As this column goes to press in late August, ye olde Reflector
has just returned from the Great Fuller & Johnson Reunion at
Baraboo, Wisconsin. And what a reunion it was! There were over 160
Fuller & Johnson engines present-probably more than ever
assembled since the company was manufacturing engines at nearby
Madison. All of the folks at the Baraboo show were very hospitable,
but in particular the Kindschis, Verne and Pearlie, were a true
delight. In addition, we had a chance to visit with a great many
longtime friends, including Dick Hamp, Preston Foster, and many
others. GEM’s own Gail Knauer was on hand, representing Gas
Engine Magazine, as was Don Knowles, the publisher of Engineers
& Engines. Bonnie Householder, the well known artist from
Milwaukee, was there, as were Jerry Swedborg and Elaine Everson. To
all of those we’ve named, plus hundreds more we met at the
Fuller & Johnson Reunion, our thanks for a most enjoyable
visit! Gail Knauer, Don Knowles, and myself enjoyed some pleasant
times visiting together . . . regardless of whether GEM and E &
E are technically competing with each other, let one and all be
fully assured that we do compete, but as very good friends! So
again, our thanks for myself, Gail Knauer, and all the folks here
at GEM!
Lord willing, we plan to be on hand for the Midwest Old
Threshers Reunion, and of course, by the time this issue is in your
hands, it too will be history for another year. At the risk of
jumping the gun a bit, it’s always a great pleasure to visit
with you folks at the Old Threshers Reunion.
Rarely do we go to a show at which some new make of engine
doesn’t appear, either physically, or in a group of photos
someone brings along. Isn’t it ironic that when we started
writing about gas engines some quarter century back that many
people, myself included, thought we’d probably run out of
material within ten years or less.
As the keynote speaker at the Fuller & Johnson Reunion, we
attempted to share some thoughts about our hobby. Probably the
question we get more frequently than any other is, ‘How do you
have the patience to answer those same questions over and over
about the proper color for an International, and the like?’
Essentially, our answer is that the person writing that letter
might be a new collector, whether age 13 or age 63. That new
collector knows as much right now as we did when we began the
hobby. For us to not answer the question, or to deliver a sarcastic
response, would be to turn that collector off forever, and we
don’t believe that’s the way to perpetuate our hobby.
We also firmly believe that it behooves us to be courteous and
kind to beginning collectors. That young lad asking about an
engine, or perhaps with his first engine, has a great amount of
enthusiasm. If we help nurture that enthusiasm, perhaps that young
lad might continue in our hobby and help the next generation of
collectors. Folks, if we don’t encourage the young folks to
take hold of our hobby, it will lose its lustre by the next
generation.
Ye Olde Reflector is of the opinion that ours is one of the most
interesting hobbies alive today, not only from the pure joy of the
engines, but also from the historical aspects. There are few things
in the history of the world that have had such a profound effect on
our life and culture as the development of the internal combustion
engine. Without it, we would still be riding a buggy to town, or
perhaps making the trip with some steam-powered outfit. After all,
without the development of the engine to begin with, there simply
wouldn’t be any tractors, trucks, or cars . . . they all came
after the fact. So, we urge you to look after the new collectors .
. . someday, some of them will probably own the engines we cherish
so much today.
Our questions this month begin with:
27/11/1 Seager Olds Q. Can you give me some
idea of the age of a 4 HP Seager Olds engine, s/n D’265? David
Fyke, RR 1, Brooklin, Ontario LOB 1C0 Canada.
A. Seager Engine Works operated between 1910
and 1924. Since yours is a very low number, we would assume that it
came along early in this period. Beyond that, there is no specific
information on the production of this company.
27/11/2 Coldwell Mower See the photo of my
restored Coldwell Lawn Mower. It is a Model H, and made at
Newburgh, New York. It is equipped with a Fuller & Johnson 2 HP
engine. The last patent date on the mower is May 11, 1915. Edward
Hanson, 861 Main St., Holden, MA 01520-1804.
21/11/3 Taco Governor Q. See the photo of a
TACO governor on my Fordson tractor. I would like to get some
information on this governor and how to hook it up to operate
properly. Alex Black, 3105 – 9th St., Douglas, AZ 85607.
A. Can any of the Fordson collectors be of help
to Mr. Black?
21/11/4 Canadian Engines Several years ago I
started to compile a list of engines manufactured in Canada, some
are original, some U. S. copies, and some, I would not know one way
or the other. I like reading about all engines, but would like to
hear some in-depth history of Goold, Shapley & Muir, and
production of Canadianbuilt Fairbanks-Morse engines. Michael Unwin,
RR 1 Zephyr, Ontario LOE 1T0 Canada.
Mr. Unwin’s list follows: Acadia Gas Engine Ltd.,
Bridgeport, NS Bruce Steward & Company, Charlottetown, PEI
Canada Producer & Gas Engine Co., Barrie, ONT
Champion Machine & Motor Works, St. Johns,
NewfoundlandChapman Engine & Mfg., Dundas, ONT Desjardins Ltd.,
St. Andre de Kamouraska, Quebec
Goold, Shapley & Muir, Brantford, ONT Deyo-Macey
(Massey-Harris) Toronto, ONT Magnet, Petrie, ONT Sylvester,
Lindsay, ONT Eastern Steel Co Ltd. New Glasgow, NS Haggis,
Uxbridge, ONT Etherington Gas Engines Ltd., Shelburne,
NS Foreman Motor Co., Toronto, ONT Fraser Machine & Motor
Co., New Glasgow, NS Gasoline Engine Co Ltd., Toronto Junction,
ONT
Guarantee Motor Co., Hamilton, ONT Hawboldt Engine Co., Chester,
NS R. A. Lister & Co. Ltd., Winnipeg, MAN London Gas Power Co.
Ltd., London, ONT Lunenburg Foundry Ltd., Lunenburg, NS Omega
Machine Co., St. Hyacinthe, Quebec Renfrew Machine Co., Renfrew,
ONT Robarts, Oatess & Justice Co., Winnipeg, MAN
Semmelhaack-Dickson Ltd., Montreal, Quebec Hoag Oil Engine Co.,
Brantford, ONT Ontario Wind Engine & Pump Co., Toronto, ONT
J. A. Fellow, Brantford, ONT C. S. Judson & Co. Ltd.,
Winnipeg, MAN Premier, Mfg by ??? Machinery Co., Exeter, ONT
Dominion (sideshaft) Quebec Miller Reversible Gasoline Engine Co.,
Toronto, ONT
Gilson, Guelph, ONT Arthur Galarneau, Port Rouge, Quebec
Canadian Engines, Dunville, ONT Chalifoux & Fils Ltd., St.
Hyacinthe, Quebec Charles Julien, Port Rouge, Quebec LaFonderie de
Victorville, Victorville, Quebec Levis Foundry Co., Levis, Quebec
Manitoba Engines Ltd., Brandon, MAN Massey’Harris Co., Toronto,
ONT National Farming Equipment, Montmagny, Quebec Plessisville
Foundry Co., Plessisville, Quebec Robertsonville Foundry Co.,
Robertsonville, Quebec
21/11/5 Novo Model RU Engine Q. See the photo
of a Novo RU engine, two-cylinder, 3 1/4 x 5,
s/n 26423, with a clutch. American Gas Engines shows an older model
on page 351. Another on page 352 shows the governor to be a
‘B’ model, and mine has an ‘A’ model governor. Any
information on this model would be appreciated. Don and Ginny
Green, 4024 Country Ln NW, #48, Bremerton, WA 98312.
A. Can anyone supply information on this
specific model?
21/11/6 Tractor Decals Needed Q. I can’t
seem to find decals for an Oliver Standard 70 tractor, also for a
Gibson Model I tractor. I have phoned some of the GEM advertisers,
but with no luck. Any information will be appreciated. Ted
Van-Cott, Box 101, Lavoy, ALT A TOB 2S0 Canada.
A. Does anyone know of a supplier for these
decals?
21/11/7 Wheel Horse ClubI have started a club
for owners of Wheel Horse lawn and garden tractors. I would
appreciate it if you could pass along the information in your
Reflections column so that others will know of the club. They can
contact me at: Larry Baker, 11256-L Torrie Way, Bealeton,VA
22712.
21/11/8 Fairbanks-Morse Type HQ. See the two
photos of a 1 HP Type H Fairbanks-Morse Jack Junior engine, s/n
85391. I can only find traces of red paint. Can you tell me the
year built and the proper color? Fred Kummerfeldt, 55 Calumet Ave.,
Oakland, NJ 07436.
A. It was built before 1911, but that’s the
earliest year for which we presently have numbers. Some of the
earlier ones have the date stamped on the end of the crankshaft, so
that’s a possibility. Also, it appears that some of the earlier
ones were painted red, but we’re not sure of a fairly good
color match. Can anyone advise?
21/11/9 Kootz & Stroehman Engine Q.
Wehaveoneoftheseengines,No. 804, and have been unable to find any
information on it. Can anyone help? Jack Bateson, 6509 Portage View
Rd., Bbomdale, OH 44817.
A. Our files are bare on this one . . . anyone
out there who can help?
27/11/10 Chapman and AlamoQ. I have two Chapman
engines, Style A, 2 HP, and s/n 12272 and 151261.Iwould like to
know the original color scheme, and the years built. Also the
plumbing arrange’ ment, as all the pipes are gone.
What is the color for the Alamo Blue Line engines? Is there any
way to date an Alamo 2 HP, s/n 61391? Also year built on a
Fairbanks-Morse no. 262878 and no. 555948. Bill Dickerson, 410 SE
3rd St., Ankeny, IA 50021.
A. We have no information whatever on the
Chapman engines. Can anyone help? Our Notebook shows PPG Ditzler
13594 Blue as being a comparable color for the Alamo. No dates
available for the Alamo, but the two Fairbanks engines were built
in 1917 and 1923 respectively.
27/11/11 Information Needed Q. See the two
photos of a tractor which has been in my family for a number of
years. It was recently put in running condition and painted.
I am trying to identify the year of this tractor, and find any
other pertinent informotion so that I can show it in antique
tractor shows etc. The information I have is that it is a Holt
Caterpillar. The engine is a Model M35 and the motor number is
808889. The magneto is not original. Any information will be
appreciated. Charles W. English, 2836 Montego, Laming, MI
48912.
A. Can anyone supply further information?
27/11/12 Information Needed Q. See photos 12A
and 12B of an engine we cannot identify, and no one seems to know
what it is. The rocker arm is no. F28 and the cylinder head is F5.
The cylinder has three holes in the back that lead to the exhaust.
Photo 12C shows a 1? HP Domestic with a pump, no. 29810. Wewould
like to know the year, and also if the cart is original. Kenneth
Richards, RR 1, Box 420, Dexter, ME 04930.
A. We’re stumped on the unidentified
engine, especially since it has an auxiliary exhaust ported to the
regular exhaust. Does anyone have information regarding the
Domestic?
27/11/13 United Mfg. Company Q. I recently
acquired a singk cylinder Little Giant marine engine made by the
United Mfg. Company of Detroit, Michigan. I need any information I
can find, especially concerning the carburetor, oiler, water outlet
,etc. A very cbse picture of the engine is shown on page 523, top
right, in American Gas Engines. Also on page 468, top right, is the
same patent number as on my engine (509255), but the construction
is not similar. On page 497, lower left, is an engine of similar
construction. I found good spots of original paint in several
locations. It is a dark green, like used on Fairbanks-Morse. The
engine was used in a small boat that traveled on the Petaluma
(California) River. Harley B. Crawford, 5070 Algiers Dr., Santa
Rosa, CA 95409.
A. If you can be of help on the Little Giant,
please contact Mr. Crawford.
