The End of an Era

By Staff
Published on December 1, 2002
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A tank-cooled 2-1/2 HP Weber gearless, just one of many rare engines at the sale.
A tank-cooled 2-1/2 HP Weber gearless, just one of many rare engines at the sale.
2 / 3
Very rare 1-1/2 HP Hayes on what appear to be original trucks.
Very rare 1-1/2 HP Hayes on what appear to be original trucks.
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3 HP Stickney Junior. These engines were only offered for a few years, and very few survive. The upper tank is for fuel, the lower is for water.
3 HP Stickney Junior. These engines were only offered for a few years, and very few survive. The upper tank is for fuel, the lower is for water.

In Appanoose County, Iowa, near the small town of Numa
(population 103), the estate sale of B.D. ‘Red’ Buchanan
drew bidders from 28 states and Canada interested in the 138
gasoline engines advertised for sale. A lifetime resident of this
area, Red Buchanan was well-known for his expertise and skill in
many areas. But even his closest neighbors were surprised at the
extent of the engines in his collection.

A Collection Starts

A local high school graduate, Red served in the military as a
torpedo man on PT boats, and after WW II he and his brother-in-law
owned and operated a watch repair shop in Centerville, Iowa.
Finding the watch repair business unsatisfying, Red moved on,
turning to carpentry instead and working as a carpenter for several
seasons. When construction started on nearby Lake Rathbun, Red
hired on with one of the crews, and working there he got the
opportunity to learn how to operate large earth moving machines. He
was hooked, and within a short time he bought his own earth-moving
outfit, contracted jobs in the community and found his niche – and
a love of gasoline engines.

Red not only operated, but also maintained and repaired his
equipment. He started attending gas engine shows and auctions, and
his hobby interest grew rapidly. He and his wife, Beverly, traveled
many miles through many states, searching for that
‘certain’ engine that would complement his collection. And
with Red’s background and love of engines, bidders at the
auction found a collection of engines in excellent condition. Many
bidders already knew about some of the engines that would be placed
on the block, making arrangements during the days prior to the sale
to inspect and identify engines they were interested in buying.

The Auction and Engines

For a novice, it was quite an experience watching and listening
as the Nixon Auction Co. of Wakefield, Neb., brought each item from
Red’s collection to the block. A crowd of over 500 (400 auction
card numbers were issued) was on hand, watching and listening
attentively as the sale proceeded throughout the sunny day. And
with food served on the grounds, it was easy for bidders to remain
on the premises for the entire 18-hour event.

Among the 138 engines listed for sale was a row of Maytag
engines and several tables of related instructional books, tools,
parts, magnetos and other engine related items. Many engines were
small enough to fit in the back of a pickup, and others required a
lot more hauling space for transport, but buyers knew what they
wanted, sellers knew what they had to sell, and things moved
efficiently throughout the day.

Some of the engines included: Sandow 1-1/2 HP, Tom Thumb 1 HP,
New Holland 1/2 HP, Brownwall 1 HP, Handy Andy 1 HP, Witte pump
jack, Workwell 1 HP, Emerson Branting-ham front mag 1-1/2 HP, Gade
2-1/2 HP, Webster hot tube 2 HP, Lauson Lawton sideshaft 1-1/2 HP,
Racine two-cylinder inverted 2 HP, McVickers gearless 4 HP, Renfrew
sideshaft 6 HP, Reid 8 HP, Gray 4 HP, Garhat 3 HP, a very rare
Davis upright 2 HP, Parmaco 5 HP, Maytag ‘Fruit Jar,’
Southern Engine and Boiler Works 2 HP, Sta-Rite ‘donut
flywheel’ 2 HP, Fairbanks-Morse early charter patent 2 HP
(tank-cooled, on trucks), a rare tank-cooled Globe; and the list
continued.

End of an Era

Aug. 10, 2002, marked the end of an era in Appanoose County,
Iowa, and it’s likely many will never witness such an
outstanding sale event again. Red’s son, Barry, is also a
collector, but he resides in another county, making it unlikely
this scene will ever be repeated in Appanoose County. Red had an
eye for the unusual and the unique, actively seeking out engines
that satisfied his curiosity. As the auctioneer’s flyer noted:
‘Mr. Buchanan was a collector for many years and was very
knowledgeable on many engines. His collection of rare and extremely
rare engines have been running and most are in original
condition.’ Most likely, this was just one of many reasons the
sale was so well attended, and many of those there took home their
own prized purchase to add to their own collections.

Freelance writer Ethel M. Lira knew Red Buchanan for many years,
counting him among her good friends. Even she did not realize the
extent of his collection until the day of Red’s estate sale.
Contact Ethel at: 16803 Hwy J-46, Numa, IA 52544-8716.

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