24/6/23 Q. Serial Numbers Can anyone
supply the year built for the following engines: Economy 13/4, s/n
331867S; Economy 1? HP, 211341E; Novo 2 HP, 82468; Stover 1? HP,
KE186698; and Gray 4 HP, 411914. Jerry R. Caufman, 740 G.
Harbaugh Valley Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320.
A. We can tell you that the Stover was built in
1927, but have no serial number lists for any of the other
models.
24/6/24 Unknown engine See the two below photos
of an engine I cannot identify. The only marking is the word
‘Atlas’ on the crankshaft. Also need the proper color for a
Lister engine. Look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.
Norman Edey, Box 31, Nanton, Alberta T0L 1R0 Canada.
24/6/25 John Deere Tractor Bob Van Nevel, 55040
Currant Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545 would like to hear from anyone
owning a John Deere Model 62 tractor, or anyone having information
on same. Specifically, help is needed in timing of the magneto.
24/6/26 Coolspring Raffle Michael Fuoco of
Coolspring Power museum, Coolspring, PA announces that the winner
of the 1? HP Jacobson engine in the Power Museum Raffle was Mr.
Joseph Glaudel, Philadelphia, PA. Thanks are extended to all who
purchased tickets for the support of the museum.
24/6/27 Unknown engines George Manelski,
Stirrup Ln., Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 would like to hear form
anyone who can identify the engines shown in the adjacent photos.
There are no names or numbers on either engine except for
‘TA-4’ cast in the bottom of the enigne shown in
24/6/27A.
24/6/28 Viking Twin Information will be
appreciated on a Viking Twin garden tractor, s/n 380F888.
Specifically, I need to know the proper color and availability of
decals. Marvin DeVault, Route 2, Box 16, Louisville, TN 37777.
24/6/29 Q. Case 12-20 Crossmount I am restoring
a 12-20 crossmotor Case. According to some information, the basic
color was green, changed to gray in 1922 or 1923. In both cases the
wheels and front axle are red. Since mine is missing the nameplate,
is there any possible way to date it? Mine is equipped with an
American Bosch AT4 magneto. Is there any way to date the magnetos
by the serial number?
If you need a temporary carburetor for a 12-20 crossmount Case,
use one off an International 454, 464, or 574 tractor or off the IH
3400 backhoe, or any IHC C-157 or C-175 engine. Be sure to
eliminate the electronic fuel valve. These carburetors will bolt
right up, as I havedone it. John A. Hall, Jr., Rt. 2, Box 407,
Bahama, NC 27503.
A. We should think that the number is stamped
on the frame at some location, or possibly on the engine itself.
This is only a guess, but check the frame rails, up toward the
front of the tractor. Perhaps someone can advise where the number
might be stamped.
24/6/30 Q. Information needed Is there any way
to determine the year built of the following engines, or anything
else of interest?
Reo royal Delux reel mower, model 211H2, s/n OH3179OX; Reo
18′ rotary, power trim, model 250K, s/n 525K6208; Reo engine,
model 552, type A, s/n 59467; Maytag, model 72-D, 2-cylinder, s/n
40542; Economy 5 HP, s/n 84861; Hercules 1? HP, s/n 313126.
Any help will be appreciated. Ralph J. Beamer, 685 Nanowska,
Biglesville, PA 17307.
A. We’ve heard that serial number listings
exist on Maytag, but have no such lists on file. Regarding the
other engines listed, we know of no serial number listings.
24/6/31 Q. Unknown engine See the two
photographs of an engine we have restored and would like to show
this year. However, we do not know the make, or when it was built.
Andy’s Appliance Service, 32501 Mill Creek Drive, Ft.
Bragg, CA 95437.
A. Look on page 47 of American Gas Engines.
There you will see a rather poor illustration of a vertical engine
by Bates & Edmonds Motor Company. We feel certain that your
engine is a mate to it. Note also the peculiar valve gear movement,
a feature unique to the Bulldog engines. So far as we know, these
engines were a deep maroon.
24/6/32 Q. Keck-Gonnerman tractor Can
anyone advise the proper color for a Keck-Gonnerman 25-50 tractor,
s/n ZW 3506? We think it was built in 1927. Duane Caldwell, 512
W. Madison, Owensville, MO 65066.
24/6/33 Gibson tractors Sometime ago an article
in GEM noted that only about 500 each of the H and I model Gibson
tractors were made. Since very little data is available on these
tractors, I would like to hear from all current owners of Gibson
Model H and Model I tractors, whether restored, parted out, or
otherwise.
In an effort to figure out if these tractors used a common
series of numbers or each had their own set of numbers, I would
like to ask anyone having or knowing of one, please send me the
serial number, condition, and I’ll get it sorted and send GEM
the results. At this point, no Model A or D tractors, only the
four-cylinder Model H and the six-cylinder Model I. Paul E.
Freiling, 1006 Maertin, Fullerton, CA 92631.
24/6/34 Eshelman tractor I have a small
four-wheel tractor with the name Eshelman on it. I think it was
made in Baltimore. It doesn’t have an engine, so I would like
to know what type of engine was used, and would also like to find
information on the drive train. Any information on this tractor
will be much aprpeciated. I also have a Frazer Model T tractor, but
it needs an engine. Charles N. Cook, RR 1, Box 818, Hurlock, MD
21643.
READERS WRITE
24/1/13 Sears-Roebuck tractors See photo RW-1
of a tractor at the National Threshers Association Show at Wauseon,
Ohio a couple of years ago. The owner is Paul Pelton, Delta, Ohio.
I do not know if the orange paint color is correct.
The tractor was priced at under $500, but less the motor and
transmission the price was $395. A standard Ford Model A engine and
transmission were used in this tractor. John R. Heath, 494 Twp
Rd 232, Sullivan, OH 44880.
24/1/23 F-30 Cane Tractor Several readers wrote
in on these tractors. One comment was that a ‘V’ suffix was
added to the model number in the case of the high-clearance models.
John Cohoon, Rt. 1, Steele, MO 63877 sends photo RW-2 of his 1934
F-30 Cane tractor, narrow-tread, wide front, and using 600-21 front
and 12-44 rear tires. Some of these used 40 or 42 inch rear tires.
The appropriate IHC Parts Books are TC-8-A and TC-8-B.
Empire Garden Tractors Thanks to Marc Kral for
sending us file information on the Empire tractors.
Belting Two Engines Per the article on page 16
of the February, 1989 GEM, it is apparent that both engines will
not run at the same speed. Which engine must be connected to the
load-the slower one, or the faster one? Peter Himmelheber,
Route 1, Box 71, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Belting two engines together was occasionally practiced, but
with ony mediocre results. As your question indicates, getting the
two engines to run in exact synchronism was virtually impossible.
The Reflector recalls a neighborhood threshing ring that belted two
John Deere A tractors flywheel to flywheel, and the second one to
an old Aultman-Taylor thresher. This was necessary to finish out
the threshing run because the OilPull breathed her last, and during
World War Two, it wasn’t easy to find a replacement. As we
recall, the setup looked rather odd, but performed fairly well. We
doubt it would make any difference which engine was belted to the
load.
Waterous Tractors These tractors were built
from 1901 to about 1906, so it is possible that one of these might
still be around.
And please, no more Fordson articles-I an still hear the damn
things growl! R. R. Jessup, PO Box 118, Clarcona, FL
32710.
We’ve always found it interesting that where the original
Fordson tractor is concerned, there is very little gray-it’s
either black or white-you either loved ’em or despised ’em!
However, in our age of preserving historical machines, rather than
using them to make a living, we find that there is considerable
interest in these tractors.
Bascom B. Clarke, the Editor of American Thresherman magazine
held Henry Ford and the Fordson tractor in low esteem, and
Professor Yerkes of the USDA once wrote a critique of the Fordson
that was very uncomplimentary to this little machine.
From a personal perspective, the Reflector’s father
absolutely detested the Fordson, having cranked one for a couple
hours once upon a time to et it started. The worm gear differential
created enough heat to turn the rear housing into an oddly shaped
griddle which my father thought was far better suited to frying
eggs or flapjacks than to be used as a footrest!
Yet, the Fordson played an important role in the mechanization
of American agriculture, and from this perspective, many of
today’s collectors actively pursue their restoration.
4/3/23 Economy Tractors Several letters were
received on this query. Information is available from Engineering
Products Inc., Power King Tractors, 2021 MacArthur Road, PO Box
1510, Waukesha, WI 53187.
24/3/12 Corn Shelter This is a corn grader, not
a sheller. The corn is fed in the top hopper, shelled, and fed over
the shaker in separate grades. It is used for seed corn planting to
remove the bad kernels. Ideal Manufacturing Company. Marvin Rabe,
3103 Morgan St., Stiger, IL 60475.
24/3/29 Lauson Oil Test Several letters arrived
on this query. Gary Pegelow, S1 W25765 Northview Road, Waukesha, WI
53186 sends photos RW-3 and RW-4 of his test engine. It has a tag
from Sinclair Oil Company, Chicago, Illinois. These engines were
built specifically for the purpose of permitting laboratory
analysis of the lubrication qualities of automobile oils. Testing
procedure eventually advanced past the need for an oil test
engine.
24/3/31 Unidentified engine See photos RW-5 and
RW-6 of my 1? HP Alamo engine. I believe it is identical to the one
in the above inquiry. Steve Boos, 110 Spanish Cmap, Staten Island,
NY 10312.
24/1/29 Wiscona Pep Engine Here in Australia,
this engine was sold as the ‘Planet’ petrol-paraffin engine
by Planet Electric Co. Ltd., London. Secondly, I have an IHC LA,
1?-2? HP engine, s/n 21707 which has a slotted screw to regulate
the speed instead of the plunger operated by a lever. Can anyone
advise of the significance of this design, as compared to the usual
lever version? Nick Fuller, 6 Rosalie Avenue, Cranbourne,
Victoria 3977, Australia.
24/3/21 Compressor Gilbert Lehman, RD 3, Box
126, Lowville, NY 13367 writes that this is a milking machine
vacuum pump, and not a compressor.
Hart-Parr air compressors Bill May, 9152 Hector
St., San Diego, CA 92123 writes:
Several fellows responded on the Hart-Parr compressor. The
blocks from Hart-Parr were shipped to Chicago where Buehl proceeded
to make one side of each unit a compressor and the other side the
engine. Three sizes were built: 55 cfm out of the 12-24 block; 90
cfm out of the 18-36 block, and 180 cfm from the four-cylinder
block. This was done about 1923. There were very few small ones
built-slightly over 50. The feeling is that I may have the only one
still in existence. Two of the 90 cfm units are still around.
I’ll be pleased to hear from anyone with further
information.
Johnson Motor Company Many, many thanks to
Duane M. Reynolds, RD 1, Box 86, Locke, NY 13092 for sending us
detailed information on the history of the Johnson motor
Company.
