Hit-and-Miss

By Staff
Published on December 1, 2005
1 / 3
Bill Winkler’s fabulous 12 HP sideshaft Badger at the 2003 Portland show. Bill’s restoration is nothing short of stunning.
Bill Winkler’s fabulous 12 HP sideshaft Badger at the 2003 Portland show. Bill’s restoration is nothing short of stunning.
2 / 3
3 / 3

Better Late than Never

Ever had someone look at your engine, take a bunch of photos of
it and promise to write an article about it? And then have nothing
happen for ages? Bill Winkler has, and the person taking the photos
was none other than yours truly.

I first met Bill at the 2003 Portland show, where Bill was
showing off his immaculately restored 1902 12 HP Badger. Dresssed
in its beautiful new coat of paint and riding on a new cart made by
Bill (the trucks are original), the Badger was hard to miss.

I was drawn to it immediately, of course, and just as
immediately started snapping photos and pestering Bill for more
information about the engine.

I returned from the 2003 show fully intending on putting
together an article on the Badger, but other promises and duties
pushed the story back. And back. And back.

And then early last summer I ran into Bill at a farm auction
here in Kansas. Bill and a pal had driven all the way from
Wisconsin for a chance to bid on a collection of engines that was
being liquidated.

Seeing Bill reminded me of his Badger and the photos I’d taken
that were still sitting in a file, and after the auction I promised
myself I’d pull the article together in the next month or so.

Well, a month turned into five months, but this issue, thanks to
help from assistant editor Jason Denney, Bill’s Badger is finally
getting its due.

One of only two 12 HP tank-cooled, igniter-fired Badger engines
known (the other is in parts and incomplete), Bill’s engine is
living testimony to both the quality of the Lauson line of engines
and the passion engine collectors put into their restorations.

The Badger was remarkably complete, but its condition demanded a
full restoration to get it back into operating condition. A
restoration Bill pulled off in a short six months. Not
surprisingly, I feel a little sheepish; it took me over a year to
finally bring Bill’s Badger to these pages. Turn to page 22 to see
the Badger in its full glory.

So what’s the moral to this story? I’d say it’s pretty clear:
Bill’s fast and I’m slow, and good things come to those who
wait.

Richard Backus
Editor
rbackus@ogdenpubs.com
www.GasEngineMagazine.com

GAS ENGINE
MAGAZINE

U.S.P.S. #214560

Founded in 1966 by Rev. Elmer Ritzman

Published Monthly: An Internal Combustion Historical
Magazine

SUBSCRIPTION
RATES

$33/12 issues, U.S.

$44.95/12 issues, Canada

$68.95/12 issues all other countries

First Class or Air Subscription Rates

$63/12 issues, U.S.

$73/12 issues, Canada

$93/12 issues all other countries

All subscriptions are in U.S. funds; Visa, MasterCard,
American Express, Discover accepted.

PUBLISHER

Bryan Welch

ASSISTANT
PUBLISHER

William Windsor, Circulation & Consumer Marketing

ASSISTANT
PUBLISHER

Bill Uhler, Advertising & Fufillment

EDITORIAL

Richard Backus, Editor-in-Chief
Jason Denney, Assistant Editor
Kay Winford, Assistant Editor
Mindy Garrison, Administrative Assistant

ART/PRODUCTION

Carolyn Lang, Group Art Director

Terry Algarin, Assistant Art Director

CIRCULATION
DIRECTOR

Cherilyn Olmsted

ADVERTISING

Andrew Perkins, Marketing Director Terri Keitel, Marketing
Representative Vicki Trembly, Marketing Representative Mandy
Miller, Advertising Coordinator Kristy Culp, Classified
Advertising

See page 51 for a complete listing of deadlines for submission
of material for coming issues. Send subscriptions and renewals
to:
GAS ENGINE MAGAZINE
1503 S.W. 42nd St.
Topeka, KS 66609-1265
Telephone: (800) 678-4883
Fax: (785) 274-4305
Web address:
www.GasEngineMagazine.com

Gas Engine Magazine is published monthly by Ogden
Publications Inc., 1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265

Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional mailing
offices. Canada Post International Publications Mail Product Sales
Agreement No. 40601019 ISSN 0435-1304

Postmaster: Send address changes to
Gas Engine Magazine, 1503 S.W. 42nd St.
Topeka, KS 66609-1265

© Copyright 2005 by Ogden Publications Inc. All rights reserved.
Gas Engine Magazine is a registered trademark. Material in
this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written
permission. Permission requests must be in writing and should be
directed to Bryan Welch, Gas Engine Magazine Permissions,
1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388