As this issue goes to press in early December, we are deeply
saddened by the passing of Neils A. (Andy) Kruse, Park Ridge,
Illinois. Andy’s acquaintances in the gas engine hobby numbered
in the thousands-his friends are scattered all over the world! Many
of you were acquainted with Andy and his wife Ruth, and many more
saw his wonderfully restored engines at numerous shows around the
country.
Andy’s affable and quiet manner was but one part of a person
with extensive knowledge of gas and hot air engines, not only from
the historical standpoint, but also from the technical details.
From his little shop behind the house, Andy built a great many
parts for engines that would otherwise have gone by the
wayside.
Andy Kruse was not a person to look for or desire publicity.
Having known Andy for many years, we seriously doubt that he would
appreciate a somber eulogy. However, we feel compelled to pay this
final tribute to a fellow collector whose help and encouragement
sustained this writer many a time over the years. To put it another
way-Andy Kruse will be missed not only by his family but by our
entire hobby. Andy’s obituary is included in this issue.
We had a huge and very favorable response to the Webster magneto
list published in the December, 1986 GEM. Quite a few of our
readers suggested that this information, plus other useful data
appearing in the recent past be assembled into a
‘pocketbook’ format. These suggestions have been turned
over to the GEM staff for their consideration and possible
action.
In the last few weeks we have had several contacts regarding the
addition of more information for model makers. It appears to us
that model making, especially of internal combustion engines, is on
the rise, but the great majority of interested model builders
simply do not know where to find castings and parts. Likewise there
seems to be a dearth of information on some of the fine points of
model building. We have been in contact with one well-known model
builder who intends to forward a series of articles to use in the
near future. A couple of months ago, a collector sent us a list of
known scale model manufacturers-those who have made patterns and
castings for various kinds of engines. The Reflector is especially
irritated that somehow or other he has misplaced this information,
particularly because it was intended for use in this issue! If the
sender could again send this list we would appreciate it very much.
Like wise, anyone with scale model castings should send us
information on what we have. By getting this information out to all
our readers, scale model gas engines might become an important part
of our hobby.
22/2/1 Q. Can anyone supply information on the
Stover MV-2, 3 HP engine? Mine is missing the carburetor and fuel
tank. Would like to get some pictures or a manual that shows the
engine in detail. This particular engine has a gear reduction
assembly attached to it which may have been used to power something
like a cement mixer. Daniel A. Bowers, 1663 Maplewood, LaVerne, CA
91750.
A. Contact C. H. Wendel, RR 1, Box 28-A,
Atkins, IA 52206 for information on the MV-2 Stover. Mr. Wen del
has the existing Stover production records and other information on
this company.
22/2/2Robert C. Johnson, 514 Brown St.,
Minneapolis, MN 56143 sends us photo 22/2/2 with the following
letter: I am enclosing a snapshot taken last spring. This tractor
belonged to a farm customer of mine before I retired. The tractor
is a Co-op that had the rear end go bad, so the owner removed the
innards and backed it up to the rear part of an IHC F-12, made the
driveshaft from the output shaft of the Co-op transmission to the
input shaft of the F-12. It made a long tractor with the loader on
the front. My question is, did he make it for one of the
following
1)Tractor for a newly married young farm couple who could not
stand to be apart? 2) Student driver training tractor? 3) For a
backseat driving wife? 4) Mother-in-law seat?
Just thought you might like to see some of the odd things you
run into in this hobby
22/2/3James L. Johnson, 4115 – S. 298th Ct.,
Auburn, WA 98001 sends a sketch and some photocopies of an
unidentified engine. Since photocopies will not reproduce very well
in the magazine, we have done some extra research and believe his
is a Sun-Power engine, although of possibly a slightly different
style than that shown on page 500 of American Gas Engines.
22/2/4 Q. Would like to hear from anyone who
has a Fairmont Track Motor Car. Would like to know year of mine,
s/n 215752 and any other helpful information. Gary Harwood, 317-1
Brook Village Rd., Nashua, NH 03062.
A. Contact Fairmont Railway Motors Inc.,
Fairmont, MN 56031.
22/2/5I would like to correspond with any
owners of a Miller engine made by the Albion Engine & Motor
Co., Albion, Michigan (see photo). Also see Page 20 of American Gas
Engines. Mine was completely disassembled many years ago, and as a
result, some of the pieces got mixed up with other engine parts.
This engine has a 6 x 10 inch bore and stroke, sideshaft design,
vertical flyball governor. Fly wheels are 41′ diameter x 3′
face. Engine ran a boat hoist in Rhode Island and was never
outdoors, so it is in very good condition. Need information on some
parts. Fred Prichard, Red Gate Farm, 160 Highland St., Plymouth, NH
03264.
22/2/6Can anyone identify or supply information
on this engine? It has a carbon brush on the cam contact to fire
the plug. The only numbers are 015 and 016 on the crank journals.
Don’t know if the gas tank is original. Zoltan Evaskovich, 1502
Lincoln Ave., Alamogordo, NM 88310.
22/2/7 Q. Could we see more pictures of the
following tractors: 45-90 Pioneer, 4 cylinder, opposed motor,
tractor with 8 x 9 inch bore and stroke, and 9-foot drive wheels:
IHC 25-45 and 30-60 Titan tractors; 1908-1910 Lambert friction
drive; Munktell’s tractor made at Eskilstuna, Sweden in about
1913. George Jacobs, 708 Knapp St., Wolf Point, MT 59201.
A. Although some of the IHC Titan tractors have
been illustrated in past years, as has the 30-60 Pioneer, we can
find no indication that the other models you mention have ever
appeared in GEM. As soon as we can locate illustrations of these
tractors, or as soon as one of our readers sends them in (whichever
is first) we’ll be happy to illustrate and describe them.
22/2/8 Q. Donald J. Quintal Jr., 1147 W.
Lowell Ave., Haverhill, MA 01830 would like information on a Hardie
Mfg. Co. orchard sprayer. The pump is a duplex-type, Model DC1, s/n
D61- 1194. The wagon has a big wooden tub with four steel wheels,
and the outfit is powered by a 2 HP Jaeger engine. I can’t find
anything like this in back issues of GEM. Also would like to know
age of a Stover 1? HP Model K, s/n KE209970.
A. The only Hardie literature we have is a 1935
catalog which indicates that at that time, Hardie was offering a
variety of engines for its pumps, depending on the power
requirements and the choice of the customer. Included at that time
were Waukesha four-cylinder engines ranging up to 35 HP; Hercules
4-cylinder, 8 HP ZXB engines; Stover CT-1 and CT-2 models; Briggs
& Stratton 1 HP, Model A; and the Cushman C-34, 5 HP vertical
engine. Hardie used a great many different makes of engines and
offered a very extensive line of pumps and sprayers for almost
every application. The Stover Model K was built in 1929. It was
finished in a dark brewster green comparable to DuPont Dulux
93-62713-H.
22/2/9 Q. Could you tell me when the following
engines were built?: 70 HP Fairbanks-Morse, Model 32E14, Style VA,
s/n K358; 150 HP Fairbanks-Morse, Model 32E14, Style VA, s/n
Y2KAZ5C3 with 97 kw alternator, s/n 5471, Type TG20; Ingeco Type
AM, 6 HP, s/n 7346. What is the proper color for the 150 HP engine,
and why is the paint so thick on these engines? What is the proper
color for the Ingeco engine? See photos below of the 70 HP
Fairbanks-Morse that we have mounted as a portable (22/2/9A). A 6
HP Ingeco is shown in 22/2/9B, and a 9 HP Agricat crawler is
illustrated in 22/2/9C. Dicky Sand, Box 85-A, White Post, VA
22663.
A. We suggest you contact the Parts Service
people at Fairbanks-Morse. You might try: Fairbanks Morse, Engine
Accessories Operation, 6402 Rockton Road, IL 61073, Att: Ken
Watson. Or you might call him at (608) 364-8164. They can supply
manuals for some engines at a nominal cost, but will supply them
only to engine owners-in other words, you must supply the engine
serial number. The numbers you give in your letter we do not
believe are actually the serial numbers-you will find this stamped
on the top face of the BOTTOM BASE, usually on the left-hand side
as you stand facing the governor end. It will probably be a six
digit number. Fairbanks-Morse like a lot of other machinery
builders used a heavy smooth-on cement to give their engines a
smooth, shiny look. The paint went on over this material. Early
engines were black-we’re not definitely sure, but we think that
the Model 32 engines started life being black, but the last of
these might have been gray, and after that all of them came out
with gray paint. We do not have an exact color match for the lngeco
engines.
22/2/10 Q. I have a Witte 2 HP headless engine
built in June, 1920. It has a Bosch BAO magneto. I have the book on
it, and also saw the article in the December, 1986 GEM. Still, I
can’t keep it running. I have tried 2 different check valves,
but it still seems to not get enough gas at times, and then it gets
too much. A few times I have had it running for 5 minutes or more,
then it will hit just once, and that’s it unless you choke it.
I have restored lots of engines, but this one has me stumped. Also
need the date built for a Stover CT-2, s/n TB269078. Would also
like to know if Engine Services Co., Auburn Hts., Michigan is still
in business. One further item-Marvin Frahm’s Maytag book shows
5 Maytag wrenches. Does anyone know which wrenches fit which
engine? Monte Shockman, 5021 Peg St., Boise, ID 83705.
A. On the Witte, the problem seems to narrow
down to two things- either the fuel or the fire. We wouldn’t
want to bet much that the problem could be with the magneto.
Despite the fact that it has good fire as you note, are you sure it
is ALWAYS delivering a hot spark? Magnetos can sometimes develop a
partial short in the winding, and that will of course diminish the
intensity-it also might cause the problems you speak of. A poor
condenser might also deliver some problems, and the points can be
very troublesome. To illustrate, we had problems with a 2-cylinder
Caterpillar magneto on a pony engine. Everything finally pointed to
the points, so we very carefully cleaned them, and even polished
them with a little hardwood stick to remove oily fingerprints etc.
An ohmeter showed no point resistance whatever, and the points were
set precisely to the recommended gap. In desperation, we took out
the old points, put in a high-priced set of Caterpillar replacement
points, and presto! the engine started, and has never caused a
problem since. Try if possible to borrow another carburetor for
your engine and see if that helps. Possibly either the needle is
quite loose in the threads. Does the intake valve have enough
tension on the spring? We’re curious to know how you come out
and what it takes to solve the problem. Your CT-2 Stover was built
May 7, 1940. Per-haps Engine Services can contact you if they are
still in operation.
22/2/11 Q. Wellesley White, Box 61, Morden,
Manitoba ROG 1JO Canada asks about a contract that supposedly was
made between Brownwall Engine Co. (later Holland Engine Co.) of
Michigan and the R.A. Lister Co. of England. This is to have taken
place during World War One. Mr. White notes: ‘My father always
refers to the 6 HP Lister my grandfather bought new in 1918 as the
Brownwall.’ The name tag reads: ‘Manufactured for R.A.
Lister Co.’ This engine ran from 1918 to 1948, requiring only a
new set of rings during that time. Did Lister sell Brownwall in
Canada? Perhaps this is common knowledge by someone, but not up
here in Canada. Also a note-on page 7, 21/11/26, November 1986 GEM
is a ‘Little Mall’ engine. This is a Briggs & Stratum,
possibly a Model Z as I think I can see the de-compression rod by
the air cleaner. I have a Model A, smaller but the same
otherwise.
A. Mr. White poses an interesting question, and
one which we haven’t heard before. It seems quite possible that
Lister’s Canadian operation might have contracted for some
Brownwall engines-we don’t know. If any of our readers have
heard about the Lister-Brownwall connection, we’ll be most
happy to hear from them.
22/2/12 Q. Can anyone identify this engine? See
the photograph given below. Robert Scmauss, Box 1547, Land O’
Lakes, FL 33539-1547
22/2/13 Q. Can anyone tell me when this Economy
1? HP Type N engine was built? It has the crank built into the
flywheel and uses a smaller water hopper than the older engines. E.
Shipp, RR 4, Box 257, Waverly, IA 50677.
A. Our literature does not seem to
differentiate between the old and new styles, and we would suggest
that this was a late design change initiated to cut production
costs as much as any thing. Production totals dwindled rapidly
during the 1930’s, falling to a shadow of the past by 1940.
Chances are that this particular variety saw limited
production.
