35/12/10 Unidentified Engine Q. See the three
photos of an engine our association restored last year. However, we
would like to identify this engine. Can anyone help? Gilles Marcil,
1745 De Brie, ST-Hyacinthe Prov. de Quebec J2T 4T1 Canada. email:
gilles.marcil.@hy .cgoable.co.
35/12/11 Carlisle & Finch Q. I have the
Carlisle & Finch engine shown in the photo. If anyone has any
information on this company it would be nice if they would write it
up; the only information I have is from American Gas Engines Since
1872. Also, a tip for model engine owners. I use aviation fuel in
my models and it does not gum up in the lines and carburetor like
regular gasoline. Joe Ford, 2508 Harris Circle, Cleveland, TN
57312.
35/12/12 Fairbanks-Morse Q. See the photos of a
Fairbanks-Morse Type E vertical two-cycle engine. It is fairly
complete except for the water pump and a few ignition parts.
I have been told this was a binder engine, but can’t help
notice how much it resembles a marine engine. I have no literature
or manuals for this engine, and wonder if anyone could be of help.
Roy Thornley, 22711 ME 16th St., Camas, WA98607.
A. Your engine is indeed an F-M marine engine.
For a time, in the mid to late ‘teens, F-M modified the engine
slightly and also sold it as a binder engine. This was to counter
the rising threat of the immensely popular Cushman vertical. These
engines were built at the Three Rivers, Michigan, plant, and
consequently there isn’t much information archived at Beloit
for the Type E engines. I hope someone can provide more
information.
A Closing Word
Sometime over the years we acquired a 1920 Ni`les Machine Tool
Company catalog. This big hardbound book is almost three inches
thick! One item that has always fascinated us is their Pratt &
Whitney Toolmakers’ Lathe offered at that time. This machine
had a 60-inch bed, and almost 30 inches between centers. Built in
massive proportions, it must have indeed been a pleasure to operate
one of these lathes. Note though that the apron is surprisingly
small… a belt driven feed rod operates the carriage for all
operations except threading, and the latter is handled through the
lead screw at the bottom of the apron. This design minimized wear
and subsequent loss of accuracy on the lead screw. This machine
could also be furnished with metric dials instead of English if
ordered from the factory that way.
For those of us who operate lathes and other machine tools, be
sure to keep the ways clear of chips. Otherwise, the tiniest ones
get beneath the carriage or the tailstock. This raises the carriage
by a few thousandths and tends to throw it out of alignment. Be
careful in using compressed air to clean the carriage and ways of
chips. You might end up with a chunk of metal in your eye!
Next month we’ll show you some other interesting lathes from
the Niles Tool Company catalog.
