As we’ve told many of you before, we acquired a complete run
of the Patent Office Gazette several years ago. There’s a
wealth of information to be found in these, despite the fact that
they take up about 400 linear feet of shelf space. At the present
time, we’re working on a couple of different titles that will
illustrate many of the early trademarks used by engine
manufacturers. Also included will be trademarks as used on
tractors, implements, farm equipment, and automobiles. Illustration
29/4/A shows Trademark (TM) 38,637 for the Uncle Sam engine that
was made at Chicago, Illinois. Here’s a company that’s
rarely heard of in collector circles. In fact, it is listed in the
index of American Gas Engines, but no living examples have been
found, at least to our knowledge. Directly below the Uncle Sam TM
is one registered by the Johnston Harvester Company at Batavia, New
York.
In 29/4/B we have the 1907 trademark of the International Power
Company. Early on, trademark applications carried a sentence like,
‘Claims use since 19.’ For several years in the early
1900s, this information does not appear in the POG listings,
although it might show on a copy of the TM application. The problem
is that copies of these documents are getting rather expensive, and
to send to the Patent Office for a large number of them would also
involve a heavy expenditure of funds!
In 29/4/C we have the ‘Reindeer’ trademark used on
engines sold by Deere & Webber. In 1906, Deere 6k Webber was a
branch house that sold primarily John Deere-built products,
although other items were included. At this time, it appears that
the Root 6k Vandervoort engines made at Moline, Illinois, were sold
by Deere 6k Webber, either under the Reindeer trademark, the R
& V trademark, or perhaps both.
On page 130 of American Gas Engines is a brief description of
the Detroit Auto-Marine Company. This TM application (29/4/D) was
filed in 1905, so obviously the company goes back that far in the
engine business, and likely somewhat further.
The C. C. Riotte Company is briefly described on page 423 of
American Gas Engines. Beyond this, not a single copy of their
Empire engine has emerged to our knowledge. In their TM application
of 32,963 the company claimed use of the Empire trademark since
March 3, 1898.
It is important to note that one cannot take the serial numbers
shown with these trademark applications and send in for a copy of
the trademark! The serial number shown was issued while the
trademark was published, and only as a reference until it was
determined whether there was opposition to its being issued. Once
this period passed, the trademark was granted, and was then given a
trademark reference number. This system makes trademark research
very complicated, since it requires poring through at least two
different sets of indexes to find a trademark. The indexes are
sometimes rather vague, so this research project has also included
a visual search of the trademark applications published each
week.
The famous ‘Foos’ trademark is shown in 29/4/F. The
application notes that this one has been used for ten years,
putting it back to 1896. However, Foos had been building engines
prior to that time.
In 29/4/G we see the trademark for Southern Engine &. Boiler
Works. At the time, Southern was not building internal combustion
engines, but did so later on. A look at the application indicates
that the company went back to 1884, or perhaps even earlier.
Sometimes these are clues that can lead a researcher to more and
better information on a given company.
For this time, we’ve included another one, 29/4/H, of the
Duluth Gas Engine Works, Duluth, Minnesota. This one isn’t even
listed in the index of companies within American Gas Engines.
According to the application, the ‘Crescent’ trademark had
been used since January 1, 1902, and the application was filed on
March 15, 1904. Here’s another of those elusive companies that
somehow appears out of nowhere, and another for which we have no
information whatever.
As we noted earlier, this is the kind of information you’ll
see in book form later on, but we still are putting this project
together, and after that, it requires a few months to get it
published.
Our queries this month begin with:
29/4/4 Gardenall Tractor Q. See the photos of
my recently acquired 1955/56 (?) Gard’n Master tractor by
Gardenall Tractor Inc., Liberty, Indiana; sin 55753. It is powered
by an 8 or 10 HP Briggs & Stratton engine with a 3-speed
automotive transmission and a final drive arrangement with a hand
clutch.
Can anyone provide me with the proper colors for restoration and
perhaps any other information relative to decals, manuals, how many
built, etc.?
My other restorations include 10 meticulously restored
Wheel-Horse tractors ranging from 1954 to 1966, including one of
the first with hydraulics (Model 1054), as well as a fully restored
1939 John Deere Model L and a Mode! M. I will send you some
pictures. William Annechini Jr., 1485 Tullamore Lane, Box 601,
Valley Forge, PA 19482.
29/4/1 Fairbanks-Morse Q. Although I’ve
purchased almost every book on Fairbanks-Morse, there isn’t
much available on their hoists. One of my hoisting engines looks
exactly like the one on the bottom of page 32 in Fairbanks-Morse:
100 Years of Engine Technology. It has a
121/2 inch bore, eight-spoke flywheels, and
is s/n 165105.
Were the horsepower ratings the same on hoisting engines as on
other engines? Why do the crankshafts have ‘HM 25’ stamped
on them, regardless of the size (for the Type N engines)? Also, I
have used the partial serial number listing within your book
(referred to above) but it doesn’t seem to be right, since it
shows the big ones to be 1915 or so.
I also need information on a Sullivan air compressor, 8 x 10
inch bore and stroke, very similar to the one on page 117 of 100
Years of Fairbanks-Morse. Is this company still in business? Any
information will be appreciated. Ray Hutchison, 2791 Anita Dr.,
Lake Havasu City, A2 86404.
A. Hoisting engines were one of those
specialized pieces of equipment for which there seems to be little
information. Our understanding is that, compared to the overall
engine production, very few were built . . . perhaps a few thousand
over many years of engine building. F-M continued building the Type
N and Type T engines up to 1915, and perhaps even longer, just to
use up some of the remaining parts inventory. Since the hoisting
engines required an engine base, and since it would have been very
expensive to modify the existing patterns to fit another engine, it
seems entirely logical that a few of the Type N horizontal and Type
T vertical engines were built up for hoists as needed, and when
needed, even though this might have been several years after the
engines went out of actual production.
To better illustrate the point, F-M took over the Stover engine
factory at Frecport, Illinois, for war production in the 1940s.
They left the Stover parts inventory intact, except of course, to
sell repair parts to customers. After F-M left, a huge inventory of
parts still remained. The late Lester Roos, who was probably the
world’s most knowledgeable person on Stover engines, once
showed us some paperwork which indicates that something over 100
tons of parts were sold for scrap during the 1950s. In fact, there
were more than enough parts on hand to have built up a substantial
number of new engines in sizes up to 30 horsepower. Likewise, for
Fairbanks-Morse,’we think it not at all unlikely that their
parts inventory was sufficiently large that a hoisting engine could
be built on order from existing parts, or from new castings made
from the original patterns. And finally, we believe that the F-M
serial number listing is quite accurate. Their engines were
numbered consecutively, regardless of
horsepower or style. Before the paper records were reduced to
microfiche, a spot check in several places showed the listing to be
quite accurate. In fact, the listing was probably built from these
very records. This company’s accurate and detailed record
keeping over the years lends even more credence to the accuracy of
the serial number listing.
29/4/2 Hand Seeders Q I have a collection of
hand and ‘jabber’ seeders, and would like to know of any
book or information on these seeders. Raulin Shryock, 408 E. Ohio
St., Oblong, IL 62449.
A. We know of nothing in print on this
subject.
29/4/3 Witte Information Q. What is the year
built for a Witte 2 HP engine, sin B13249? Also, can anyone tell me
of where I might find a reproduction nameplate for same? KentZobel,
Rt 1, Box 35A, Monroe, NE 68647.
A. Your engine was built in May 1924. Does
anyone know of reproduction nameplates for this engine?
29/4/5 Norseman Tractor Ever since the picture
of my Norseman tractor appeared in the August 1993 GEM, a number of
different people have asked me why I did not enlarge on the history
and background of this tractor. So, here’s what I know about
it:
It was assembled in Toronto, Ontario by two people shortly after
World War Two. The tractor was made up largely of war surplus units
… Chrysler Industrial engine, Dodge truck transmission, and a
Brenn gun carrier rear end. They are about the cheapest-built thing
you ever saw. My Norseman s/n 402 is the second tractor produced by
that company. Surprisingly, the first tractor, s/n 401, is still
living. It was painted green and did not have the raised letters on
the center vertical piece of the grille. All the rest were painted
red and had raised letters on the above piece. There is a man
making the side decals at a very reasonable price. The one I have
is a narrow front end, but some had the wide front. They were
distributed by Fluery Bissel Co. of Aurora, Ontario, which was a
short line company specializing in till age machinery such as
plows, disks, etc. I have been told that less than 50 of these
tractors were made. They probably sold for $600 or $700 …
somewhat less than a Farmall M, and a few farmers would go for
that. Alex M. Edgar, RR 1, Ayr, Ontario NOB 1E0 Canada.
29/4/6 Unidentified Engines Q. See Photos 6A
and 6B of a complete engine and transmission assembly; the head is
numbered 07267 and the block is numbered 66118. The application and
manufacturer are unknown. The crankcase is one complete unit with
the bell housing and is made of aluminum. The bore and stroke is
about 21/8 x 31/8 The
cylinder assembly bolts onto the crankcase. Cylinder head looks
like a Model T, and engine is ‘Made in U.S.A.’ The
transmission has straight-tooth Ford car gears with a synchronizer
for high and second. No water pump, and the bell housing opens from
the top for service.
I also have a two-cycle engine that needs to be identified. See
photos 6C and 6D. Al McGee , 547- 31st Ave., East Moline, IL
61244.
29/4/7 Minneapolis 27-42 Colors? Q. What is the
correct shade of gray for a Minneapolis 27-42 tractor? What color
is the trim, and are there any decals available? If not, I need to
know what words were on the tractor and where. Also the seat and
mounting are missing, so would like to find the measurements and
dimensions. Dave Aikens, 12696 Smedley Rd., Waterford, FA
16441.
A. We’ve never found any paint color information on the
Minneapolis tractors, so if anyone can help, please do so. We hope
there’s someone out there who can be of help on the other
requests above.
29/4/8 Please Note! We never, never, ever
include letters in this column that give no name or address!
However, if you wish to have your name withheld, we’ll simply
suffix with ‘Name Withheld by Request.’
Sometimes people send photocopies of information to be used in
the column. With today’s machines, we can usually reproduce
them, but sometimes, they simply will not yield a good image, and
so we can’t use them. Please understand that it’s nothing
personal, but rather, it’s a simple limitation imposed by
in-animate things! Ye Olde Reflector.
29/4/9 Waterloo Boy Tractor Q. During the
mid-1920s my great-uncle purchased a Waterloo Boy tractor, s/n
20274 and plow from a dealer in Dupree, South Dakota. A short time
later the tractor was resold after he was involved in a fatal farm
accident with it. We have the original bill of sale. By chance, is
this tractor still in existence? If it is, I’d like to hear
from the owner.
Can anyone tell me if the rods and pistons from a 12-20 Case
will fit a 10-18 Case? Will pistons from any other Case tractor fit
a 10-18 Case? If any one can help, Yd appreciate hearing from
you.
I’m also compiling a list of 9-18 Case owners and their
tractor’s serial numbers. If you have a 9-18 or know of one,
please let me know. Bruce Flatmoe, 7286 Clay AveE., Inver Grove
Hts., MN 55076.
29/4/10 Cunningham Model EB Q. I have a
Cunningham Model EB engine , s/n 13635, and would like to have any
information on it. Also need ignition for this engine. Can anyone
be of help? Glen E. Davis, 212 S. Blaine Ave., Bradley, 1L
60915.
29/4/11 New-Way Question Q. I need some help in
finding a part for a New Way air-cooled engine, 5 HP, Model CHA,
like was on the Centaur tractor. I need the dimensions of the
bracket that holds the governor weights. The one in this engine
came all apart. It was made of pot metal, I guess. I need one to
have one cast, or to make a model of. Wayne Rogers, 10076 Quail Run
Road, Tyler, TX 75709-9761.
29/4/12 E-B Tractor Q. See the photo of a 1919
Emerson-Brantingham tractor with a gasoline engine. I have found
few that have heard the name. Would like to find an owners/shop
manual, and, if possible, the value of this unit. Paul Tiggelbeck,
Rt. 2, Box 153-C, Bee Branch, AR 72013.
29/4/13 IHC Type M Question Q. What is the
correct color for a 11/2 HP Type M engine.
Also, I need to know what style of muffler was used, as mine is
missing. Gregory Badger, 3835 Hallman Ave., Collegeville, PA
19426.
A. We have DuPont 93-84155 Adirondack Green
listed as a comparable color, or PPG 40496 also. We believe that
reproduction Type M mufflers might be available through GEM
advertisers.
29/4/14 Illinois Tractor Q. Would anyone have a
picture of, or own, an 18-30 Illinois tractor? They were built at
Bloomington, Illinois in 1918 by the Illinois Silo & Tractor
Company. Robert F. Routh, 2226 County Rd 1700 N, St. Joseph, IL
61873-9758.
A. Page 151 of Encyclopedia of American Farm
Tractors is devoted to this company, and illustrates several other
models besides the 18-30.
29/4/15 Burall Corn Sheller Q. See the photos
of a No. 2 Burall Corn Sheller made by the Goulds Mfg. Co., Seneca
Fails, New York. It was patented on March 14,1863. It is of all
cast iron construction. I would like to know something about the
company, and the paint colors. Is there a book available on this
type of equipment? Earl Resner, 203 Easter Hill Dr., Grand Jct., CO
81503.
A. Can anyone be of help on this request? We
know of nothing in print in this regard.
29/4/16 Sylvester Engine Q. I would appreciate
any information at all on my Type M Sylvester engine,
43/4 HP, water cooled, s/n 4578. It was made
by Sylvester Mfg. Co. Ltd., Lindsay, Ontario. Charles P. Shervin,
13746 Allen Rd., Albion, NY 14411.
A. On page 501 of American Gas Engines, a
Sylvester engine is illustrated, along with some meager information
on the company; that’s all we’ve found so far.
29/4/17 Panther Cat Q. See the photo of a
Panther Cat made in Austin, Texas. It uses a Waukesha engine. I
need to correspond with someone that has a Panther or has pictures.
Thanks. Raymond Gardner, Route 2, Box 525, Ban-don, OR 97411.
29/4/18 Sultan Engine Q. I have a Sultan engine
of about 6 HP, made by the Whitman Agricultural Co., St. Louis,
Missouri. I would like to correspond with anyone having one of
these engines or information on same. Ian Kin-zie, RR 33 Blair Rd.,
Cambridge, Ontario N3H 4R8 Canada.
29/4/19 IHC 8-16 Tractor Q. I am trying to find
the serial number on my 8-16 tractor. In your book, 150 Years of
International Harvester, you say it should be located on a machined
surface near the magneto bracket. 1 and others have looked and
looked and can find nothing there. My tractor is of the VB series
with the large mechanical oiler. It does look like there was a tag
on the side of the block but it is gone. Any advice will be
appreciated. Doug Satterlee, 880 Hardscrabble Rd.,Casville, NY
13318.
A. Our information came from International
Harvester, perhaps from one of their parts books or an instruction
manual . . . we don’t recall the source. Possibly by the time
of the VB series, IH had gone to an attached plate, and had left
off stamping the number on the engine block. However, it might be
stamped elsewhere, such as on the flywheel housing:
29/4/20 Rugg Tractor Q. See the photo of a Rugg
lawn tractor, apparently made in 1965 by the E. T. Rugg Co.,
Newark, Ohio. It is a Model 5065, sin 65-208315, with a B& S 6
HP engine, Model 142702. I would like to correspond with anyone
having parts or information about this tractor. Joseph R. Mezey
Jr., 109 West Glen Rd., Denville, NJ 07834
29/4/21 Goodall Tritnmer/Edger Q. After reading
your very good story about Leonard B. Goodall in the December 1993
GEM, I found that Goodall Mfg. Corp. was at 7558 Washington Ave
South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, which was sold to Bunton Co., PO Box
33247, Louisville, KY40232 about 1966. On the tag of the unit I
have it shows Goodall Mfg. Corp., s/n 12PU 6022, and several patent
numbers. The engine is from Power Products, No. T-616-17 and it has
a 12-inch blade. Neither of the above two companies could give me
any information. I would like to know if this is the same Goodall
as in your story, also when it was made, and other information. See
the before-and-after photos in 21A and 2IB. Charles Wright, RD 2,
Box 287, Rockwood, PA 15557.
29/4/22 Foreign Correspondent Dave Wilson, 93
Alrewas Rd., Kings Bromley, Burton on Trent, Staffs DEO 7HP England
would like to correspond with enthusiasts in the United States to
‘compare notes’ and otherwise exchange information. At
present he has a 1949 Allis-Chalmers Model B and a 1950 Ferguson
20.
29/4/23 County Super Six Q. See the two
pictures of a tractor I ran across in my travels. On the grille it
shows ‘County Super Six . It is all-wheel-drive with power
steering. Can anyone provide further in formation? Ed Pedrick, PO
Box 393, Santa Maria, CA 93456-0393.
29/4/24 F-M Generator Q. Can anyone supply
information on a Fairbanks-Morse direct-current generator? It is
powered by a F-M 6-7 HP Style C engine. The generator is a Type DG,
compound wound, 3 kw, 125 volts, and 24 amps, It has 6 wires coming
out the generator that are marked A1, A2, F1, F2, S1, and S2. How
should I connect these wires? Robbins Douglas, Rt 1, Box476,
Kinsale, VA 22488.
A. This one has the Armature, Field, and Shunt
leads all brought out of the dynamo. We looked through what little
we have on F-M dynamos, but we don’t have a drawing for this
specific generator. However, see 29/4/24 for a generic drawing of a
compounded machine with a long shunt winding.
29/4/25 Domestic Engine Sam Spencer, 1285-A
Lovett Rd., Orange Park, FL 32073 would like information such as
proper color, year built, etc. on a Domestic engine, s/n 20810,
31/2 horsepower.
29/4/26 Information Needed Q. Could you give us
the year built on the following engines?: Ottawa 3 HP, C 27245 and
C27463; Witte 7 HP, B19736; IHC 3-5 HP, LBBR39368 HH; IHC 3-5 HP,
LBBR 27314 HH; IHC 1
1/2-21/2 HP, LBA90449.
Lenora K. Plumlee, HCR 33, Box 120, Compton, AR 72624.
A. No numbers available on Ottawa; Witte, 1925;
IHC 1944; IHC 1941; and 1945 in that order.
29/4/27 Aerothrust Engine Q. See the photos of
an Aerothrust two-cycle engine, s/n A2541. The former owner thought
it was a marine engine, but it appears on page 14 of American Gas
Engines as a portable engine. Can you provide further information?
Jeff Conner, 8269 Dunham Rd., Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
A Some of the advertisements portrayed the
Aerothrust as a grain binder engine. Whether it was used for this
purpose to any extent, we don’t know; what is certain is that
the Cushman 4 HP model was sold more than any other for this
specific purpose.
29/4/28 Thanks To Art DeKalb, Van Alstyne Dr.,
Pulaski, NY 13142 for sending along photocopies of pertinent
information from a 1906 copy of Modern Machinery magazine.
We’ve got 32 file drawers full, plus boxes and boxes of
material awaiting some organizational work
29/4/29 My Third Attempt! Q. This is my third
attempt to get information on the engine in the photo. I hope
someone can supply me with some information. This is a julien
engine of about 4 or 5 horsepower, as it has a
41/2 x 9 inch bore and stroke, with 27 inch
flywheels. There is no nameplate, nor any numbers that I can find.
I desperately need help establishing what the paintings on the
cylinder sides are, the correct model number, and any history on
this engine I can gather. I would like very much to correspond with
other Julien owners, as this unit is very complete, and maybe I can
help them also. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, and all
correspondence will be answered. Al Hauschildt, Curator, Horse
Around Ranch Museum, 19010 Yost Ranch Rd., Sonora, CA 95370.
A. If you can be of help, please contact Mr.
Hauschildt!
29/4/30 Titan Junior Q. I am confused. I have
an IHC Titan Jr. I HP horizontal hopper cooled kerosene engine, as
shown in the photos. In American Gasoline Engines, on pages
246-247, it shows the Titan built like the Tom Thumb, sold by
Deering, with the same flywheels and other parts. My engine looks
like the one on page 247 called Mogul sold by McCormick. I think
there is a mistake on these engines. Note the location of the drip
oiler on my engine; it is in front of the water hopper. The engine
I have belonged to my grandfather. It was used on an orchard
sprayer pump, also used on washing machine and grinding wheel. I
have been showing it several years at engine shows. R. W. Doss,
5950 Wilson Dr., Huntington, WV 25705.
A. See the (rather poor) photocopy of the Titan
1 HP model from a 1917 IHC Titan engine catalog (29/4/30C). About
one thing there’s no doubtif it was Titan, it was built at
Milwaukee Works and sold by Deering dealers. If it was Mogul it was
built at Chicago Works and sold by McCormick dealers. At the time
IHC was under court order to operate the various merged firms as
separate entities, albeit under the IHC umbrella. The engine in the
center of page 247 is a Mogul Jr., as evidenced by the unique
funnel top on the water hopper.
29/4/31 Stearns & Co.Woody Sins, 483
Marilyn Drive, Utica, NY 13502 writes:
First of all, I would like to thank the gentleman who called to
identify the engine in 29/1/12 (January 1994 GEM) as a Chalmers
automobile engine of 1909-12 vintage.
Also see a couple photos of a lawn-mower I ‘inherited’
from my uncle. It is a Stearns made by E. C. Stearns &. Co.,
Syracuse, New York. Some of its more unusual features include a
small two-stroke engine, with the exhaust exiting underneath the
deck. The blade is a piece of steel with a couple of mower sections
bolted to the ends. It seems to be complete, but there is no spark.
Even though lawnmowers aren’t quite my line, I am sending in
the pictures because it seems to be quite unusual.
29/4/32 GEN Engine Q. See the photo of a GEN
engine. It was built by General Engines Co., Franklin Park,
Illinois, Model D, Type 211, s/n 11312. Anyone having information,
please write to Mark Schultz, 1650 Schust Rd., Saginaw, Ml
48604-
29/4/33 Paint Colors Q. The Stover CT-2
recommendation of PPG-44616 (June 1993 issue, reference 28/6/21) is
troublesome. On investigation (locally and by calling the factory)
I found PPG-44616 to be an automotive paint. Costs quoted me were
$48.60, which included a quart of paint, quart of reducer, and a
quart of (optional) catalyst. I love my engines and I love my hobby
but there has to be a better way to paint ’em.
I would like to hear from any engine enthusiast, recommendations
by brand name, color number, type of paint, and your tips,
opinions, and results of any paints used on any engines. If anyone
has knowledge, research or experience in color and paint
identification for any engine, please include engine name,
approximate year, sin and/or other pertinent information. If there
is enough interest and information, I would like to research
further antique gasoline engine paint restoration for a possible
article to submit to GEM.
By the way, does anybody have paint recommendations for Stover
CT-2, Edwards 2-cylinder, Fuller & Johnson NC J ***, Briggs FI,
or Palmer 6 HP inboard marine engine? Alan P. Nowell, 7240 SW
130thSt., Miami, FL33156.
A. The paint color numbers we’ve gathered over the past 25
years have come from our own observations and from many, many other
folks. We think it’s a matter of personal preference, and ye
olde Reflector doesn’t have any ‘druthers about what
somebody else paints their engines with. An el cheapo alkyd from
Jumpin’ Joe’s War Surplus Store will last for a short time,
but just like those old-tyme paints that were used back then, it
will quickly fade, and a drop of gasoline on it takes off paint the
size of a silver dollar. The acrylics are much more expensive, but
when used with the proper amount of hardener, and with proper
surface preparation, they’ll last a lot longer. Even then, the
oil, the fuel, and the heat do their work, and every few years
it’s necessary for us to repaint an engine; that’s because
we like that shiny ‘new’ look. The color matches that
we’ve used over the years provide some degree of uniformity,
and also permit a California collector to paint a Cushman the same
identical color as the guy up in Vermont. But again, it’s a
matter of preference.
29/4/34 Galloway Question Q. I have a Galloway
71/2 HP engine, s/n 19960. In American Gas
Engines you state that it has a 6 x 12 inch bore and stroke.
However, mine has a 61/2 inch bore. Can you
explain this, or did Galloway under-rate their engine this way, as
the bore size would figure out to 8 HP? Also, when was this engine
built?
I would also like to hear from anyone regarding a 2 HP Goold,
Shapley & Muir engine, made in Brantford, Ontario. Francis
Kurds, 646 Anderson Rd., Niles, MI 49120-9749.
A. Engine manufacturers certainly did change
horsepower ratings, and also had no compunction about changing the
diameter of bore, or other features, during production. This is
likely what happened with the Galloway above. In compiling American
Gas Engines, we went with whatever information we could find.
Fortunately, Galloway usually included this information in their
advertising, while the biggest engine builder of all never did in
their earlier years, and did so randomly later on.
Readers Write
Maynard Engines In the last issue, Willard E.
Cawley, 6-369 Palace Rd., Kingston, Ontario ONT K7L 4T5 Canada,
wrote a query regarding a Maynard engine. These were sold by the
Charles Williams Stores. His engine had ‘B. E. Co.’ in the
castings. Since that time he has come upon the letters J. M. M. C.
in the casting just below the crankshaft. At this point, Mr. Cawley
is of the opinion that the engine under discussion was made with
parts supplied by several firms, since the latter initials would
imply Jacobsen Machine Mfg. Company.
Under no circumstances does Mr. Cawley’s engine resemble a
Maynard as might have been built by Nelson Bros. Company. His
engine is identical to that shown on the top right hand corner of
page 554 in American Gas Engines, right down to the gasoline fill
pipe and its location.
Mr. Cawley adds that this engine featured many good engineering
qualities such as the six-bolt water-cooled cylinder head,
split-hub flywheels, and separately cast base, cylinder, and
hopper.
Mr. Cawley would like to hear from other owners of Maynard
engines. Perhaps this might lead to some consensus of what they
sold and when. If you can be of help, kindly contact Mr.
Cawley.
Case VAC Regarding this inquiry in the November
1993 issue, we have the following from C. Russell Umback, Box 117,
Lemmon, SD:
Your serial number indicates a 1945 model. The rule I was taught
for the seven-digit serial number is to subtract 4 from the first
two digits of the serial number to get the year.
According to R. B. Gray in Development of the Agricultural
Tractor in the United States, the VAC and related models were
introduced in 1942, so by the basis it would be consistent for
yours to be a VAC.
However, 1940 Nebraska Tractor Test Data includes a Case Model
VC which looked very similar except that it was powered by a
Continental L-head engine with 3 x 43/8 inch
bore and stroke. I am wondering if your tractor has this
engine.
Should this be the situation, I would guess that your tractor
was either repowered with the older engine as a salvage operation,
or alternatively, that it is actually a VC to which some VAC
tinware, including the serial plate, was affixed.
I don’t know how readily these two engines would
interchange, they maybe used a different clutch housing etc., but
then these things get old and you still have some use for it. It
isn’t uncommon to put together what you have.
Incidentally, Case used that OHV 31/3 x
33/4 engine on their later Model K combines.
We had one and is was a honey. Earlier Model Ks used a
31/4 x 4 L-head; I don’t know what make
engine.
Red-E Tractors About a week after I sent in a
request for information about a Red-E tractor, I was informed that
there was one about three miles away. The man had more manuals and
literature than I needed. Some of your readers also answered my
request. Thank them all … especially the one whose letter I lost.
I wrote the others, thanking them. Here’s what I found:
The Red-E tractor was started in the early 1940s and didn’t
really get going until 1946-47. It was made to be an economical
tractor with readily available parts. A Wisconsin or Briggs 6k
Stratton engine, a Crossley transmission, and a Ford rear end were
used. The tractor (rider) is now called an Economy and is made by
Engineering Products Company, PO Box 284, 1900 E. Ellis St.,
Waukesha, Wisconsin. Parts are available from the company. Glen R.
Swanson, HCR 1, Box 827, Marcell, MN 56657.
Stump Grubber Follow-up This is a follow-up on
my stump puller that appeared in the May 1993 GEM. I am dedicating
this story to Jim Callender of Columbia, Mississippi, who contacted
me about a capstan winch I have. He inspired me to put mine
together and send it into GEM.
My winch is made by W. Smith Grubber Co., LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
It weighs over 300 pounds. I believe that it was bolted to a single
pole and dragged from stump to stump sideways. The skids I made are
just for demonstration . . . nothing like this was made in the
‘good ol’ days.’ I cut a 12-foot pole, 7 inches in
diameter, and pinned it to the top of the winch spool. The outer
end was to a team of horses or hitched to a tractor.
One end of the winch was tied to a larger stump to hold the
winch in place, while the spool was turned, tightening the cable
attached to the stump being pulled. A pawl at the bottom of the
spool held the cable tight while the horses rested and more roots
could be cut, or whatever it took to make the stump come out. The
lines used were at least 1*** inches in diameter. A two-block line
to the stump to be pulled would require some means to anchor the
cable end to the winch base. None is visible on my winch.
I would really enjoy hearing from anyone who has a capstan
winch, so we can share pictures and compare notes, also to keep a
little piece of history alive. John M. Edgerton, 603 Loon Lake Rd.,
Bigfork, Montana 59911.
(See Photos RW-1, RW-2, and RW-3 of the stump puller.)
29/2/14 & 29/2/25The engines in both
29/2/14 and 29/2/25 are Jacobson. No doubt from their lawnmowers.
N. Cledus Stites, RR 1,Odon, IN 47562.
Frank McCutcheon, 1543 Greenhill Drive, Canyon Lane, TX 78133
replied also: 29/2/25 is a Jacobson lawnmower engine. The mower was
about a 30 or 32-inch self-propelled reel-type mower, and 1 believe
it was a ‘four-acre’ model probably made in the 30s or 40s.
I think Jacobson is still in business. 29/2/14 is another Jacobson
of similar use.
Postage Stamp
We received a number of letters favoring a U. S. Postage stamp
commemorating the invention of the gas engine. Perhaps the comments
are best summed up in a letter from Delmer J. Dooley, RR 2, Box
28A, Ramona, SD 57054. He writes in part:
The comments and proposal in favor of a U. S. postage stamp
commemorating the invention of the gas engine deserve support. The
collectors, and those who enjoy the hobby, represent a
knowledgeable group to help make the proposal a reality.
Modelmakers Corner
Following the death of Paul Breisch in June 1993, Jay Peters of
Schwenksville, PA has purchased the model gasoline engine business
the late Mr. Breisch founded. Peters, 62, has a background in
machining and mechanical engineering and will continue to supply
engine kits of the same high-quality castings as did Mr. Breisch.
The new firm will go under the Breisch/Peters name. We don’t
have the new address for Breisch/ Peters, but the phone number is
610-287-5179.
A Closing Word
By the time this issue is in your hands, those of us in the cold
weather regions will probably start to see a few nice days,
especially after record-setting cold weather! In all of our
enthusiasm to fire up some engines, move some others, and go
scouting for still more, we again ask all of you to use care and
caution. This heavy old iron has no conscience at all about mashing
fingers somewhat like a big fly swatter. It also has no cares at
all whether we suffer hernias, strains, and sprains. At times like
these, and when our carefully restored vintage engines and tractors
throw a balky spell, we’re reminded of the old timer who
referred to ‘the infernal cussedness of inanimate things.
