Reflections-A

By Staff
Published on June 1, 1989
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As our hobby grows, so do the services offered by various
collectors and companies. Inquiries to this column have run the
gamut from the restoration of steering wheels to those making new
exhaust manifolds and pouring babbitt bearings. With this in mind,
we present an idea whose time has come. Why not persuade GEM to
compile an annual Buyer’s Guide to products and services? We
envision a little book that would contain the names and addresses
of many different suppliers-everything from decals to cast iron
parts. So far as we know, this would be the first attempt to
assemble this information into a single book, and it is a project
we think to be well worthwhile. If you would be interested in a
directory of this kind, why not drop a line to the Editors at GEM.
(By the way, they are totally unaware that ye olde Reflector is
proposing the idea, so we suspect that if they start getting a
substantial number of letters in this regard, it will come as a
pleasant surprise.) (See Editor’s Letter for our
response!-Ed)

Quite often we receive inquiries regarding the availability of
certain U.S. patents and trademarks. According to our most recent
information, copies of patents can be obtained for $1.50 each.
Trademarks are $1.00 each. A Postal Money Order is preferred-do not
send cash in the mails. We suspect that personal checks, if
accepted at all, will be subject to considerable delay. You must
provide the Patent Number. Nothing else will do! They will not
research for a patent on the basis of the date of issuance. Send
your request to:

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Washington, DC 20231

This information should also be available at Federal Depository
Libraries scattered throughout the country.

As is our annual custom, we once again caution all of our
readers to operate their engines in a safe manner. The advent of
summer is of course the time when engines are pulled out of dreary
sheds, cleaned and tuned, all ready for a series of shows. Please
operate them with care, remembering that most of these engines were
built in a time when safety engineering was a relatively unknown
term-it was presumed by the manufacturer that the operator had
sense enough to keep loose clothing away from an unprotected
flywheel key or to keep the fingers from getting a permanent pleat
in the timing gears. Then too, be careful in handling the old iron.
Don’t strain your back in lifting old engines about. Get some
assistance or use some power equipment. The show season will be a
lot more enjoyable this way than if you arrive at your favorite
show wearing a back brace, one hand in a cast, and using a cane
because one foot is badly bruised from dropping the corner of an
engine on your big toe! Ah, the miseries we sometimes inflict on
ourselves in the name of fun!

Our letters this month begin with:

24/6/1 Q. Little Liz Engine  Several years
ago, the Little Liz engine was pictured in GEM. Made by Birch &
Birch, Crawfordsville, Indiana, it has the number 22 cast into the
block, but has no nameplate or other markings. It is all original
except for the handle on the cart. So far we have not heard of
another one, but would be happy to hear from anyone having
information about other copies of this engine, or information on
the company, Richard A. Thompson, PO Box 338, Dallas City, IL
62330.

A. The Reflector has seen this little engine
many times, and we have yet to hear of another. If anyone can be of
help regarding this engine or the Birch & Birch firm, kindly
let us know.

24/6/2 Q. Wood Hydrolic.  Recently we
located a small bulldozer on steel tracks. The unit seems to be
relatively complete with the exception of the engine, radiator, and
the sheet metal and grille of the engine compartment. The only
plate on the machine is on the hydraulic oil tank, next to the
driver’s seat. This may be only for the hydraulic unit or for
the entire machine. It reads:

‘Wood Hydrolic’, Garwood Industries, Road Machinery
Division Inc. Detroit, Michigan

I am most interested in determining the engine that was used,
along with any other information pertinent to this machine. J.
A. Blair, 415 Timothy Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23505.

A. We suspect the Garwood reference might apply
specifically to the hydraulic system, and without a photograph it
is very difficult to make a call. Perhaps you might favor us with a
photo to provide further assistance.

24/6/3 Witte Diesel See the adjacent photo of
my Witte Dieselectric engine. These were first built in 1934, and
in 1939 a great tribute was paid to their reliability when Adm.
Richard E. Byrd chose a number of Witte diesels to furnish power
for the Little America Expedition to the Antarctic.

When I got my Dieselectric, it had no fuel tank-also no
compression. After grinding the valves and cleaning the fuel and
oil systems I now have it running. My engine is 9 HP, s/n D2023,
and runs at 1200 rpm. The generator is 7.5 kva, single phase,
115/230 volts AC. If anyone would be interested in a photocopy of
the manual or folders with the specifications, send a stamped
envelope and I will try to help them. Wesley E. Love, Rt. 1,
Arthur, IA 51431.

24/6/4 Case CC I’m looking for a source of
Case CC decals. If anyone can help, please write: Marc Pierce, PO
Box 467, Americus, KS 66835.

24/6/5 Q. Smith-Courtney engine Can anyone
supply information on a Smith-Courtney engine made in Richmond,
Virginia? Mine is 5 HP, s/n B4085. Please write: Virgil McCue,
597 Lincoin St., Summersville, WV 26651.

A. Now here’s a new one for us! Send along
some photos when you can.

24/6/6 Q. New Era engine  See the photo of
an engine I am now restoring. This is a Little Giant engine built
by New Era Gas Engine Company of Dayton, Ohio. The shop number is
4558, 375 rpm, and 5 HP. The date on the carburetor is July 23,
1901. Any information, particularly showing the muffler and cooling
system will be appreciated. Thomas Bajyuk, 253 S. Longyard Rd.,
Southwick, MA 01077.

A. Here’s a New Era model we have not seen
before-this vertical style is not illustrated in American Gas
Engines.

24/6/7 Q. Foos Junior. See the three photos of
a Foos Junior engine. The trucks are original, as is the
carburetor. Is this a kerosene engine with two lines and one needle
valve? It is hit-and-miss with battery and high-tension coil. Every
moving part was stuck, but the engine runs good now. What is the
proper color? Owen Stackhouse, Box 175, Geneva, Iowa
50633.

A. Note the very interesting wheel design in
7-B. So far as we know, these engines were of the single-fuel
design, especially since the hit-and-miss system does not lend
itself to low grade fuels very well.

24/6/8 Q. Acme-Jones engine  See the
photos of a 20 HP Acme-Jones engine rated at 20 HP. It has a 11? x
18 inch bore and stroke, 63 inch flywheels, pendulum governor, and
hot tube or Wico magneto. The valve chest is on the left side of
the engine, similar to the Pattin Bros. There is no nameplate,
casting numbers, or any other identification. It uses an auxiliary
exhaust port and has an oiler rack for the main bearings and
crankpin. The valves are run from the crankshaft gear with an
eccentric. The pendulum governor is attached to the intake valve.
Any information regarding the true identification of the engine,
the proper color, or anything at all that would be of help will be
greatly appreciated.

I also have a Crossley engine with an enclosed crankshaft, solid
disc flywheels, and a 41/2  x 7 inch
bore and stroke. Any information on this model will again be
greatly appreciated. Arvin Teige, Rt 2, Shevlin, MN
56676.

A. We can’t supply any specifics other than
those already noted in your letter, but find it interesting that
this engine used an auxiliary exhaust. Very few engines were thus
designed, but two notable examples are the Gade and the R & V
sideshaft models.

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