28/5/9 Good Roads Crusher Q. See the Good Roads
Jaw Crusher and Screening Unit in the photos. I would appreciate
any information on the company, originally located at Kennett
Square, Pennsylvania. Also, I would like to find any information,
sketches, or anything that would be of help in restoring this
unit.Gary Tetz, Crystal Run Road, Middletown, NY
10940.
A. Yours is an ambitious project! However, we
would guess that there are very few small jaw crushers left,
complete with the original screening plant. So regardless of the
present condition of this unit, we would think it to be a
worthwhile restoration. However, we’ve never accumulated any
information on the Good Roads Machinery Company, even though this
firm was well known in its field. Have any of our readers acquired
any material that might be of help?
28/5/10 American Boy Engine Q. Last October I
bought a 5 HP American Boy engine. It was originally sold by
Colbert Machinery Co., St. Joseph, Missouri. Can anyone tell me the
correct color for this engine? I would also like to hear from
anyone with one of these engines, who could give me the correct
dimensions for the gas tank. Any help will be appreciated.W.
Dale Rice, PO Box 94, Opolis, KS 66760.
A. We referred to the American Boy engines on
page 102 of American Gas Engines, but since that time we have found
no further information regarding this company.
28/5/11 John Lauson Engine Q. I’m restoring
a 2 HP Lauson engine by the John Lauson Mfg. Company. Can anyone
tell me the correct paint color; was it the same color as the
DeLaval?L. Allomong, 54 N. Locust Ave., Agoura, CA
91301.
A. We have DuPont 24166 Brewster Green listed
for the Alpha engines made by Lauson for DeLaval. However, no one
has sent us the correct color for the Lauson. Could someone let us,
and Mr. Allomong, in oh this information?
28/5/12 Casey Jones Q. See the photos of a 4 HP
Casey Jones engine made by Northwestern Motor Company at Eau
Claire, Wisconsin. We need information on proper lubrication, the
ignition system, and the proper colors. Thanks from a couple of new
collectors!Lee Baldwin, 355 Buena Vista Ave., Arnold, MD
21012.
A. These well known railway handcar engines are
now rather uncommon. We’ve seen them from time to time, but
must confess that we didn’t take much notice of them, nor do we
have a whole lot of information . . . essentially what we have is
capsulized on page 349 of American Gas Engines.
28/5/13 Witte Engine Q. Can you help me in
regard to a Witte 1 HP engine, s/n B44301 ? I would like to know
the year, color, and how rare it is? Kenneth Mosely, Box 123,
Great Bend, NY 13643.
A. Your engine was originally sold to Pasquale
Liberato, Route 1, Freedom, Pennsylvania, on June 15, 1927. Witte
Engines recommended mixing 1 pint of Rustoleum black and 2 pints of
their Forest Green for the gas engines. This comes close to PPG
40952 Forest Green. Thousands of these engines were built . . .
they are not generally considered to be among the ‘rare’
engines.
28/5/14 Cushman Model C Q. I would like
information on a Cushman Model C engine, s/n 36558: 1) Year built;
2) Correct color; 3) Was it equipped with a magneto?; 4) Is the
float available for the carburetor?; 5) Any source of information
on this motor. Greg Pfaff, Rt 2, Box 2207, Ste. Genevieve, MO
63670.
A. There are no records to date the Cushman
engines. The color generally used is similar to DuPont 93-62713-H
Green. If a magneto was used, it was an option, and generally the
Dixie magneto was installed. A new cork float may be available from
some of the GEM advertisers, and additional printed information may
also be available from advertisers, but we don’t know from
which ones, specifically.
28/5/15 Fuller & Johnson Question Q. I have
a Fuller & Johnson, 1 HP s/n 85906. What year is this engine?
My second question is whether it was at all common for the F &
J engines to have a Split-dorf magneto installed? Ron Martin,
PO Box 621, 409 Easter Ave., Weaverville, CA 96093.
A. Questions regarding F & J engines should
be directed to Verne W. Kind-schi, S 9008B US Hwy 12, Prairie du
Sac, WI 53578. As with any other query, we again remind our readers
that if you seriously expect a response, please enclose a stamped
and self-addressed envelope! Ye olde Reflector can relate to this
subject. In 1992, we had a total postage bill of over $1,600! We
kept track of how many 29-cent stamps we bought last year, and it
came to about a third of our total postage cost, or nearly $500! So
that 29 cents doesn’t sound like much, but it really adds up.
So to all our readers, again we say, if you expect an answer, send
along an SASE!
28/5/16 Experimental Compressor Q. Can anyone
suggest a source for a reciprocating expansion engine, or plans to
build one, say 15 to 50 HP, that I can use for experimenting with
the efficient use of compressed air? Scott Robertson, Pneumatic
Options, 6333 Pacific Ave., Suite 371, Stockton, CA 95207.
28/5/17 Villiers Information Q. See the two
photos of a Villiers engine. The nameplate reads: The Villiers
Engineering Co. Ltd., Wolverhampton, England; No. 185A 6710D; Mark
12. What year was it built? Any information on this engine and also
if any parts are available, please let me know. I also need Planet
Jr. decals. Dan Eichbrecht, 2260Lk. George, Metamora, MI
48455.
28/5/18 Sheppard Tractors & EnginesThanks
to Mr. Lynn Klingamann, 6775 N. Etna Ral, Columbia City, IN 46725
for sending along extensive information about substitute repair
parts for the Sheppard engines. Lynn also tells us that the modern
replacement for the Sheppard color is Sherwin-Williams Acrylic
F79XLE0240 – 1974 or L61EQ3 Orange. If you need Sheppard
information, perhaps you might contact this person. As we said
previously, at the least, include an SASE, and if you want
photocopies, there will likely be a nominal charge. Lynn has quite
a collection of Sheppard tractors. As a youngster, ye olde
Reflector well remembers seeing those Sheppard ads in the farm
papers, but here in east central Iowa, we never saw one in the
field, although there may have been a few.
28/5/19 IHC Information Q. Could anyone please
tell me the color scheme for the No. 90 mounted plow as used on the
F-12 and F-14?
I also have a tool box measuring 9 x 21 x 3 inches with an oil
can holder. It has the old IHC logo on top. What could this be off
of? Thomas Jay Hoffman, 325 Alicia Drive, Cory, IL
60013.
A. Can anyone be of help here?
28/5/20 Gifford Engine Q. I have a 1 HP Gifford
engine as shown on page 206 of American Gas Engines. It is very
similar to the Deyo engine. I need to know the original colors, and
would like to talk to anyone who has either a Gifford or a Deyo 1
HP. I also need the colors for the Fairbanks-Morse 1 HP engine
w/dishpan flywheels. Any information will be appreciated.
Robert O. Smith Ill, 206 Chestnut St., Statington, PA
18080.
A. Can anyone be of help on the Gifford? See
above in this column, regarding the Fairbanks model in
question.
28/5/21 Cushman & Associated Questions Q. I
have a Cushman open crankcase, 2 HP engine, Type WH, Model 25, s/n
1340. Where does it fit into the Cushman line? Also, the HP
Associated air-cooled went down in history as a complete dud. What
were its problems? Andy Gortsema, Box 223, Fairfield, WA
99012.
A. In response, our first question is; does
your engine resemble the one pictured oh page 115 of American Gas
Engines? If so, then that puts it among the very early production
of the Cushman line. In fact, your s/n of 1340 puts it right at the
head of the class. By 1908 Cushman had introduced what would be
their mainstay for many years, the vertical, single-cylinder
design.
Regarding the Associated air-cooled model, it had a lot of
problems, one of which was that the company was probably in too big
a hurry to put it on the market before some thorough testing. The
magneto left a lot to be desired, and the carburetor was nothing to
write home about. Given these two major difficulties, failure was
assured. We once had a conversation with an old Associated man who
told us that, ‘Those damned engines came back faster than they
went out . . . we had a whole pile of the damned things out back
until the scrap drives started for World War Two, and finally we
got rid of ’em!’
Associated had notions of marketing an engine that would be good
competition for the Maytag, and indeed, this one was intended for
washing machines, and similar duties. With no chauvinism intended,
die hausfrau could become notoriously cranky when the engine
wouldn’t start on washday. In this respect, the competing
Maytag was the superior, even though it possessed a bit of infernal
cussedness at times. Part of the problem was in putting the washing
machine out in the summer kitchen or wash house with no heat
whatever. Come washday, it was assumed that the engine should start
right off, even though it was virtually a solid block of ice.
Dragging the washing machine into the kitchen for a warm up solved
most of the problems. One old-timer related to us that he worked
for a Maytag dealer as a young man. The engine-powered washers were
at their epitome. Especially on cold days, the phone began ringing
early with a desperate call into the Maytag repairman! The poor
little Associated didn’t have the benefit of an extensive
service network, and when it got balky, it was up to the
man-of-the-house to get it going.
28/5/22 On Making RulesIn regards to the
suggestion that unleaded fuel should be used for old gas engines
and tractors, I would just like to point out that good honest
intentions could easily become bad law.
Collecting and displaying old machinery is, for the most part,
just a hobby. One of the best things about this hobby is that it is
enjoyed by just practical people with a lot of good sense. Members
who participate at the shows are extremely careful arid insist on
safety to protect both themselves and the viewing public.
Making rules that will bring in authorities [who] are more than
willing to enforce nitpicking regulations will take away the very
pleasure of why people are involved in this hobby in the first
place.
I appreciate your not taking a stand on this issue and only hope
that this one hobby can resist interference and remain as it is.
David Milholland, 1578 Yokeko Drive, Anacortes, WA
98221.
28/5/23 Novo Questions Q. See the photos of my
Novo Model AG engine, s/n 38810. It has a 2.75 x 3.0 inch bore and
stroke, uses a Zenith carburetor, and has a 2:1 reduction on the
rear shaft. Paint traces appear to show it was painted a medium
olive green similar to New Way green.
The only information I could find on this engine was an article
in the November-December 1983 issue of GEM, page 20. It states that
these engines were made to replace the Type S engines on the farm
and the ‘AG’ stood for Agricultural Engine. The article
also states that it was manufactured ‘beginning in 1931 and
discontinued only in 19.’
My main questions are: Is this a common Novo? How long was it
made? Is there Novo serial number data? Did Novo use a different
shade of green in later years? It would be nice to hear from anyone
with information on this model. Gregg Flatt, Box 37,
Allenspark, CO 80510.
A. Some of your questions require access to
information we do not have, and indeed, much of it, including the
serial number data, is probably long gone. A surprising amount of
information still exists regarding many of our vintage engines and
tractors, but the sad fact is that much of it is irretrievably
gone. Thus, anyone researching a company often is required to piece
together the available information, and from it, clear judgements
can often be made. Beyond this, it’s often possible to make a
subjective assessment, based on the available information. GEM has
a unique role in that this column is intended to serve as a
clearinghouse for the exchange of information. Quite possibly, some
of our readers might be able to provide you with further
answers.
28/5/24 IHC Titan 15-30 Q. I am a collector of
steam engines and old agricultural tractors. I am a member of a
group of friends called GAMAE that has recently started, with a lot
of enthusiasm, to organize exhibitions of their machines.
I live in Bologna, Italy and have recently bought an old
International 15-30 Titan, that is very uncommon in Italy. I want
to restore it, but some parts are missing and I am not able to find
them. I would appreciate hearing from anyone having one of these
tractors. Franco Risi, Via Biancolina No. 4, 40017 S. Giovanni In
Persiceto, Bologna, Italy.
A. If anyone can be of help, kindly do so. Mr.
Risi also sent along a catalog of their 1992 show held at Bologna
on November 4-8. Along with numerous European tractors, we note a
Heider-Rock Island, Rumely OilPull, Minneapolis cross motor, and
others.
28/5/25 Engines & Printing PressesMr.
Edward L. Swanson, 2431 Dora Pines Rd., Mt. Dora, FL 32757, sends
along some photocopies regarding a gas engine and a printing press:
On April 17, 1924, the Pendleton County Times at Franklin, West
Virginia, was running as usual. However, the gasoline engine
running the press exploded. It set the building afire, and before
it was all over the entire business section of Franklin was in
ashes. The fire raged through four blocks of the town. Perhaps we
have additional readers who recall this great fire that was started
by a gas engine.
28/5/26 Sears Tractor Q. See the photos of a
tractor with several i.d. plates. On the differential is a plate
with Model No. 917 5154 and s/n 1108. It includes instructions for
servicing the gearbox, and the operator is directed to contact
Sears, Roebuck &Co. with parts requests. The engine carries a
Sears nameplate, and is identified as Model No. 500 304183, Series
18066, and rated at 5 HP.
It appears to be similar to a unit from Shaw Mfg. Company, Model
HY8. The rear tires of my tractor are 6.00 x 22.
As I am restoring this tractor, I would appreciate further
information about the original colors, original components, and the
like. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Robert G.
Moffett, 338 West Broad Street, Quakertown, PA 18951.
A. Can anyone be of help?
28/5/27 Empire Engine Q. I have an Empire
engine from Empire Cream Separator Co. of Canada Ltd. It is 7 HP,
and the 7 HP Alamo Blue Line appears to be identical. My questions:
In relationship to top dead center, at what degree should the
exhaust valve start to open and at what degree should, it be
completely closed? Can anyone supply me with the physical
dimensions of the throttle control? What clearance should there be
on the crank main bearings and the connecting rod bearing? What is
the correct color? What is the proper setting of the kerosene and
water needle valves? Wm. A. Marson, RR 1, Beeton, ONT LOG IAO
Canada.
A. The exhaust valve should start to open just
slightly before the end of the power stroke. It will then not close
completely until just a few degrees into the intake stroke. If the
valve timing has been disturbed, the best that can be done is to
balance these two so that the engine runs as it should. Initially
you may find that you are a tooth or two ahead or back of where you
should be. Of course, if there are any marked teeth, the
manufacturer already has taken care of the problem.
Especially on larger engines, we’ve always started setting
up bearings by unhooking the con rod and working out the mains.
It’s essentially a trial-and-error process that continues for
each bearing until there is the slightest amount of drag. Once the
mains are done, set up the con rod bearing the same way. Run the
engine a little while and see if the bearings run warm. If they are
comfortable to the hand, they’re probably alright. Loose
bearings, especially the connecting rod, pound themselves to death.
Even very large con rod bearings, say of 8 or 9 inch diameter are
usually fitted up for only 4 to 6 thousandths of clearance. We have
it that the proper color is GM Corporate Blue for the Empire. So
far as the needle settings are concerned, do as follows: After
getting the engine up on gasoline, and sufficiently warmed up,
switch over to kerosene. Set the kero needle for smooth running,
and leave the water needle closed. If the engine starts to knock or
preignite under load, open the water needle just enough to get rid
of the knock. That’s the only purpose for the water. Too much
water will destroy the lubrication and induce premature cutting and
wear of the rings and cylinder walls. (Mr. Marson also asked
several technical questions regarding the 7 HP Empire (Alamo). If
anyone has one of these engines, please get in contact with Mr.
Marson, as he needs to know about the piping schematic, etc.)
28/5/28 Onan InformationVincent Durham, Site 8,
Comp 34, RR 1, Sicamous, BC VOE 2V0 Canada reports that he has good
success in securing Onan information from Onan Corporation, 1400 –
73rd Avenue NE, Fridley, MN 55432.
28/5/29Andrew Mackey, 26 Mott Place, Rockaway
Boro, NJ 07866 writes, concerning an engine/generator from United
States Motors Co., Oshkosh, Wisconsin:
I have a 110 volt generator that is in working order, but the
radiator and sheet metal leave much to be desired. The ID plate
reads: s/n 439299, Date 1943, Model B x 2435, 2.5 kw, 115 volts, 22
amps, 60 cycles, single phase, 1800 rpm. The generator is by Kurz
& Root, Appleton, Wisconsin, and is 2.5 kw.
Did U.S. Motors actually build the engine? Does anyone have any
history on this company? Are they still in busi-ness, perhaps under
another name? Has anyone heard of Kurz & Root, or is any
history available on the company? Any information on this unit
would be greatly appreciated and would be forwarded to GEM in a
future article.
The unit is painted in the military drab green with the electric
panel in flat black.
Many thanks to the people who respond!
28/5/30 Miniature Train Engine Q. Does anyone
have knowledge of, or a manual for a Wisconsin Type AKS engine,
27/8 x 2 inch bore and stroke, s/n 1216777?
Any help will be appreciated. Bert Meyer, PO Box 441, Dayton,
NV 89403.
Readers Write
28/2/2 Fuel Pump DiaphragmsDid we ever get mail
on this one!’ Most of it pointed in the same directions as we
indicated last month. Another source we have located is Utex
Industries Inc., Box 79227, Houston, TX 77079.
28/3/5 Hedstrom MotorNumerous letters came in
regarding the Hedstrom motor, and we find that it was used in the
Indian motorcycle. Of course, we thank everyone who responded, but
we tender a special thanks to Gerald B. Lombard, 5120 Belcrest
Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93309-4705. He writes in part:
Carl Oscar Hedstrom (1871-1960) bicycle builder and journeyman
machinist 1892. Builder of custom racing bicycles. Modified and
installed DeDion (French) type engine in racing tandem 1899-1900.
Designed motor bicycle for George M. Hendee, first prototype
demonstrated in 1901.
George M. Hendee (1866,1943) Amateur bicycle racer, Amateur High
Wheel Champion of the United States 1886-1892. Competed on safety
bicycles until retiring from the sport in 1895. Married in 1894,
separated in 1895. Started bicycle manufacturing business in
Springfield, Massachusetts in summer of 1898. Promoted bicycle
races.
In 1901 Hendee and Hedstrom formed the Hendee Mfg. Co. as a
partnership, Hendee as President and General Manager, Hedstrom as
Chief Engineer and Designer. The products carried the tradename of
Indian.
The Hendee Mfg. Co. existed from 1901 to 1923. In 1923 the firm
was reorganized as the Indian Motorcycle Co.
A lot of information is contained in The Iron Redskin by Harry
V. Sucher, and distributed by Haynes Publications Inc., 861
Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320.
28/3/34 Frost & WoodHoward F. Dow, 10414
West Caton Rd., Corning, NY 14830 writes in this regard, wondering
if anyone can explain an apparent connection between the Frost
&. Wood machines made at Smith Falls, Canada and the Walter A.
Wood machines made at Hoosick Falls, New York. It’s always been
our understanding that the two firms were unrelated, either by
family or by corporate lineage. However, we would suggest that
Frost 6k Wood may have secured a license to build certain machines
of Walter A. Wood Company. However, some of our readers may have
researched this connection, and if so, we would like to hear from
them.
28/3/48 Ingersoll-RandJoe Graham, 8316 Streng
Ave., Citrus Heights, CA 95610 writes: : Ingersoll-Rand marketed
two versions of the 3R (SPOTAIR) compressors, the 3R30 and the
3R36. The 30 delivered 30 cfm @80psi, and the 36 delivered 36
cfm.
The 3R30 was discontinued shortly after 1950. The 3R36 was
discontinued shortly after 1967.
[On another subject], the cubic inch displacement of any engine
can be easily figured using the following formula:
Diameter (bore) squared times the stroke times the number of
cylinders times pi/4- Example, using the data from the 3R30: Bore
2.875, stroke 2.50, 3 cylinders, pi/4 = .7854- Then 2.875 squared =
8.266 times 2.5 (stroke) = 20.664, times 3 (no. of cylinders) =
61.9922, times .7854 = 48.6 cubic inches.
28/2/2 Homelite InvertedThis particular one is
a Homelite inverted cylinder model made by Homelite itself. By
contacting your local Homelite-Textron dealer, perhaps an owners
manual might be available.
28/3/39 GrinderThis is a Sears grinder, built
by Acme Mfg. Co. for the David Bradley Company and sold from 1911
to 1923.
28/3/47I also have a WAJAX engine, but is in
poor condition. An aluminum plate on the flywheel reads: FENWYCK
GALLOWAY MFG CO., Newark, New Jersey. The carb on my engine is a
Schebler Model B. It is nicely plated. On my engine the cylinders
and pistons are shot, but the rest is salvageable. I have seen the
identical engine, even to the casting numbers, only with EVINRUDE
cast on the manifold. This engine was mounted on a 1 Vi inch water
pump, that was built to assist fire departments augment their water
supply. Water for cooling the engine was diverted from the pump
discharge and was routed to the engine block. After cooling the
engine, the heated water was discharged back to the pump inlet,
therefore the engine did not need a separate pump for cooling. As
near as I could tell, these pumps were built somewhere in the 1930s
or 1940s. The above responses were submitted by Andrew K.
Mackey, 26 Mott Pl, Rockaway Boro, NJ 07866.
A Closing Word
See the illustration of an Atlantic Pumping Engine as sold by
the Harold L. Bond Company at Boston. This rather poor illustration
appeared in the July 30, 1913 Engineering and Contracting.
We’ve always understood this to be an elusive engine, and the
above magazine is one of the few advertisements we’ve found for
the Atlantic. Perhaps there are a few Atlantic engines out there
yet. Are there any complete pumpers as shown here ?
This year, 1993, marks the 100th year that Fairbanks-Morse has
been in the engine business. In that connection, ye olde Reflector
is currently compiling a Centennial History of Fairbanks-Morse,
with completion anticipated by late summer.
In working at Fairbanks-Morse we were fortunate in locating
numerous items of interest. However, the company does not maintain
a formal archive, and various historical items are spread
throughout several departments. We hope that the finished book will
contain some surprises, even for those who have studied the company
in detail.
So far as we know, the company does not offer regular tours of
their engine plant. However, during the course of several days’
work at Beloit, we were afforded this opportunity. On the test
stand we saw a twelve-cylinder Colt-Pielstick v-type diesel,
capable of about 18,000 horsepower. What an impressive engine!
Fairbanks-Morse continues to build the opposed-piston (OP) engines
which they pioneered and made famous. Today’s versions include
a new Enviro-Design model built to conform to and even exceed the
very rigid government emission standards.
In closing, it appears that we have a substantial tour lined up
for England in June. For those who haven’t traveled to England
before, it should be especially enjoyable. Believe it or not,
there’s been so much interest in this tour to England, that
within a year or two, we’ll be talking to you in terms of a
similar two-week tour, but to various points in Europe, including
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Holland, and Germany. Each of
these countries holds some substantial, and very interesting,
collections. But more on that, later.
This copy will be in your hands sometime in April. We would like
to inform our readers that we intend to again represent Gas Engine
Magazine at the huge annual swap meet at Waukee, Iowa in May. We
hope to see you there!
