its first showing was at Cool spring.
The photograph shown here was taken in early June 2001, and
since then I have added a cooling tower and tank, and I have made
the water pump. Paint used is Rustoleum royal blue and gloss black,
a good combination.
At one time I had a 4 HP Nonpareil (#RK 149). I sold it to pay
my school tax, and would like to know who owns it now.
Contact engine enthusiast Dale Nickerson at: 8670 Glasgow Rd.,
Cassadaga, NY 14718-9617, (716) 595-3260.
