REFLECTIONS

By Staff
Published on October 1, 1999
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34/10/1A
34/10/1A
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34/10/2
34/10/2
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34/10/1B
34/10/1B
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34/10/4A
34/10/4A
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34/10/4B
34/10/4B
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34/10/13
34/10/13
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34/10/18
34/10/18
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34/10/20
34/10/20

Time is short this month, so we’ll get right to the
queries.

Our inquiries begins with:

34/10/1 Kewanee Engine Q. See the photos of an
engine from Kewanee Private Utilities Company, Kewanee, Illinois.
It is a Type 6A, s/n 8474. Can anyone provide any information on
this engine? Any help would be appreciated. Rich Howard, Hysham, MT
59038.

A. We can’t provide much to help you, and
might also comment that we have a small four-cylinder Kewanee. For
this one too, we have never found any information.

Editor’s note: See the January/February 1982 GEM for some
background on this company in an article by James Jones. Twenty
years ago, columnist Glenn Karch had just restored a Kewanee, which
he told of in an article in our March/April 1979 issue.

34/10/2 Unidentified Engine Q. See the photo of
an unidentified engine. It was apparently intended to be a
laboratory test engine. It is air cooled with convoluted copper
fins surrounding the vertical cylinder; the valve tappets and push
rods are exposed. Spark timing, dwell, fuel mixture and compression
can all be varied at will. It has two interchangeable carburetors.
The first is a conventional Tillotson, the second has a glass
reservoir so that fuel can be precisely monitored. It has a panel
of meters displaying rpm, power and cylinder head temperature. Any
information would be greatly appreciated. Neal Matheson, 1828 E.
6th Ave., Mesa, AZ 85204.

A. This inquiry appeared last month as number
34/9/13 (page 5), but the close-up picture wasn’t with us at
that time, so we are reproducing it here, now.

34/10/3 Simplex Motorbike Q. I have an old
Simplex motorbike and it needs a motor. Finding an original would
be quite difficult, but perhaps an old Briggs would work. My main
goal is to keep the early flavor of the period while making the old
scooter serviceable. It is a belt drive. If anyone has any ideas,
please contact Jeff Quinn, 732 Union St., Lancaster, PA 17603.

34/10/4 Clarification

Tal Harris, 4300 Daniel Dr., Wax-haw, NC 28173 notes that in the
May 1999 GEM he requested information on his 6 HP Waterloo
engine. However, it was noted as a Waterloo Boy in the article,
although the nameplate does not state Waterloo Boy, only Waterloo
Gasoline Engine Co. Tal is still looking for information on this
engine.

Tal also has a 3 HP Waterloo-type engine, s/n 106577, and
believes it to be either a Big Chief or a Caldwell Hallowell, based
on the Waterloo Repair List No. 16. The base casting has a date of
8-15-14. Except for the flywheels and governor works the parts
interchange with the 3 HP Waterloo. This engine has a 4? x 6 inch
bore and stroke. Still needed are the complete governor, cam gear,
and detent arm, along with the color scheme. Traces of red paint
can be found behind the broken governor bracket. See the two
photos

34/10/5 Cushman ‘C’ Binder Engine Q. I
am restoring a 4HP Cushman Binder engine and can find only traces
of dark green paint. Does anyone have the correct color scheme?
Darrell Combs, 6587 Pacheco Way, Citrus Hts., CA 95610-4558.

A. DuPont 62713 Green should be mighty close to
the original color.

34/10/6 Red E Tractor Q. Can anyone help me
with information on a Red E Tractor made by Pioneer Mfg. Co.,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin? The engine has a 3? x 4 inch bore and stroke.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Neal Sargeant, 23
Ennis Road, Marshfield, VT 05658.

34/10/7 Stover Diesel Engine Q. Can anyone help
me with a Stover 10 HP diesel engine of 1937? I need information,
owners manual, and a source of parts, such as the head gasket. Any
help would be appreciated. Richard Elderkin, 286 White Ave.,
Middlebury, CT 06762.

A. The complete operating instructions are
included in our book, Power in the Past, Volume 3,
available from GEM. We are not sure of where you might
find a head gasket.

34/10/8 Making It Easier

Mel Dearing, 416 Old Dearing Rd., Helena, AL 35080 comments in
part that those requesting information should also include their
‘snailmail’ address when sending in their letters on email.
Lots of people don’t have e-mail. Also, it would be helpful if
you would include your phone number, because lots of our readers
don’t care much to write, but would rather call you. Another of
Mel’s suggestions is to try and belt your engines up to some
machine or other for display. It adds lots of interest at a show.
(We agree completely Mel!)

34/10/9 Associated Busy Boy

Robert C. Faust, 133 Indian Run Rd., Weatherly, PA 18255
recently acquired a 1? HP Associated Busy Boy engine. He would like
to hear from anyone having information on it.

34/10/10 Fairbanks-Morse Q. I recently acquired
a Fairbanks-Morse 3 HP single cylinder engine and would like the
correct color. Seth Winship, 255 Mumford Dr., West Rutland, VT
05777.

A. We have DuPont 72001 Green listed as a good
match.

34/10/11 Little Farmer Garden Tractor Q. R. D.
Corley, 314 N. Coolidge, Enid, OK 73703 has a Little Farmer and
needs a sketch drawing, or copy of the belt clutch in order to make
one. All help is greatly appreciated.

34/10/12 To Quench Your Thirst Q. I am looking
for the recipe of a home-made drink used by early farmers,
threshermen, and others who had to work day in and day out in the
hot sun. I only know it was made from water, vinegar, soda, and
sugar. The proportions or the other ingredients I do not know. Can
anyone share this recipe? Walter L. Hayward, PO Box 420159,
Kanarraville, UT 84742.

34/10/13 What Is It?

Responding to this question on page 28 of the July 1999
GEM, Bob Oleson, W1360 Hwy 106, Palmyra, WI 53156 sends a
photo of his Hay Fork Winch, noting that these were used to pull
hay into a barn. This system replaced a horse doing the job. A
clutch system was operated by a rope to raise the load of hay into
the barn.

34/10/14 Nelson Bros. Air Cooled Engine Q.
Richard Nielsen, 9122 W. 66th Pl., Arvada, CO 80004-3046 has a 1 HP
air cooled engine, s/n a3VSG3342 made by Nelson Bros. He would like
to find operator’s information, as well as the correct paint
color. Can you be of help?

34/10/15 Locomobile Engine Q. I have a
two-cylinder Locomobile steam engine. Without success I have
endeavored to find information on its origin, the manufacturer, or
the vehicle for which it was designed. Any help would be
appreciated. Lester L. Durham, 504 Abney St., St. Albans, WV
25177.

A. Locomobile operated from 1899 to 1929. They
built steam-powered vehicles until 1902 and came out with
gasoline-powered models the following year. Your engine could have
been used in any one of several different vehicles.

34/10/16 Bolens Husky Q. I need information on
a Bolens Husky garden tractor with iron wheels. It is Model B6A4 or
B6A5 and has a mounted cultivator. Any help would be greatly
appreciated. Joseph M. Hood, 9601 N 100 E, Rushville, IN
46173-9042.

34/10/17 Palmer Engines

Art DeKalb, 51 Van Alstyne Dr., Pulaski, NY 13142 writes that
the last two digits of the serial number is the year built for
Palmer engines. Art also notes that Dick Day, 40021 Ben Morgan Rd.,
Leonardstown, MD 20650 is the acknowledged expert on the Palmer
engines.

34/10/18 Tillsoil Tractor

Regarding this query of 34/7/8 (July issue), Ruth Bitner,
Collections Curator for the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum
sends this illustration (see photo) from a May 1920 issue of
Canadian Power Farmer. There is a Tillsoil in the Western
Development Museum Collection.

34/10/19 Saw Rig Q. In the August 1999 GEM on
page 4 is shown a saw rig. Since it has a straight belt, has the
engine been fixed to run backwards? Dayton Hibner, 5228 Clarks Mill
Road, Louisville, GA 30434.

A. Indeed! If the engine has a symmetrical cam,
that is, if it has the same rise each way from the top of the lobe,
it can be re-timed so that the engine will run counterclockwise.
This is only possible if the exhaust valve is the only thing on the
cam. Sometimes there are two separate lobes to the cam, as for
operating the igniter or other duties. Certain models of the
Galloway and Gade engines come to mind as being capable of running
in either direction.

34/10/20 Leader Engine Q. See the photo of my 2
HP Leader engine from Field Force Pump Co., Elmira, New York. It is
s/n 5174. Can anyone tell me when it was built? I have seen some of
the 3 HP engines, but not many of the smaller sizes. The engine is
very heavy and runs very well. Dick Brown, 175 Sonnet Ln,
Gilbertsville, KY 42044-8840.

34/10/21 Sturtevant Engines

Bob Strong, 1308 Sunrise Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33917 sends along
some photocopy information relative to the Sturtevant engines. This
firm is often listed as an engine builder, but information now
comes that the company built airplane engines, not stationary
engines. Back in the 1960s a representative of the Sturtevant
Division, then owned by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, noted
that the company began building these engines in the early 1900s
and ended production after World War One. Two sizes were built, and
both utilized a V-8 design. The 120 horsepower model weighed 500
pounds and had a displacement of 555ci. The bigger 140 horsepower
size used a 4? x 5? inch bore and stroke and had a displacement of
700 cubic inches.

A Closing Word

From a local DuPont dealer we have learned that they are
discontinuing the time-honored Dulux line of enamels. In its place
are the new breed of acrylics such as DuPont Centari. One can often
get a severe case of sticker shock when pricing the newer enamels.
Government standards become tougher and tougher, and this drives up
the cost of the product. As we have also pointed out before, using
these new acrylic enamels also requires proper protective
equipment!!! Those little gauze surgeon’s masks won’t do
it! DO NOT USE these products without a proper respirator. This
will require the investment in the respirator unit itself, plus the
necessary cartridges to filter out the harmful particles. Many of
these are very toxic, and some of them, when once settled in your
lungs, just stay there and continue to do their damage.

We also hear from friends in other countries that there are some
concerns about their governments stepping in to regulate the
operation of our old engines and tractors . . . probably with some
idea of adding a silly exhaust air purification system, probably as
big as a tractor and costing nearly as much. Now we will allow that
dumping old crankcase oil on the ground or belching smoke, oil, and
fire all over a visiting crowd isn’t real bright, we also have
to concede that there are those who still are guilty of some or all
of these grievous sins. Now there are pragmatic environmentalists,
and there are those flaming ones who cast a jaded eye upon anything
created subsequent to God’s Omnipotent Hand. Those latter are
the ones you certainly don’t want to dump your smoke, soot, and
fire on at a show, because chances are those same people will
display their sooty shirt to some Congressional Committee with
nothing better to do than to listen to such drivel. The problem is
that you can’t pick these people out of a crowd! Why not just
leave the soot, the smoke, that black oil from the exhaust at home.
Oh yes, and weld a hook on those tuned exhaust systems so you can
convert them into a proper boat anchor. Not only is it annoying,
but it also gains the attention of the negative types in this world
when a 5 horsepower engine bellers like one cylinder of an Indy
racecar. Ye olde Reflector has traveled a bit, and believe me, the
show rules in other countries are a lot tougher than they are here
in the U.S.

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