Having attended or participated in a great many shows over the
past twenty-five years, the Reflector is well aware of the sheer
boredom in answering spectator questions like, ‘What is
it?’ or ‘What did they use it for?’ These questions and
others of a similar nature come up almost constantly. For those of
us so fortunate as to be completely familiar with the evolution of
engines and tractors, these questions seem silly and ludicrous.
After all, we think, how could anyone NOT know what these engines
were used for!
Perhaps the difficulty lies in part with what the Reflector
perceives as a faulty introduction of the internal combustion
engine to our youngsters. We haven’t done a great amount of
checking on this, but our initial reaction is that virtually
nothing is taught in our schools nowadays about when or how the
internal combustion engine was developed-not even the most basic
and fundamental concepts. Curiously however, students generally
learn some rudimentary things about the development of the sewing
machine, the cotton gin, or the electric light bulb. To our
estimation, the internal combustion engine should be at least on a
par with the above items.
Given this general lack of knowledge about the development of
internal combustion engines, it should not be at all surprising
then that a great many people ask the question, ‘What does it
do?’. Having virtually no knowledge of what these huge engines
are all about, the neophyte is often bewildered by the gigantic
flywheels, or the huffing and chuffing noises, followed by an
occasional bang. For the Reflector, answering questions that seem
so simple that they should never be asked often is a trying
experience, especially at a show that runs for several consecutive
days. Perhaps the old adage of patience being a virtue applies
here. If no one else educates our younger generation on even the
basic points of vintage engines, who will take up the hobby?
Answering some questions now, and trying to motivate others to join
our hobby will help perpetuate a rich historical legacy.
23/6/1 Q. Can anyone identify the engine in
this photo? It has a 31/25 inch bore and
stroke. It appears to have been painted blue. All part numbers have
a ‘G’ prefix. Bill Vawter, RR I, Box 78, Louisa, Virginia,
23093.
A. We looked at quite a few different engines,
including the Sun-Power, but so far we cannot identify your
engine.
23/6/2 Q. Gary Pegelow, SI W25765 North-view
Road, Waukesha, Wisconsin, 53186, sends along an article in the
March 10, 1988 issue of Machine Design. This article, entitled
‘Bad Bolts Are Still Flooding the Country,’ begins by
stating, ‘The editorial in our November I2 issue was a cry of
alarm over the fact that counterfeit Grade 8 bolts have infiltrated
the supply pipeline in the United States. The problem is serious
when an engineer is designing for rigorous service involving high
stress or high temperature.’
A. The Reflector and, we hope, every GEM
reader, will appreciate Mr. Pegelow’s letter. We caution our
readers to be very careful in this regard, especially when
replacing connecting rod bolts or other fasteners that demand the
ultimate in strength and reliability. For several years now, the
Reflector has used Grade 8 bolts purchased exclusively from a local
Caterpillar tractor dealer. We’re not necessarily plugging
Caterpillar, but in our case, that’s one way of getting Grade 8
bolts we can rely on. We are sure that they are also available from
numerous other stores and suppliers around the country.
23/6/3 Q. I have a Fairbanks-Morse 2 HP
‘Z’ engine with solid ‘dishpan’ flywheels. The
nameplate reads that it is a ‘Ransome Special.’ Can anyone
advise the reason for this, also the proper shade of red for these
engines? Felix B. Milligan, HCR 63, Box 27, Witter, Arizona,
72776.
A. We can’t tell you a thing about the
Ransome Special engine.
23/6/4 Q. What is the difference between the
Ford Model A and the Model AA1 Also the Model T and the Model TT1
C.W. Nunley, 29I2 I0th St. NW, Canton, Ohio, 44708.
A. The Model A was the car, and the AA was a l
‘ton truck. Likewise, the Model T was an automobile, and the T
T was a 1-ton truck. Mixed into all this came the Model B of 1932.
It featured a fuel pump and rear-mounted gasoline tank, compared to
the front-mounted tank of the Model A. The Model B used a heavier
crankshaft than the Model A also. After 1932 the Model B vehicles
could be retrofitted with the new Ford V-8 engine.
23/6/5 Q. Recently we bought what looked like a
John Deere i1/2 HP Type ‘E’ engine. After cleaning it up,
the nameplate reads, ‘Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company,
Waterloo, Iowa.’ Can you explain this? Bob W. Bishop, III0
Lilac Court, Hastings, Minnesota, 55033.
A. Deere & Company bought Waterloo Gasoline
Engine Company in 1918. Apparently Deere continued to operate the
firm under the latter name for several years, even though they
owned it outright. Quite possibly the reasons for this might have
been buried in now obscure legalities. Eventually then, the
Waterloo operation became known as John Deere Waterloo Tractor
Works.
23/6/6 Q. Can you tell me what a Farmall B N
tractor is? No one in our area has heard of one. Alan E. Gehrke,
Box 175, Willow Lake, South Dakota, 57278.
A. Having compiled a history of International
Harvester some years ago, we were confident of finding a quick
answer, but this was not the case. We presume however that it was a
narrow-tread version.
23/6/7 Q.I need some
information on a Weber Oil engine with the following nameplate
information:
Weber 2-cycle Oil Engine, Type AB-13′ x 14′, #240. Mfg.
K.C. Mo.
This engine ran on natural gas and pumped oil at Russell,
Kansas. What was the year built, what was the original color, and
does anyone know the scheme for the air starting mechanism? James
R. Taylor, i3O5-2ndSt.,Friend,Nebraska, 68359.
23/6/8 Q. Would like to find information on a
Silver King tractor s/n 3405-year built, color scheme, owner’s
manuals, etc. Also, many thanks to those who helped me with a
previous question on Avery ‘A’ tractors. Richard Golden,
RRI, Armington, Illinois 61721.
23/6/9 Q. Ray Jurgensmier, Rt 1, N10759, Hyway
151, Malone, Wisconsin, 53049, would like to hear from anyone with
manuals or information on an IHC LBA engine, s/n 82610.
23/6/10 Q. Can anyone supply the year built for
a Minneapolis-Moline UTU tractor, s/n 0114900220; also the proper
color scheme? Aubrey Brewer, 7802 N. Kill-buck Road, Monroe Center,
Illinois, 61052.
A. According to our records this tractor was
built in 1955. We do not have the matching colors for these
tractors. Also, we have had numerous inquiries on late model M-M
tractor decals, but so far have not found anyone reproducing same.
Send any information in this regard to the Reflections column.
23/6/11 Q. What is the year built and proper
color for a Fairbanks-Morse ‘Z’ engine, s/n 3I30I4? Melvin
Joenks, RR, Greenville, lowa, 51343.
A. Your engine was built in 1918. The finish is
dark green, comparable to DuPont Dulux 93-72001.
23/6/12 Q. Can anyone tell me the age and
correct color of a I1/2 HP Alamo engine? Also, I’m wondering
why the belt pulley is mounted inside of the flywheel. Steve Boos,
P.O. Box 12023, Staten Island, New York, 10312-0006.
A. We don’t know of anyone with information
that would enable dating an Alamo engine from the serial number,
neither do we have the matching color listed for refinishing these
engines. Perhaps some of our readers will oblige. Chances are that
the pulley was moved to the inside of the flywheel to get proper
belt alignment in a situation where space was very limited. It
would really make little or no difference so far as overall life of
the engine, or its running qualities are concerned.
23/6/13 Q. Milan Hochstetler, Rt 3, Box 233,
Cumberland, Virginia, 23040 would like to hear from anyone with
information on a Maynard engine. He has one of these, No. W3597
built by Charles Williams Stores Inc., and needs to know the
original color, as well as the scheme for the ignition system.
23/6/14 Q. (1) Is there a way to know the
difference between Middleditch, Bessemer, and Detroit 2-cycle
engines, has 999 stamped on flywheels.
(2) What is the story on Wonder engines? Surely made
at Waterloo, lowa. Look like Faultless. Have dry heads and
Lunkenheimer mixers.
(3) Is there a serial number listing for Associated
engines?
Harold Probasco, Utah Antique Machinery Association, Huntsville,
Utah, 84317.
A.. As noted on page 303 of American Gas
Engines, the Middleditch engines began with a machine shop owned by
Benjamin Middleditch. In 1913 Bessemer Gas Engine Company bought
out Middleditch, as noted on pages 55 and 56 of the above title.
Despite some similarities of design, we believe that Detroit Engine
Works referred to on page 131 of the above title was a completely
independent operation.
There were lots of ‘Wonder’ engines from Construction
Machinery Corporation at Waterloo, Iowa. This company was a major
builder of cement mixers and, especially in Iowa, one can find
Fuller &. Johnson, Novo, and various other engines with the
‘Wonder’ nameplate. However, CMC did not build engines for
their mixers! The engines were bought on contract, usually from
whoever had the best price. That’s why so many different engine
makes appeared on their mixers. The Reflector vividly remembers a
Stover CT engine on the cement mixer of a local contractor.
Although it had the ‘Wonder’ nameplate, it was nevertheless
a Stover. We reiterate-CMC did not build engines!
There is no serial number listing remaining on Associated.
Various individuals, including the Reflector, have spent countless
hours in this regard and, quite simply, all the records were
destroyed years ago.
23/6/15 Q. See enclosed photo of my Associated
engine. Would like to know year built, proper colors, and probable
use for the engine. Any information will be appreciated. David
Bostrom, RR 3, Box I34, Valley City, North Dakota, 58072.
A.. The Associated Colt was rated at
3/4 horsepower, making it a likely candidate
to run a washing machine or some similar light duty. The Colt was
first issued in the 1920’s and was, compared to the standard
Associated models, a complete and total failure. Many of the
engines were returned to the manufacturer and remained in a
warehouse at Independence, Iowa for a number of years, finally
being scrapped. We don’t have the exact color scheme for these
engines.
23/6/16 Q. I bought a circa 1938 International
Harvester engine with a Fairbanks-Morse pump attached. The engine
runs fine but the pump is in bad shape. 1 also have a 7 HP engine
with the following nameplate: LAFONDERIE DE PLESSISVILLE,
PLESSISVILLE P. O., CANADA. Moteur No. 2010, RPM 450. Any
information will be appreciated (see photos). John F. Hanlon, P.O.
Box 88, Amherst, New Hampshire, 0303I
A. Chances are that repairs for the pump will
have to be made by building up worn parts or making new parts from
shop stock. So far as we know, no repairs can be secured, except
perhaps from an identical pump of the same vintage. Chances are,
however, that the same parts will be worn out on both pumps. Our
files are virtually bare on the Plessisville engines.
23/6/17 Q. Can you tell me who made the Planet
Jr. garden tractor and if they are still in business? Are any
decals available for these tractors, and is there a color match to
the original? Any information will be appreciated. Burl H. Gillum,
6637 Pendleton Dr. N.W., Roanoke, Virginia, 240I9.
A. S. L. Allen & Company, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania built the Planet Junior garden tractors. In fact, this
old-time firm began building hand or horsepowered cultivators in
the nineteenth century. As to proper colors we can’t tell you,
nor have we determined whether the company is still in business.
We’ve never heard of anyone with Planet Jr. decals.
23/6/18 Q. Can anyone help in identifying the
engine in the photo? The number T-4 is cast into the water jacket,
T-I0 in the head, T-3 in the base, and T-2 in the flywheels. Also,
our thanks for those who helped us identify the 40-70 Flour City,
and a big thanks and greetings to Mr. Kinnard! Jim Luper, I00I
Grant St., Traverse City, Michigan, 49684.
23/6/19 Q.Bud Motry, 20201 Arthur Road, Big
Rapids, Michigan 49307, writes:
I would like to express my compliments to Mr. Wendel for his
comments in ‘An Opening Word’ in the April, 1988 issue of
GEM. The article on ‘care, courtesy, and common sense’ at
engine shows is very timely and to me makes the difference between
a good show and a mediocre one. We have approximately 25 shows in
Michigan, and we find both kinds.
Keep up the good work in your ‘Reflections’ section of
the magazine. It is the first section I read.
A.. Thanks Bud! For someone who never really
wanted a vocation other than writing of the development of steam
and gas power, an occasional letter like this makes our efforts
worthwhile!
23/6/20 Q. William Miller, 3158 Golden Lake
Road, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066 writes that he has a 21/2 HP
engine, possibly built by Sharpies Separator Co., West Chester, PA.
He needs the proper color, striping, etc., to restore it. Striping
information is also needed for a Waterloo Boy engine. Any
information will be greatly appreciated.
23/6/21 Q. As a former Iowan, I worked for
William Galloway Company in Waterloo during 1937 as a young design
engineer. I’m now retired and have become an avid woodworker,
with my wooden model of a Galloway 5 HP model in the photograph
below. These models are entirely of wood, including the nuts,
bolts, cotter keys, and springs! (I do not sell these models). John
O. Freeborn, 62 Possum Dr. N., New Fairfield,, Connecticut,
06812.
23/6/22 Q. Can you give me the proper green
color for a 1927 Oil Pull tractor? Mine was not gray like some of
the later ones. Clarence Burmeister, 3131 C.R. 128, Lind-sey, Ohio
43442.
A. We can’t give you an exact color
match-we once thought we could, but have learned that the color
varied substantially during the years. Some old-time Rumely
employees told us that especially in the last years, the company
with the low bid is who sold them the paint-an exact color match
wasn’t the major factor in the decision. Hopefully, we’ll
get some input from our readers that might be able to establish
some parameters we can all use.
23/6/23 Q. Fred Kurtz, Rt 2, Box 276, River
Falls, Wisconsin, 54022 would like to hear from anyone with
information on a Standard garden tractor built in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
23/6/24 Q. I recently acquired an Ideal engine
as pictured on page 60 of American Gas Engines, and would like to
hear from anyone with information on engine color, striping, and
the like. Bill Arnold, Route I, Box 62, Petersburg, Indiana,
47567.
23/6/25 Q. A suggestion for those who might be
considering writing an article for GEM with photographs; especially
the photographs! Cameras see all the detail in the direction we aim
them. We humans tend to concentrate on the object we are shooting
and sometimes do not see a horrendous pile of junk in the
background, or some other distracting, non-related activity,
shadows, and so on. My point is this: if you are going to
considerable effort to do a story about your favorite
Fizzen-popper, go the extra step and really look at the composition
of the picture you are taking.
Make that photo an excellent one to complement your nice work.
In my opinion, there are some excellent examples in the March GEM.
The excellent detail in the photos on page 27 and the top photo on
page 19, to cite some. Conversely, the padlock on the door behind
the cover picture engine might have been laid aside for the photo,
the camera angle for the photo on page 22 might have been a little
different so as not to catch the grandstand bleachers behind the
threshing scene, and why not take a minute to close the door behind
the advertising photo on page 63 so the engine would not be
standing in front of a ‘black hole’.
Please folks-I’m suggesting-not nit-pick in’ your
photos! Photos add so much to a story, and keep ’em coming with
the stories. But if you don’t allow the oil cans and rags
around the engine, or old truck tires piled up behind the tractor,
your pictures will be a lot better and will show the work you did
in your restoration. M. G. Harr, 6818 S. Elizabeth St., Littleton,
Colorado, 80I22.
A. We couldn’t agree more-it’s really
too bad that sometimes a very nice engine is poorly presented in
GEM, but after all, we can’t make a silk purse out of a
sow’s ear, to quote the old adage, and we can’t make a good
photo out of a bad one. We might add that it is wise to shoot
several different views in order to have something from which to
choose. Professional photographers often shoot several rolls of
film just to get a single picture! We don’t advocate anything
that drastic, but anything above that single photo is to your
advantage. In this connection, we congratulate the people at GEM on
their ability to get a printable image from photos that sometimes
are horribly poor. To sum it up folks-we believe Mr. Harr presents
some good ideas toward getting better photos in GEM.
23/6/26 Q.. I have a Stover 4HP engine, s/n
41766. The ignitor system has been replaced with a spark plug and a
Bosch sprocket-drive magneto has been added to the engine. Was the
Bosch magneto offered as an add-on kit by Stover? Would like to
correspond with anyone having a similar engine. Glenn Burroughs,
317 Hunting Lane, Goode, Virginia 24556
A .. Possibly the Bosch changeover kit might
have been available, through Stover, but we think it more likely
that any independent Bosch magneto shop might have had this unit
available. In fact, it was probably available with only slight
modifications, for a great many different engines. We have not
however, come across any specific information regarding these
retrofit kits.
23/6/27 Q.. Can anyone identify the magneto in
the photo? It was on a Fuller & Johnson engine used on a I923
Cold well self-propelled lawn mower. Any information will be
appreciated. Lawrence J. Salber, PO Box 5, Petersburg, Nebraska
68652.
A .The magneto is a Dixie, and since these are
rather plentiful, finding the necessary parts to put it in working
order should not be too difficult.
23/6/28 Q.. What are the proper colors for an
Empire 31/2 HP cream separator engine? Marc Couturier, 25 Markar
St., Nashua, New Hampshire, 03060.
23/6/29 Q.. We need information, color scheme,
ignition system data, etc. on a CASCO marine engine by
Smith-Langmaid. Any help or information will be appreciated. Gordon
E. Hopper, 75 Kendall Ave., Framingham, Massachusetts, 0I70I.
23/6/30 Q. I’m interested in trying to
develop a presentation on the progress of power, animal and
mechanical, which could be given to Civic Clubs and other groups.
In doing this 1 need some slides that would show horse and oxen
applications, steam engines, portable and traction, and some early
internal combustion engines. Hopefully, some of your readers might
have slides that would help with this project. 1 would certainly
like to correspond with anyone who would have quality slides of
this type. Perhaps someone has already developed a program like
this and would share some information. David Hon-barger, jr., Rt 7,
Box 287D, Salisbury, North Carolina, 28I44.
23/6/31 Q.. Would like to hear from someone
with information on the Rock Island engines. Joe Bodnar, 306
Barron, Petal, Mississippi, 39465.
A . DuPont Dulux 93-24590 brown is a comparable
color match.