Thanks to everyone who stopped by our tent at the recent Old
Threshers Reunion at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. This was their fiftieth
year, and it was indeed a fine show. The only problem was stifling
heat. . .one day the thermometer got up to 101° and that is mighty
hot under any circumstances! This writer was also very pleased to
receive the Old Threshers Award, conferred upon a very few people
each year.
We are also pleased to tell you that the Standard Catalog of
American Farm Tractors (Krause Publications), is finally
available. It took us nearly two years to complete this 500+ page
book, and we hope that collectors will enjoy it.
Each year about this time we put out our usual caveat to check
those engines and tractors to be sure they are drained; nobody
wants to ruin their valued treasures because of freezing water,
right? Well, this year we had not one, but two different people
come up to our stand and tell us about their experiences. One
fellow said that he read about this in our column, and decided
maybe he had better go check his engines. Lo and behold, there were
two that still had some water in them. Of course he was glad that
he rechecked them! So again we say, check those engines and
tractors-are you sure the jackets are dry? And if there is a water
pump, be sure it too is drained. Water pumps are pretty hard to fix
if they are split open.
Our first query is:
35/11/1 Sears-Roebuck Engine Q. I have a Sears
Roebuck kick-start engine off my mother’s washing machine. I
have been unable to find any literature that would show me how to
restore a missing centrifugal clutch on the motor shaft. If anyone
could help I would appreciate it. E. L. Hastings, Box 164,
Dunnigan, CA 95937-0164.
35/11/2 Kinkade Suburbanite Q. I am looking for
information on a Kinkade Suburbanite garden tractor. The only
numbers on it are on the transmission (N5630) and this is probably
a casting number. Any help would be appreciated. Paul Vander Hulst,
PO Box 847, Amado, AZ 85645.
35/11/3 Carlisle & Finch Q. See the photo
of a Carlisle & Finch engine (as shown in American Gas
Engines). Any further information on this engine would be
appreciated. Daniel Dunker, 10490 Tri Acre Lane, Ste. Genevieve, MO
63670.
35/11/4 Babbitting Jig Q. See the two photos of
a Green & Son babbitting jig/boring bar. We have demonstrated
it with considerable interest. The small table is used to hold the
connecting rod while being poured. Several different mandrels and
rings combine to form the mold. There is also a jig to hold a
half-bearing shell for machining. We would like to know if there
are other of these machines in existence, as well as any other
information on Green & Sons equipment. Richard & Toby
Wetzel, 2301 – 6lst St., Lubbock, TX79412.
35/11/5 Novo Engine Q. I have a Novo engine, 4
HP, s/n 75579, and would like to know the year built, and the
color. Eugene Tarola, 716 Linden Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.
A. Your engine was built in 1922. It is
comparable to DuPont 4190 Green.
35/11/6 Fairbanks-Morse Q. See the two photos
showing the large decal on a Style D, 2 HP engine. This is the same
decal as shown on page 88 of Wendel’s book, 100 Years of Engine
Technology. Is anyone producing this decal? The decal and paint are
in poor condition, but I do not want to destroy what is left of it
if I cannot get another. Can anyone be of help? Dave Brink, 1452
Eastland Ave., Lawton, IA 51030.
A. You might want to check our advertisers in
the back of the magazine. They’re a great resource!
35/11/7 A Skidder Q. See the two photos of a
skidder powered by a two-cylinder Wisconsin engine. It is
four-wheel-drive, articulates, has a dump box, and uses a Chevy
2-ton transmission. I would like to know the make of this machine
and its intended purpose. Any help would be appreciated. Gary
Bural, 30232 E. 392nd St., Enumclaw, WA 98022.
35/11/8 Information Needed Q. I need
information on some engines. First of all, where might I find the
sin on a 2? HP Galloway with the tag missing? Also I would like to
find the year built on the following engines: Associated 1? A HP
air-cooled, s/n 10282; Novo Type S, 3 HP, s/n 29109; Cushman C, 4
HP, s/n 40184; and Fairbanks-Morse Eclipse 1-A, sin 44925. I am
also looking for any further information on the Eclipse. Bob
Johnson, HC1, Box 138, Cedarville, CA 96104.
A. There is no s/n info available for any of
the engines you mention except for the Novo, and it was built prior
to 1918, the first year for which we have s/n lists. The Eclipse
engines had their own s/n series, apart from the other F-M engines,
and no listings for these engines have been located.
35/11/9 Independent Harvester Q. I have a Type
C, 2 HP Independent Harvester engine, s/n 3263, built at Piano,
Illinois. I would like to hear from any other owners of Independent
engines, particularly the 2 HP, since my engine has some missing
parts. I would also like to know the original color. Rich Howard,
Sarpy Rd.: Hysham, MT 59038.
35/11/10 Bush Hog Garden Tractor Q. I am
restoring a Bush Hog garden tractor, and need any information I can
find, plus the correct color scheme, a source of decals, etc.
Kenneth E. Hiltner, 1611 5th Ave W, Williston, ND 58801.
35/11/11 Witte Engine Q. I have a Witte 4 HP
engine, s/n 42664, as shown in the lower right corner, page 559 of
American Gas Engines. This has a high-mounted gas tank and depends
on a float in the carburetor to control gasoline level in the
carburetor bowl. I have the valve and vertical stem, but need
information on the float and how it was attached to the stem. Any
information would be appreciated. Raymond Wickham, Box 402, Dumont,
IA 50625.
35/11/12 Information Needed Q. See photo 12-A
of a J. I. Case steam engine. It has a 2 x 4 inch bore and stroke,
and J. I. Case is plainly in the base casting. It is 26 inches long
and has a 13-inch flywheel. The oscillating valve is seen just
above the cylinder. The frame casting was broken, and someone
grafted on a wood replacement for the base and crosshead bars.
Also see photo 12-B of a vertical sideshaft engine that I think
is a Cavanaugh & Darley. I believe it to be 2? horsepower. Any
information on either of these engines would be greatly
appreciated. Bill Prine, 7301 Eola Hills Rd., Amity, OR 97101.
35/11/13 Maytag???
See the photo of a recently acquired cabinet. It has an angle
iron frame and steel sides and door with Maytag stamped in. It is
gray and has faded red and black pinstripes. Can anyone advise what
this might have been? Steve McManus, PO Box 384, Berea, KY 40403.
email: smcmanus@mis.net.
A Closing Word
One of our readers (and a contributor this month) wrote to tell
us that another reader had set up a tractor registry, but has been
unresponsive for some reason or other. In terms of a slight
admonition, we all know that tractor or engine registries are a
nice thing to have, but then they also have problems, especially
with mailings, record keeping, etc. So, if you are thinking of
something like this, kindly be sure that your dedication to the
cause doesn’t wane when you have two or three hundred letters
to mail to those who have responded!
We heard about more antique lathes and machine tools when we
were at the Mt. Pleasant show, but this month, we are running
behind schedule, so we had better ring it off now and Express Mail
the column into GEM, lest it come to you late this
time.
