This issue, we’d like to address a comment from one of our
readers. Some time ago Motor books published a title called,
American Tractor Trademarks, which has our name on the front cover.
Recently, Stemgas published our latest title, Gas Engine
Trademarks. Regarding the latter title, our reader writes, in part,
‘I will not order that book till I see it… I mistrust that
Wendel’s books.’ The problem appears to be that the
American Tractor Trademarks came out with a different front cover
than was depicted in the advertising, along with other changes made
by the publisher.
First of all, we agree that the cover design was changed. We
agree that the size format, and the number of pages in the book was
changed. What you may not know is that the inside of the book is
totally unlike what this writer envisioned. What you also may not
know is that once we sent the final copy to the publisher, we had
no idea of what it would look like prior to being published.
We’ll even agree that what we think should have been a most
interesting book in our opinion, ended up as something entirely
different than our vision of it. For example, the book, Gas Engine
Trademarks shows the entire trademark application; this shows when
the mark was filed, and in most cases, shows when a company first
used a certain trademark or trade name. That’s important in
historical research. However, the folks who edited and/or assembled
American Tractor Trademarks included only the date that the mark
was filed, and that might have been twenty years after the mark was
first used. Thus, the real historical significance of a mark is, in
our opinion, completely lost.
Subsequently, Motor books has published our American Automobile
Trademarks, and this title includes the pertinent information
within the book, although it does not include the complete
application as is shown in the book, Gas Engine Trademarks. The
latter title also includes three different indexes. One of them is
by company, so that one can look up Associated Manufacturers, for
instance, and see all the different trade-names they used. The
second index is by trade names, so that one can look up all the
different companies that might have used the trade name of Bull
Dog, for instance. The third index is unique, in that it is set on
state and city; it gives one the chance to look up all the
companies in Buffalo, New York for example.
With 1996, it’s 25 years since our first book, Power in the
Past: A History of Engine & Tractor Builders in Iowa was
published. Since that time we’ve published over 25 books, or an
average of about one book per year. Sooner or later I suppose,
there was bound to be a disaster, and in our opinion, it happened
with the book we’ve been talking about. On the redeeming side
of things, Roger Welsch, in his new book, Old Tractors and the Men
Who Love Them, comments regarding our book, Nebraska Tractor Tests
Since 1920, ‘… a beautiful book that I never tire of thumbing
through.’ Also to our credit, every title we’ve published
over the past twenty-five years is still in print, except for those
that have been replaced with a larger or expanded title on the same
subject.
For anyone disappointed with American Tractor Trademarks, join
the club. We put our reputation on every book that has our name on
the front cover, and we’re not too happy with it either; all we
ask is that you don’t throw out the baby with the bath
water!
Our first query for the new year of 1996 comes from:
31/1/1 Leader Engine Q. We have a Leader 2 HP
engine from Field Force Pump Company, Elmira, New York. Any
information on this engine would be greatly appreciated, especially
since this is our first engine. Jonathan S. Jennings, 4600 Butte
Road, Richmond, VA 23235.
A. Would some of our readers be of assistance
to this new collector?
31/1/2 Unidentified Engine Q. See the two
photos of a very unusual engine. It is 29 inches high, 12-inch
flywheels, and has a 2 x 5 inch bore and stroke. There are no
markings or casting numbers. Any information on this engine would
be appreciated. Gary Shonk, 9709 Sarracenia Rd., Pascagoula, MS
39581.
A. Your engine has great similarity to the
‘Franklin’ vertical. The latter was offered as castings
from Parsell & Weed and/or the Franklin Model Shop, both of New
York City. Perhaps other readers might have additional
information.
31/1/3 Christensen Engine Q. I am working on a
7 HP Christensen, s/n 3374, and would like to know when it was
built, along with the proper color scheme. Also, see the sketch of
the carburetor; I have talked to several collectors, and no one
seems to know the purpose of the hand valve which bypasses air to
the mixer. Any information will be appreciated. Larry Harding, 1516
Hebron Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28739.
A. We’ve got Ditzler 40496 Green listed,
also DuPont GS911 or GS912 Green would be pretty close we believe.
The trucks are red, similar to DuPont RS913 or RS914. The striping
is bright yellow; DuPont YS902 would be about right. We don’t
know the purpose of the bypass. Look on page 99 of American Gas
Engines for a pretty good idea of the striping scheme.
31/1/4 Clark Engine Co. Q. I have an outboard
motor about 21 inches long, and weighing about 20 pounds. It is all
buffed aluminum except for the brass prop. It appears that the
motor is below water level; the coil and gas tank ate above. It was
made by Clark (Troller) Engine Company, Detroit, Michigan, and
appears to be about to HP. To start, you tip the motor up out of
the water and wrap a pull rope around the front of the prop. Any
information on this motor would be appreciated. Wayne Nettekoven,
10422 Aqua Way South, Seattle, WA 98168.
A. Can anyone be of help on this one?
31/1/5 Nelson Bros, and Royal Q. Can you tell
me when the following engines were built?
Jumbo Model C, 3 HP, s/n 11757, Nelson Bros.
Monarch Model CA, 3 HP, s/n 3663, Royal Engine Co.
Also, are there any decals available for these engines? Ronald
H. Winship Jr. ,115 River Rd., Windham, Maine 04062.
A. To our knowledge there are no serial number
records for either of the above engines, nor do we know of any
available decals either.
31/1/6 Information Needed Q. I am seeking
information regarding the restoration of the following three
engines:
Olds 1 HP, s/n 300, open crank vertical, as illustrated on page
355 of American Gas Engines.
Ohio 4 HP, s/n 2214, as illustrated on page 353 of American Gas
Engines.
Hercules, made in San Francisco, about 3 or 4 HP horizontal as
illustrated on page 228 of American Gas Engines. I need photos and
dimensions of open flyball governor system for this engine, also
original color and year of manufacture.
There are to my knowledge no other Olds or Ohio engines in
Australia. I do believe there are a couple of Hercules horizontals
and a couple of open crank verticals.
Any information would be appreciated. Dr. A. Barlow, PO Box 10,
Kingswood 2247, NSW, Australia.
A. Can anyone be of help to Dr. Barlow?
31/1/7 Ideal Engines Q. First of all I would
like to thank everyone that responded to my article in the
September 1995 GEM about the Gas Engine Builders at Eau Claire,
Wisconsin. I found several Casey Jones engines, North-westerns,
Western Kings, and Kellers. I have not heard about any Sorg
engines, and would like to find more Northwesterns and Western
Kings.
See the photos of a vintage lawn mower. The engine is a Model S
Ideal, and the cylinder has a number of CS 24. It looks fairly
complete and is about 1 horsepower with a 25-inch cut. Someone had
redone the magneto from a twin-cylinder Indian motorcycle. I
don’t find any reference to this engine in American Gas
Engines, so I would like to find out more about it. Any information
would be greatly appreciated. Randy Ackley, 21321 County Road X,
Cadott, WI 54727.
31/1/8 Joy Engines I recently went to the
engine show at Edaville, Massachusetts, and saw a New-Way Little
Giant 1 HP, also distributed by Stephen B. Church at Boston,
Massachusetts, and Seymour, Connecticut. It is painted in script in
original condition. This engine was made around 1912-16.
I also have a Joy engine of 3 HP hopper cooled, open crank
design of about the same period. It is missing the ignition. The
spark plug is in the head. I would like to correspond with someone
that has one of these engines or a picture of the ignitor or parts.
William G. Stone, 383 S Main St., Cohasset, MA 02025.
31/1/9 Old Garden Tractor Q. See the photos of
an old garden tractor with a ZZPBR Briggs & Stratton engine. It
has 16-inch rear wheels and 12-inch front wheels. The engine is 6
HP. I would love to hear from someone that knows the name of this
tractor. George W. Manning, 2401 Brinkwood Drive, Richmond, VA
23224-4604.
31/1/10 Unidentified Engine Q. See the photos
of an engine I just bought. I thought maybe it was a
Fairbanks-Morse but some tell me it isn’t. It is a hit-and-miss
and has a Schebler carburetor. Is this original? There is a spark
plug in the ignitor plate and one in a well in the head. Any
information would be appreciated.
I also have a Sieverkropp horizontal which needs a spark plug.
It might be a 10mm, but the porcelain is broken off, so I can’t
get any information on it. I also would like an idea of what the
original muffler looked like. Any information will be appreciated.
Max Brown, Box 46, Rockhill Furnace, PA 17249.
A. Particularly in photo 10B, note the governor
built into the cam gear. Also compare your engine with the Type T
F-M engines on page 58 of the book, Fairbanks-Morse 1893-1993.
31/1/11 Unidentified Tool Q. See the photo of a
tool I picked up in an antique shop. Can anyone tell what this tool
might be? Someone, please help. Harry Butler, PO Box 2010, Chino
Valley, AZ 86323.
31/l/12 Frick Portable Steamer Nick Kuz, PO Box
29, Hadashville, Manitoba ROE 0X0 is looking for information on a
Frick portable steamer between 20 and 50 horsepower. If you can be
of help, please do so.
31/1/13 Delco Diagram Thanks to John Lembke,
Box 96, Curlew, WA 99118 for sending along a wiring diagram for a
Delco light plant. It is from a plant with the motor number of
307757. Perhaps this might be of help to some of our readers.
31/1/14 Information Needed Q. When were the
following engines built?: Hercules 5E HP, s/n 282002 Fuller &
Johnson, 1 HP, s/n 98232 Fairbanks-Morse, s/n 468004. Warren Vittum
Jr., 493 Glendale Dr., Carthage, NC 28327.
A. The Hercules is 1923; the F & J is 1925;
and the F-M is 1920.
31/1/15 American Bosch Magneto Q. I have an
American Bosch oscillating high tension magneto; see the photo. It
is a Type 22 with a single vertical inductor spring at the top. It
is secured to a bracket with no markings. The bolt holes in the
bracket are on 3 inch centers. One of the round brass levers has a
patent date of 1913. I would sure like to know the year, make, and
size of engine this apparatus is off of. Any help will be
appreciated. Stephen M. Porter, 116 Main St., Hant-sport, NS BOP
1P0 Canada.
31/1/16 Case Model RI Tractor Q. I recently
acquired a Case RI tractor, and so far I can’t find any
information on it. Since I’ve noticed some differences between
the Model R and the Model RI, I’d like to find more
information. The RI has a single brake pedal that works both
brakes, and it has a foot-operated clutch. Were fenders optional
for this tractor? When did production begin and end? I surely would
like to correspond with anyone having any information on the Model
RI tractor. Mac Macomber, 510 Plain Hill Rd., Norwich, CT
06360.
31/1/17 Information Needed Q. See the photos of
two engines I recently acquired. Further information would be
appreciated. They are:
Stover 6 HP, s/n RX98339 Witte Dieselectric, 12 HP, s/n D9458
Dusty M. Erickson, PO Box 55591, Phoenix, AZ 85078.
A. The Stover is from 1917. It is red,
comparable to DuPont RS631. The Witte Diesel was built in 1944. The
gray finish varies, some folks use PPG 33296 Embassy Gray, others
use PPG 32711 Gray. In DuPont, DS201 Gray is comparable. The finish
varied from time to time, depending on the paint supplier.
31/1/18 Cray Engines
Paul Scholle, 607 N Buckeye, Osgood, TN 47037 has lots of
information on Cray engines, and is willing to help anyone with
information. Paul will also be publishing a book on Delco light
plants. (Please, when asking for information and photocopies,
kindly send along a little stipend to the folks supplying the
information. Editors).
31/1/19 Witte Engine Q. I recently purchased a
Witte 3 HP engine, s/n 94055K. It appears that the original paint
was black. Also when was it built? Any help will be appreciated.
Mike Potter, 9307 W 8 1st Terr., Overland Park, KS 66204-3211.
A. Your engine was built in 1934. So far as we
know, these engines were close to Ditzler 40952 Forest Green or
DuPont 5204 Forest Green. Some may have been DuPont 99 Black.
31/1/20 Winner Wonder Q. First of all, I’ve
had about 100 calls and letters concerning my offer to assist other
Cushman collectors.
I recently acquired a few parts for an engine called Winner
Wonder.’ It was made by Cushman Mfg. Co., St. Joseph, Mo., and
is 4 HP, s/n 1258. It is virtually identical to a 4 HP Cushman
binder engine. It has a Schebler carburetor and the battery/coil
box is identical to that used on the Model C.
Does anyone have any information on the Cushman Mfg. Co. in St.
Joseph, Missouri, or the Winner Wonder engine? Clearly there is
some connection between Cushman at Lincoln and this firm. Any help
will be appreciated. Jim. L. Brown, 7309 Baldwin Ave., Lincoln, NE
68507.
A. Although we can’t recall for sure, it
seems that once we ran across a blurb that some of the Cushman
family started up shop again after leaving the company at Lincoln.
We think this was in the early 1930s. Perhaps someone in the St.
Joseph area would check city directories, etc. to see who, what,
and when took place.
31/1/21 F-M Engines Q. I have a Fairbanks-Morse
15 HP Type Z engine, s/n 224998. Can you tell me when it was made,
and how many were model Tony von Isser, 6680 N. Alvernon, Tucson,
AZ 85718.
A. Your engine was made in 1918. There’s no
way to know how many were built.
31/1/22 General and Case Q. Wilbur A. Haver, RR
3, Box 94, Dillwyn, VA 23936 needs information on the following two
tractors: General Model GG tractor, s/n 1FA6352 (Cleveland Tractor
Company); Case Model SC, s/n 5326601.
A. Your General was the first one built in
1942; the Case is a 1949 model. Can anyone supply additional
information?
31/1/23 Simplicity Tractor Q. I have a
Simplicity garden tractor, mfg. #990189, and s/n 4540. I think it
is about a 1955 model. I got a sickle mower for it, and wonder if
anyone has a parts book for it; also a manual for the tractor.
Lenord Klimek, POB 222, Aurora, MN 55705.
31/1/24 Sears Garden Tractor Q. I am restoring
a garden tractor and need to know what color it is, along with any
other information I can find. The tag on the transaxle reads: Model
9175165, s/n 2234, Sears Roebuck. The engine is a Briggs Model 23,
Type 205024, s/n 156705. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Richard Baldwin, 1610 York Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013.
31/1/25 F-M Engine Q. See the photo of a
Fairbanks-Morse engine, 1 HP, and s/n 385236. The magneto was
mounted by the igniter, which was missing. I am told that this
engine was made from 1917-19 with a Model 14 low tension Plug
Oscillator. I would appreciate any further information on this
engine from anyone out there. Melvin W. Smith, 23941 Strange Creek
Dr., Diamond Bar, CA91765.
Readers Write
30/10/4 F-M/Onan Engines
Scott Fraser, 4047 Thomas St., Oceanside, CA 92056 writes that
he has an instruction book for the Onan (Model COM-1B) engine that
was also sold by Fairbanks-Morse. (If you need this information
from Scott, kindly enclose an adequate copying and postage
fee).
31/1/26 Powell Lever Engine Q. A year ago I
acquired a rare Powell Lever engine, two-cylinder diesel. 26A shows
the principle lever design, and 26B shows a cutaway of a gasoline
lever engine. 26C and 26D show the two-cylinder diesel made in the
late 1940s or early 1950s. Has anyone heard of this engine or any
others of the Powell Lever design? I would like to hear from
them.
I also would like to correspond with anyone having information
on the Galloway 2 HP engine with the Webster magneto, as shown on
page 198 of American Gas Engines. George N. Whiston Jr., 508 N.
Range Street, Oblong, IL 62449.
Free Wheeling. Powell-Lever Engine
This is a drawing of one of the later Lever engines, intended
for automotive use, showing clearly the lever action in place.
A Closing Word
As we get the opportunity, we’ll be converting as many of
our paint numbers as possible to DuPont or PPG numbers, their new
numbers, that is. We have one of those (very expensive) DuPont
Spectra Master books that covers virtually the entire spectrum. By
using these new numbers, hopefully our readers will be able to go
into a DuPont or PPG dealer and get exactly what they want. Of
course, one must understand that keeping colors to shade is very,
very difficult. Even with today’s advances in chemistry, the
label on the can advises that if you have two or three gallons of
finish, that you mix the three of them together before you even
begin to paint. That way, the entire batch will be of exactly the
same shade.
We’ve cautioned you before, and we’ll do it again. . .
don’t even think of using these materials without an approved
respirator. Those gauze dust masks might strain out the larger
chunks of pigments, but they won’t keep the nasty vapors out of
your lungs. The clear acrylics in particular contain isocyanates.
This stuff might not eat up your lungs this week, but they’ll
do their damage, and you can’t replace damaged lungs (well, not
very easily anyway). Personally, I don’t want this stuff in my
lungs, in my hair, or on my skin, so when I’m about to paint, I
probably look like something out of a Skid Row dumpster or from
outer space, take your pick.
Also see a reproduction of the Alamo letterhead of the 1920s. In
this issue, there’s also an advertisement for the Reform
engines from Germany. Unfortunately, we do not have the name or
address of the manufacturer. All we know is that this engine was in
production by 1927 or perhaps earlier. Note the most unusual
placement of the valves in the cylinder head.
Since this issue will be in your hands during mid-December, we
wish you the very best for the Holiday Season. May your engines run
all day without stopping at a show, and may they start the first
turn of the crank when you want to show them off to a visitor. May
you also have a Happy New Year!
The purpose of the Reflections column is to provide a forum for
the exchange of all useful information among subscribers to GEM.
Inquiries or responses should be addressed to: REFLECTIONS, Gas
Engine Magazine, P.O. Box 328, Lancaster, PA 17608-0328.
