Lufkin-Cooper and Lorain
1899 N. U.S. Hwy. 385 Levelland, TX 79336
I want to thank you for the articles in GEM about the
Lufkin-Cooper-Bessemer engine (see GEM, February 2002, page 3). The
response has been great, having heard from six people from five
different states in the U.S. These people are from all walks of
life, ranging from mechanics to oil field operators. I appreciate
very much your help in this matter.
Since that time, I have acquired and restored another seemingly
rare oil field engine. As with the Lufkin, I have very little info
on this engine and would like to learn more. It is a Lorain,
single-cylinder, 32 HP, 9-1/2-inch by 10-inch bore and stroke. It
was made by the White-Roth Machine Corp., Lorain, Ohio, probably
sometime in the 1940s.
Bessie 7: Cooper-Bessemers?
Reader Monk Ivicic writes in concerning the Cooper-Bessemer
engines discovered in Ottawa, Kan., by Tim Christoff. Specifically,
Monk questions how the engines can be Cooper-Bessemers from 1927.
Monk cites David N. Keller’s book, Cooper Industries
1833-1983, noting that Keller says the Cooper-Bessemer Corp.
wasn’t formally incorporated until April 4, 1929. And yet, the
engines in Ottawa are dated at 1927, and as their nameplates show
they are clearly Cooper-Bessemers.
It is a bit of a mystery, and if any readers know more we’d
love to hear from them. It is known that Cooper and Bessemer worked
on various projects prior to their joint incorporation, but it does
seem unlikely their joined names would appear on a product prior to
formal incorporation of the company.
Monk Ivicic P.O. Box 333 Holland, TX 76534
The Fairbanks Co.
I was glad that you put the sign in the GEM magazine (see
Letters & Miscellanies, June 2002). If you will look at the
fourth picture from the left on the top row you will see the
two-cylinder version of the engine that I have. These are indeed
rare engines, and to the best of my knowledge there are only two of
these engines. One is at the Coolsprings Museum and I own the other
one. I could be mistaken, but at this time no one else has come
forward with another.
I would like to talk to Richard Bouma about his sign. If you
would consider selling it, I would enjoy that very much. If not
(and I can understand that) perhaps it could be reproduced. It
would be great to have even a copy to show when my wife and I go to
the shows. I think the engine will be at the Portland, Ind., show
in August of this year. Stan Ellerbeck Via e-mail:
Decimal-point@mchsi.com
Send letters to: Gas Engine Magazine, 1503 SW 42nd St.,
Topeka, KS 66609-1265, or e-mail:
rbackus@ogdenpubs.com
