Hit-and-Miss

Call to Arms

Last issue I mentioned that we’re embarking on a project to
compile our own A to Z of gas engines. Uncharacteristically for
this group, we’ve had zero response to our request for help,
prompting me to repeat our plea.

Given the enormous number of manufacturers that once competed in
the market for gas engines, it’s no surprise that our photo
archives are less than complete. We’re trying to correct that, and
in the process share what we learn with the rest of the old iron
community.

That’s where you come in, by helping supply quality engine
photos, complete (when possible) with detailed information on the
engine shown, including serial numbers, any known history and
engine specifications.

As material comes in, we’ll break it down alphabetically. We’ll
start with A and work to the end, featuring selected engines in
every issue of GEM.

We’re looking for good photos of all engine types and
manufacture, from the rare and obscure to the well known. And we’re
not limiting this to production engines; prototype and engines of
unknown manufacture are encouraged.

The discovery process hasn’t stopped. As time goes by we
continue to learn about engines we’ve never heard of thanks to
collectors and restorers who track down and rescue derelict
engines.

Many of those engines end up on display at one of the hundreds
of farm shows held across the country every year. Those shows are a
tremendous resource for all of us, providing a place to meet other
collectors and learn about engines we’ve never even heard of. And
that means they’re also a great place to take pictures and notes on
rare or unfamiliar engines.

So when you head out to the next show, take along your camera
and a notepad. Take some photos, jot down some notes on what you
see, and send them along to us. And I know there are many of you
who don’t have to step off your own property to locate an
interesting engine. We want to learn from your collections, too, by
getting photos and notes on engines you’ve worked on or played
with.

Ideally, we’ll end up with a nice collection of information for
reference, which will help us help you when you come across that
engine you just had to buy, but don’t know anything about.

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