REFLECTIONS

By C. H. Wendel
Published on February 1, 1993
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28/2/11 Unidentified Engine Q. See two photos
of a very unusual opposed piston engine. I lost the directions on
this engine, but as I recall it was in Minnesota near Hill City,
owned by two brothers. Any information or whereabouts would be
appreciated.

Recently I acquired a Carlisle-Finch engine. Obviously there is
something missing on the valve structure mechanism. Is there anyone
out there in engine land that can help me out on this little jewel
with pictures or information, please? Harold Gaddye, RR 2,
Binbrook, ONT L0R 1C0 Canada.

28/2/12 Leaded vs. Unleaded As an enthusiast to
both older truck and tractor restorations, I am a subscriber to
both this magazine and Hemmings Motor News. From reading in the
latter, it is my understanding that they have taken the position of
using unleaded fuel in vehicles.

In my opinion, GEM needs to take a similar position (for a
healthier environment) regarding stationary engines and vintage
tractors.

I recently had a 261 Chevrolet truck engine built to burn
unleaded gasoline. It turns out that the old method of repairing a
valve seat (that is, grind out the old, damaged valve seat and
knock in a steel seat) has become the way to use unleaded gasoline
in the 1990s.

Sure, it takes extra effort to put in twelve steel valve seats
in a six-cylinder engine such as the Chevrolet 261, but for a
better environment for us and our children, it has to be done.
David Cade, Box 53, Chapman, KS 67431.

28/2/13 Spirit of St. Louis Q. In his book, The
Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh wrote that while in the
eighth hour of his solo transatlantic flight he thought back to his
youth in Minnesota and the dealership he had taken on at age
seventeen for milking machines and farm engines.

Does anyone know what line of gas engines Lindbergh represented
at that young age? Herb Prentice, 9734 Garnish Drive, Downey, CA
90240-3003.

28/2/14 Benton Harbor Motocycle See the two
photos of the before-and-after of my 1895 Benton Harbor Motocycle.
It was built by W. O. Worth in 1895 for the Chicago Herald-Tribune
Race of Thanksgiving Day, 1895. This was America’ s first auto
race.

The engine is a two-cylinder opposed design, open crankshaft,
and camshaft, and is water cooled. The engine has a 30-inch
flywheel, and is 5’3 ‘ long overall. This car has won
several national awards, and is the oldest American motor vehicle
in running condition. David A. Kolzow, Rt 3, Box 329, Iowa Falls,
IA 50126.

28/2/15 Information Needed Q. What is the age
of the following: Mogul Jr. 1 HP, s/n W7738; Empire 2? HP, no.
40525; Fairbanks-Morse 2 HP, no. 63406; Fairbanks-Morse 3 HP, no.
507708? Vernon Jackson, Hunt, NY 14846.

A. The Mogul Jr. was built in 1915. Both of the
Fairbanks-Morse engines were made in 1923; there is no information
on the Empire.

28/2/16 Cushman Cub Q. Can anyone tell me the
year built of an R-14 Cushman Cub, 2 HP, s/n 88015? Sterling
Hinman, 4676 Center Road, Avon, OH 44011.

A. To our knowledge no such information is
available.

28/2/17 Mighty Man Q. I have a Mighty Man
garden tractor which 1 believe is a 1947 model. It has a Wisconsin
AB engine, s/n 978954. Can anyone tell me the proper color, the
attachments, or any other information? I am thirteen years old.
Scott Ham, Box 100 A, RD 1, Palm, PA 18070.

A. Could some of our readers help this young
collector?

28/2/18 Empire Engine Q. I have a 1? Empire,
s/n 20410. I believe it was built by Alamo Mfg. Co., Hillsdale,
Michigan. (See top of page 18, American Gas Engines.) Would like to
know date built, any decals, proper colors, etc. Contact: Hal
Opdyke, 4960 Sioux Way, Okemos, MI 48864.

28/2/19 Ideal Engine Q. On page 239, lower
right hand corner of American Gas Engines, is a picture of an Ideal
engine exactly like the one I just purchased, with one exception.
Mine has a pressed-in cast iron funnel on top of the water hopper,
centered over the cylinder bore. The engine has a 4 x 5 inch bore
and stroke, and is equipped with a Bosch BA-1 Ed. 18 magneto. The
name plate is gone, and the decal is nearly gone. Can anyone lead
me to a nameplate and a decal, or at least a good photograph of
either? Any help will be greatly appreciated. George Peace, 8414
Kappa St., LaMesa, CA 91942.

28/2/20 Ruthhardt Magneto Q. I am looking for
some information on a Ruthhardt magneto, It is Type 4H2P, s/n 3570.
This is a high-tension two-spark model. It was made in Germany, and
patented June 11, 1909, and has the name of Herz & Co., New
York. I’m wondering what kind of engine it might have been used
on, and how it was setup. Any information on this magneto will be
greatly appreciated. Brian M. Lynch, RD 1, Box 120-B, Wellsville,
NY 14895.

28/2/21 Best Combine Q. See the photos of a
Best combine for the Imperial Valley Museum. I need any literature
or information for the restoration of this machine, as I’m
doing it on a volunteer basis. It has ‘Best’ cast into the
radiator frame, but the engine has ‘Harris’ cast on the
crankcase doors. The machine is nearly complete, but badly in need
of some major repair. Any help, information, etc. will be greatly
appreciated. Norman Wuytens, 4444 Brandt, Brawley, CA 92227.

28/2/22 Opperman Motorcart Q. See the photos of
an Opperman Motor-cart made in Boreham Wood, Herts, England. It has
a single cylinder J. A. P. engine made in London. I would like to
know what it was used for and how many were built. Any information
would be more than I have now. Danne Moore, HCR 71, Box 163,
Windsor, VT 05089.

28/2/23 Meadows Grist Mill Q. Can anyone advise
where to find a color photo of a Meadows grist mill? I believe
these were sold by IHC dealers. I need this information so as to
get mine painted the right colors. Wayne Haley, RR 2, Box 127,
Dwight, IL 60420.

28/2/24 Colors Needed Q. I’m searching for
the correct color scheme for some IHC equipment; the No. 102
planter and the IHC No. 9 mower. Any information will be
appreciated. Roy Howard, PO Box 689, Linn Creek, MO 65052.

A. GEM reprinted the IHC Catalog No. 20,
including the color illustrations, but not of the specific items
you mention. This will be a great help to those wishing to restore
various IHC machinery of that general vintage. This title is nearly
out of print, but a few copies are still available.


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