Greetings enthusiasts!
I hope this issue finds you warm and relaxed, comfortably nearing the end of your winter hibernation. If you are lucky enough to live in an area that doesn’t come with cold temps and winter boredom, I’m beyond envious. Traditionally, the period in my life between the holidays and spring cleaning is marked with plenty of recreational reading and a jigsaw puzzle or two. If you are looking for something more productive than puzzles to pass the time, I have a couple of articles in this issue that may inspire you to do just that.
First up, author Jay Miller has created detailed instructions and blueprints for what he refers to as a “Third Hand” (shown below). This tool can help you be in two places at once and get those larger engines started more easily. Jay has even provided a video link to walk you through the project from start to finish. Check out “Make Yourself a Third Hand” and see his plans to get those flywheels turning.
If surface restoration is on your agenda, I have included a book excerpt dedicated to exactly that. Learn all about repainting, preserving, lining, pin striping, transfers, decals, letters, chip repair and more in Peter Rooke‘s chapter on painting from Gas Engine Restoration: A Practical Guide for Beginners and Experienced Collectors. This easy-to-follow narrative and detailed step-by-step guide will educate new and seasoned hobbyists with thorough coverage of the restoration process. Whether you want to apply new paint or preserve the old finish, head to Peter’s brief primer on priming.
Elsewhere, Dr. Paul Harvey, regular contributor and founder of Coolspring Power Museum, shares a relatable story from his youth that might just inspire you to tinker with a small forgotten engine that has been cast into the corner of your garage because it lacks size and/or rarity. His “Little Maytag” tale comes complete with a brief history and humble beginnings of Frederick L. Maytag, founder of the Maytag Co. It’s a nostalgic little story that started almost 60 years ago with $2!
Send your stories of nostalgia my way, and I just might include them in a future issue.
Christine Stoner
editor@gasenginemagazine.com
Looking for more gas engine shows? Virtually visit the 52nd annual Early Day show, held in 2023:
You can also travel to the past, a decade ago specifically, for the Texas Early Day Tractor & Engine Show in Temple, Texas:
