Today’s mail brought us the April, 1988 issue of The Olde
Machinery Mart, an interesting magazine published at Box 5237,
M.C., Townsville, Q, 4810 Australia. T.O.M.M., as it is called,
comes to us each issue on a mutual trading agreement, and enables
us here at GEM to cooperate more fully with our colleagues in other
countries. Several things become apparent to us regarding the
Australian engine and tractor scene. There seem to have been a
great many Fuller & Johnson pumper engines shipped to
Australia. International Harvester, among others, sent thousands of
engines and tractors over there, and of course, the many different
British-built engines and tractors are frequently found as
well.
An article in T.O.M.M. states in regard to the Australian-built
Rosebery engine: ‘It is thought that the original engine from
which these were copied was the 1? HP Fuller & Johnson made in
the USA. The Australian engine has a few features differing from
the American one-mainly in the ignition department. The F & J
had low tension ignition by either a gear driven rotary magneto or
dry cell batteries, whereas the Australian copies have high tension
ignition from either a Wico EK trip type or a rotary gear driven
type.’
A ways back we noted that we were planning some sort of
information manual on sawmills. Since that time a number of readers
have sent us information in this regard, and for this we extend our
thanks. One thing worries us about this project. We have been told
by several different individuals that even the saw companies have
been reluctant to print any sort of informational material on saws
and sawmills for some years now, ostensibly because of the possible
liability claims in so doing. Therefore we have concluded that if
we are to proceed with the compilation of this historical and
informational material on the sawmill, it will be presented solely
for the information of the reader, and not as an endorsement of any
particular methodology. Without a doubt, sawmills can indeed be a
dangerous machine when not used in a safe manner. But, on the other
hand, so is a bicycle or a toenail clipper!
Our first question this month comes from Jeremy Bowden, Box
G, Winthrop, Iowa 50682:
23/9/1 Q. I’m restoring a New Way Model CH
engine, s/n 4032, 5 HP. The nearest photo I can find is on page
344, bottom right, of American Gas Engines. The one in the book
doesn’t have a fuel tank, and appears to have the New Way
patented hinged crankcase, which mine does not have. Ignition is
with a Bosch BA1, Ed. 19 high tension magneto. The last patent date
is Dec. 10, 1918. Any information will be appreciated.
A. The later years of New Way have always been
a puzzle for the Reflector, but the recent acquisition of some
Engineering & Contracting magazines provides some clues. By the
late ‘teens, it would appear that New Way had largely left the
agricultural engine market, and one industry they pursued was the
construction industry. The above magazine frequently shows cement
mixers and other machines equipped with New Way engines, and even
an occasional ad by New Way is found. Perusal of 1920’s vintage
agricultural magazines will show little in the way of New Way
advertising and since most of us in the engine hobby use this as
the first line of research, it is obvious that we have been looking
in the wrong direction. We have no instruction manuals or other
materials on the Model CH engine, but perhaps one of our readers
might equip you with a copy of same.
23/9/2 Q.Herbert R. Wittliff, 408
Fairmont, Port Lavaca, TX 77979, poses a number of questions
on Farmall tractors, including a Model M, and a 560 Diesel:
1. Are there still some aftermarket parts suppliers
around?
2. Is it better to hard chrome a worn crank or simply take
it to the nearest undersize where it will clean up?
3. Is it possible to get a camshaft reground or is it
preferable to buy a new one?
4. Are exhaust valve rotators worthwhile?
5. Are there any fuel additives to replace the leaded
fuels?
6. Does anyone make the high-speed gear improvement
package which used to be available for the Farmall tractors?
A. In reply to your questions, we’ll take
them in order:
1. There are a number of after-market parts
suppliers, and most of them advertise in the farm magazines, as
well as in GEM.
2. We’re not sure there is a ‘right’ answer to
chroming a crank or grinding it to the nearest undersize and
letting it alone. There are a number of factors-the type of duty
the engine will see after the overhaul, the practical matter of
cost effectiveness, the type of engine, gas or diesel, and many
other factors, including the ever-present matter of personal
preference.
3. We’re not sure of the practicality of camshaft
regrinding, and wonder whether it might not be cheaper to buy a
good used cam if necessary.
4. Rotators are indeed worthwhile.
5. Fuel additives are available which serve to assist in
upper cylinder lubrication to replace the lubricating qualities
lost by the elimination of lead as a fuel additive.
6. We’re not sure that anyone still builds the gear
enhancement package for Farmall anymore, but would guess that one
should be available from one of the tractor salvage companies.
23/9/3Gary W. McKinney, 739 N.E. Quimby
Avenue, Bend, OR 97701, sends some photocopy material on the
R&P engines sold by Rice and Phelan of Portland, Oregon. Gary
notes that R&P apparently contracted with Termaat & Monahan
(T&M) of Wisconsin for these engines, and wonders whether any
of the R&P engines still survive in the Northwest (or elsewhere
for that matter).
23/9/4 Q. I recently purchased an engine with
the following nameplate: Geo. W. Ziegler Equipment Contractors,
Railroads, Mines, Mills, Machinery Co., 528 First Ave., Pittsburgh,
Pa. When was this engine built, proper colors, etc.? Tim
Ziegler, Route 3, Box 401, Churubusco, IN 46723.
A. We would guess that the engine was probably
built by someone else and sold by Ziegler. Without a photo, we
don’t have a clue regarding its origins.
23/9/5 Q. My friend and I each have a Novo 6 HP
upright engine. Mine is #97778, and his is engine #59564. Can you
identify the year these engines were built? Herbert E. Mahn,
RFD 1, Box 175, New Hampton, NH 03256.
A. We know of no serial number listings for
Novo. As an aside, Novo is one of the engine builders who opted
heavily for the construction equipment market, and was rather
successful in this regard. Novo engines powered thousands of pumps,
winches and cement mixers.
23/9/6 Q. I have a Galloway 5 HP engine, s/n
10842. Can it by identified by the serial number? What is the
proper color? G. Donald Eidman, 4424 Dormedy Hill Rd., Marion,
NY 14505.
A. No s/n information available. The finish is
comparable to DuPont Dulux 93-066-H or their Centari 5027. Yellow
striping is used. The ‘Galloway’ lettering on the side of
the hopper is sometimes a combination of green and yellow.
23/9/7 Q. Any information will be appreciated
on the following engine: Outboard Motors Corporation, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin (note:- not Outboard Marine Corporation), s/n 9180303,
Tillotson L51E carburetor. Ignition system in the shroud-removing
shroud brings with it the coil, points, condenser, etc. No air
intake opening in shroud. Two-cycle, cast iron cylinder of 2 inch
bore. Engine originally black, but painted over with army
green. James Haynie, Rt. 1, Box 494, Ashgrove, MO
65604.
A. We don’t have any information on the
above engine, but gladly include a couple of helpful hints included
in Mr. Haynie’s letter:
A good coil for ignitor engines is the magnet wiring unit from
an automotive air conditioner. I prefer the one on the York piston
type, but the one on the Frigidaire works almost as well. These are
made for 12 volts and will pull 3 amps, and will not burn the
points. This is far superior to any coil I have ever seen.
Another hint: When sending in engine photos for identification,
etc., it helps to stand a yardstick next to the engine so the
reader can get some idea of the size.
23/9/8 Q.Don Cunningham, 1626 Fairway
Circle, Jacksonville, Ah 36265, would like information on a
Model EA Cunningham engine, s/n 7892. It is disassembled, but
appears to be complete. Information needed includes the color
scheme, when built, decal design, etc. Don also notes that the
garden tractor on page 4 of the July 1988 GEM belonging to Mr.
Anderson of South Dakota is a Monarch by Standard Engine Company of
Minneapolis.
23/9/9 Q. I would like to correspond with
anyone who owns or is familiar with the Shop Mule tractors
manufactured by H.E. Hebard & Co., Chicago, Illinois. The
tractor was built with the Farmall B engine, clutch housing,
transmission, and final drives. The final drives were turned
forward to make the tractor lower and shorter. They did not use
spacers between the transmission and final drives so they could
keep the tractor narrow. I would like to know when these tractors
were produced and if any other models were built? I also would like
to know the correct hood, what the air cleaner looked like, where
the battery box was located, and if they used the Farmall decals on
their tractors. John Sendelbach, Route 1, Box 602, Cochrane, WI
54622.
23/9/10 Q. What is the year built for a
Fairbanks-Morse 3 HP engine, s/n 930247? Also, the proper color?
Wallace C. Rettig, 111 Summit Street, Leetonia, OH
44431.
A. According to our records, 1948. The color is
comparable to DuPont Dulux 93-72001 green.
23/9/11 The following observations are from
P.G. Fagerberg, Ingeniorsfirman Tandkuleteknik, O
Vemmenhog 19 170 10 SKIVARP Sweden:
A couple of years ago I bought your book, American Gas Engines,
and as a collector, I have about 30 engines. Most are Swedish two
stroke hot bulbs of course, but I also have some German, American,
and English engines.
Your Bridgeport engine was sold here under the name
‘Kraft’, both in stationary and marine versions around
1912-15.
The Caille Perfection range of stationary engines were sold here
under the name ‘Perfect’ during the 1912-15 period.
23/9/12Cledus Stites, RR 1, Box 18, Odon,
IN 47562, writes that he has a B.F. Avery Model A tractor with
s/n 6A-264, and this number does not correspond with those cited in
23/6/46. He also has a V model, s/n 3V-126.
A special thanks to Mr. Stites for sending two original
photographs taken inside the B.F. Avery factory at Louisville,
Kentucky about 1948. At that time they were producing 32 tractors
per day.
23/9/13 Q. Scott Lester, 629 Freedom Road,
Freedom, NY 14065, would like to know the color and year built of a
Sattley 1? HP, s/n 15800, and a Hercules 5 HP with no ID tag.
A. The Sattley is comparable to DuPont Dulux
93-046 green and the Hercules is comparable to Rustoleum 1382
Forest Green. No serial number data is available.
23/9/14 Q. See this photo of an unusual engine
which I own. I obtained it about 20 years ago, and have never been
able to find anyone who has ever seen one like it. I was told by
the previous owner that it was made in Springfield, Ohio by Mast,
Foos & Company in the late 1800’s. It is built inside of a
wooden bicycle wheel. I think it might have been some kind of
experimental project because it doesn’t seem to be a practical
design. It is a two-cylinder, four stroke engine with a rotary
valve inside the hub. The cranks are turned by gears that track the
stationary gear in the center. It uses an evaporator type
carburetor. Any information will be most gratefully appreciated.
Frank T. Brinnon, 146 Henry Street, Urbana, OH 43078.
A. After nearly thirty years of study involving
patent developments, we thought we had seen some unusual ones-in
fact, the entire gamut from a 1903 patent describing an eye
protector for chickens to the 1877 development of an anti-snoring
device! The latter invention consisted of a shrill whistle lashed
to the mouth of the snorer, and devised so that when snoring began
the whistle blew, the snorer arose with a start, and or course,
stopped snoring. However, when it comes to unique, we doubt that
any of these absolutely mad inventions are ahead of Mr.
Brinnon’s most unusual engine. We surely hope there might be
someone who can shed further light on one of the most unusual
engine designs we have ever seen!
23/9/15 Q. I have recently acquired a
King-O-Lawn reel-type lawnmower using a Briggs & Stratum
engine. The nametag reads: Home Owner 18 6676 and the engine tag
states that it is a model 6BS, s/n 530067. The mower is orange and
the engine is black. Would be happy to correspond with anyone
having information on this mower, and perhaps a formula for
determining the age of B & S engines. Brian Klein, 550 East
North Street, Georgetown, OH 45121.
A. We’ve never heard of this one so
it’s up to our readership this time.
23/9/16Mike Twarozek, 11760 Mile Block
Road, North Collins, NY 14111 would like to hear from someone
having an operator’s manual or parts book for a McCormick No. 6
mower.
23/9/17Floyd Schmall, 5523 So. Peach,
Fresno, CA 93725, writes: I have a Cummins 16 HP, two cylinder
diesel engine, Model U, s/n 8266. I have consulted Cummins Engine
Company and it is a 1928 model, but they have no other information.
Can anyone provide me with additional information on this engine,
including the proper paint colors? Additional information is also
needed on a 7 HP Sattley, s/n 3837.
23/9/18 Testers Paint Company has come out with
a ‘paint-in-a-pen’ product with 7 or 8 different colors. 1
use it for pinstriping. It is available in hobby stores that carry
their line, and is priced at about $2.00 per pen. John C.
Addengast, Box 160, Ashton, IA 51232.
23/9/19 Q. I am restoring an Alpha engine sold
by DeLaval Pacific Company of San Francisco. What is the proper
color, year built, etc.? Also, on page 122 of American Gas Engines,
you show an Alpha set up with a vacuum pump on the same sub-base.
Would like to hear from anyone having one of these units. Ray
Poteet, 7901 Santa Barbara, Kohnert Park, CA 94928.
A. We assume this engine to be the same dark
green as used on all other Alpha engines. No serial number
information is available.
23/9/20 Q. Kindly tell me the year built for a
Type M IHC engine, 6 HP, and s/n CW21706. Also the type of decals
used on same? Gary C. Pardue, 306 Montrose St., Bluefield, VA
24605.
A. Your engine was built in 1935. A ‘double
globe’ decal is used on the magneto side of the water hopper,
while a ‘McCormick-Deering’ decal goes on the opposite
side. These engines had no pin striping.
23/9/21 Q. See the enclosed photo of a London
engine similar also to the one shown below American Gas Engines.
Would like to know what kind of magneto was used, and whether parts
from some other make of engine might interchange. There is some
talk that parts from the Ideal vertical might interchange, and also
that the Wizard magneto might work. Mike Conneau, P.O. Box 398,
Derby, VT 05829.
A. It’s entirely possible that Ideal parts
might interchange. So far as the original magneto equipment, we do
not know what was used, but virtually any single cylinder magneto
could probably be attached to the engine with only slight
modification. Oftentimes it is necessary to fabricate missing parts
using whatever can be found to achieve the job, and coupling this
with an enormous amount of ingenuity.
23/9/22We understand from Gene Trumble,
1231 Mercantile St., Oxnard, CA 93030, that Mr. Dennis
Davidson, Woodland, CA (916) 666-7931, will possibly be assembling
a Cletrac Collectors’ Newsletter.
23/9/23 Q. Need the age on the following
engines: Deere 1? HP, s/n 280134; Fairbanks-Morse, s/n’s
522005, 853730, and 651123. Also, see the photo of an unidentified
engine. Ray Harper, 6381 Larkspur Dr., Mobile, AL
36619.
A. Deere serial numbers available directly from
Deere & Company, and/or John Deere dealers. The years built of
the Fairbanks-Morse engines are 1922, 1944, and 1926
respectively.
23/9/24 Q. What is the color and year built for
a Cushman Cub, s/n 55693, Model R2? Also color and year for a FBM 2
HP engine, s/n 620470, and did that year run on battery or magneto?
Bob W. Bishop, 1110 Lilac Court, Hastings, MN 55033.
A. We believe a ‘steel gray’ is
appropriate and have Ditzler 32565 as a comparable match. No s/n
information available. The FBM engine is comparable to DuPont
93-72001 green and this one was built in 1925. These engines would
have been equipped with a magneto except for the special
‘competition’ line which was sold as
‘battery-equipt’.
23/9/25 Q. See the photo showing a Lockwood-Ash
marine engine, 2? HP, one cylinder, two-stroke engine, built in
Jackson, Michigan. Can anyone tell me when these engines were
built? This engine powers a very old cypress planked over oak ribs
motor skiff, which we believe was built c. 1915-1920. James
Potter, P.O. Box 56, Manotick, Ontario K0A 2 No Canada.
A. Page 285 of American Gas Engines notes that
Lockwood-Ash was organized in 1904. Beyond that time however, we
have had little success in tracing the company’s
activities.
23/9/26 Q. When one rebores and sleeves a
cylinder, what is the rule for clearance? What would the rule be
specifically on a Fairbanks-Morse 6 HP ‘Z’ engine? Is
anyone compiling a list of paint numbers? Jim Beauchamp, 27855
W. California, Lathrup Village, MI 48076.
A. Some shops figure an interference of
.001′ per inch of diameter, decreasing this amount slightly as
the diameter increases. Perhaps a better way of determining the
allowances would be to consult the sleeve manufacturer or
distributor when acquiring the sleeve. A common practice is to put
the sleeve into a freezer, or perhaps better, to pack it in dry ice
prior to installation. This requires quick work, since if the
sleeve should seize halfway into the hole, you get the chance to
try and drive or press it the rest of the way, or if this fails,
cut it out and start over. It’s also a good idea to leave a
small shoulder at the back of the bore so that the sleeve is
mechanically prevented from shifting within the hole. Visiting with
your local automotive machine shop might be helpful in getting a
better vision of what needs to be done. Boring out a cylinder and
installing a sleeve isn’t always as simple as it sounds-for
instance, we know of one very nice 3 HP Worthington engine that was
practically ruined by someone who set up the boring bar improperly
and got the hole out of alignment with the engine frame. A list of
comparable paint colors is attached to this column.
23/9/27 Q. I would like to hear from others in
regard to the Fordson tractor on page 33 of the June 1988 GEM. It
must be some kind of aftermarket conversion. James Wagner’s
book, Ford Trucks Since 1905, shows a couple of photos with similar
front wheels, and he has them labeled as Imperial cultivator
conversions. In one of Allan Condie’s books he shows a 1936
Fordson rowcrop and states that it was originally offered as a
conversion for the agricultural mode. Any information will be
appreciated. Richard E. St. Martin, 401 East 104th,
Blooming-ton, MN 55420-5416.
23/9/28 Q. See the enclosed photo of my 114 HP
American Boy engine. Did it originally have a cover on the water
hopper? Also would like to hear from someone with the correct
colors for this engine. James E. Meinert, 1105 El Camino
Real, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420.
A. We believe that this engine did indeed have
a cover over the hopper at one time, as did its Waterloo-built
counterparts including the Sandow, Smythe, and others.
23/9/29 Q. Can you supply information on the
following engines?
Cushman-Bean Special Cub, Model 1P12B
Fairbanks-Morse, Style D, 2 HP, s/n 855488
Sattley, s/n 70059, 1? HP Need year built and proper colors.
Bill Ross, 216 Walnut St., Cary, NC27511.
A. The Fairbanks-Morse engine was built in
1944. The other engines and the color schemes have already been
noted in this month’s column.
23/9/30 Q. I recently found the following
engine: United States Farm Machinery, Vermont Farm Machinery
Company, Bellows Falls, Vt. Was this engine manufactured for them
by some other outfit? Any information will be appreciated. Also,
does anyone have information on the No. 4 Co-op tractor? I’m
told that this model really never got off the ground. Jim
Ringsrud, 3407 Cherry Lane #3, Fargo, ND 58102.
A. Without a photo we’re unable to be of
much help, but it is our understanding that Vermont Farm Machinery
never actually manufactured the engines they sold. The No. 4 Co-op
is one that we’ve never heard much about. Perhaps someone has
researched this model adn would like to share the information with
us.
23/9/31Bob Coffey, 1201 Longview Dr.,
Rogers, AR 72756 has recently purchased a 25 HP Black Bear
engine. Bob’s engine was reportedly put into service in a
private oilfield near Dewey, Oklahoma, in 1905. It bears the serial
number E6.71. Bob would like to hear from anyone with a Black Bear
having a lower serial number than this, and would like to have ALL
Black Bear owners send him some information on their engines so
that he can compile a directory and mail each owner a copy free of
charge.
Now that’s a real deal! Here’s a man who will put the
Black Bear engine owners in touch with each other for the cost of a
two-bit postage stamp!
23/9/32 Q. I recently acquired a Twin City
Model KT tractor and would like to hear from other owners or those
having information etc. on this model.
Also, I would like to see prices in the various articles,
instead of ‘we made a deal,’ as it is helpful to know what
prices are actually being paid and as a comparison. Jerry
Wyatt, 31925 Florida Street, Redlands, CA 92373.
A. Although we suppose that in some cases at
least, the prices of engines and/or tractors would be desirable, ye
olde Reflector has usually abstained from the practice for several
reasons. Sometimes people simply don’t want other people to
know what they have paid for something, not necessarily out of
embarassment, but only because they don’t consider it to be
anyone else’s business! Another problem is that prices for
engines, tractors, parts, etc. are very subjective, as well as
being very regional. As an example, Galloway engines seem to be far
more popular in the Midwest and on the West Coast than they are in
the East. Thus for GEM with its international coverage to quote
prices realized from a private treaty deal would really not project
a true picture of the actual value. The engine that might be worth
$200.00 at North Bumfizzle, Arizona might fetch $600.00 in Lower
Grand-hazy, Rhode Island. Thus, it is a real problem for the
editorial staff at GEM to be entirely fair to all of our readers.
The Reflector, for one, has always felt that the value of an engine
is a matter for the buyer and seller-it depends on how much the
buyer will give, and the bottom dollar with which the seller will
be satisfied. None of this comment is meant as a criticism of
anyone-the Reflector is simply stating that we are content to
attempt a continuing chronicle of the historical aspects rather
than become known as a reliable price setter.
23/9/33 A special thanks to Richard D. Hamp,
1772 Conrad Ave., San Jose, CA 95124, for sending us considerable
new information regarding the Wico magnetos. Dick also comments
that he is still looking for information on the elusive Model B
Wico magnetos, but has had no luck so far. He suggests that perhaps
the Model B was the ‘Edsel’ of the Wico line.
From some old Wico service bulletins we present for the very
first time in GEM some interesting installation information on the
Wico EK magneto line. Thanks again, Dick!
READERS WRITE
23/7/19A & B Manure spreader
We got a whole bunch of letters and even a few phone calls on
this one! Everyone noted that this is the remains of a John Deere
manure spreader.
23/5/37 About starting an engine show
Philip C. Whitney, 303 Fisher Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420,
forwards a considerable amount of photocopy material, all related
to their setting up their first show. Should any aspiring show
people have a need, Mr. Whitney might be able to make some
suggestions. We also believe that the GEM editorial offices have
copies of Mr. Whitney’s materials.
June 1988 GEM
Unidentified engine, page 2
Could this engine possibly be part of the Blue Line by
Alamo-probably a 2 horsepower with the cylinder and water hopper
cast into a single piece? See page 18 of American Gas Engines.
Terri Douglas, RD 1, Box 120, Townville, PA 16360.
23/6/33 Cushman model 21, Type X engine
This engine is a dark green, Dupont No. 7498. Also, it uses two
of the old-style round decals. One is located on the stamped steel
crank guard and the other located on the head side of the hopper.
The engine is on red skids, Dupont 7410. Buzz coil ignition is the
most common, but the Wico EK appeared on a few, and a very few have
a Webster high tension rotary magneto. These possibly might have
been the only engines equipped with this magneto prior to Webster
halting production. John M. Hanley, 1154 Pratt Road, Dewitt, MI
48820.
23/7/9 Unidentified engine
This engine is a Coldwell Cub, probably from a lawnmower of the
same name. The rectangular opening in the top of the jacket is for
a radiator. Most of these engines had a second flywheel with a
magneto inside of it and drove a clutch assembly with three pins in
the flywheel. This engine was also made in a 2-cylinder version.
Richard Wood, 5098 Livonia Road, Livonia, NY 14487.
23/6/35 United engine
In this reply you give the color of the United as 1434 Mohawk
red, but you do not mention the date of manufacture. Can you help
on this? Wendell Allen, RR 3, Box 383, El Dorado Springs, MO
64744.
United began operations in 1911, and gradually faded into
oblivion during the 1920’s. Although we have not located
specific information, it seems entirely possible that the Crash of
1929 administered the coup de grace. As noted numerous times in the
column there are not, to our knowledge, any existing records left
concerning Associated and/or United engines.
John Deere vs. Oliver, or is it the other way????
Here’s a delightful tongue-in-cheek letter from Bob
Tall-man, Route 5, Box 185, Harbeson, DE 19951 in reply to the
Reflector’s recent comments:
I recognize that John Deere owners have their story to tell and
their tractors give them much reason to be proud. However on
reading your reply to Ed Ellis in the July GEM, I must defend the
honor of my lady!!!
As a youngster, we had a custom thresher who vibrated down the
road on the steel spades of his John Deere AR (same tractor as
yours, but on standard tread). He belted up to his 22 inch
separator and all was well until he couldn’t get it started the
next morning. When he finally wore his knuckles raw on the flywheel
start, he asked if we could put our Oliver 70 on the belt.
His first astonishment came when the smooth six-cylinder engine
purred to life with only one turn, and the second came when he saw
how well the 70 with its ‘6-cylinder overlapping power’
handled the thresher. He also was amazed that the 70 had an
electric system as standard equipment at a time when John Deere
couldn’t furnish it at all. He also thought that maybe rubber
tires were a pretty good idea!
Now I expect you’re right that the 70 required more
‘fixing’ than the John Deere A, but then I also expect that
the Ford V-8 took more service than a Model T.
I rest my case, and I want you to know that the foregoing is for
entertainment only, with malice toward none!
Bob, we’ll have to concede that you ring up some very valid
arguments. For example, as a youngster, I went into an absolute
swoon over the ancient 15-30 McCormick tractor used for a few years
in our threshing ring. Our tractors all had rubber tires, but 1 got
conned into driving this tractor and separator to a neighboring
farm about three miles away. That’s been over thirty years ago,
and I’m not sure all my body parts are back in their proper
position to this day! Needless to say, that was my one and only
trip with the old 15-30 and its big spade lugs.
MODELMAKER’S CORNER
See photo MM-1 of my 1/3 scale model of an IHC Tom Thumb engine.
It was built last winter, entirely of shop scrap except for the
flywheels. Note the ballpoint pen on the table for a size
comparison. Glen Stanford, 202 E. Madison Ave., Fairfield, LA
52556.
There are frequent questions regarding spherical turning, a task
not easily accomplished without some special equipment. For
modelmakers in particular, the fancy ball-ends of push rods and
other movements is usually made with one of these special devices.
Back in 1904, Henly Publishing Company of New York came out with a
book called The Modern Machinist by John T. Usher. Herewith we
illustrate Usher’s method verbatim. A study of the article and
the illustrations might be the catalyst for home machinists to
develop their own spherical turning attachment.
A CLOSING WORD
The discovery of new engine companies seems to have no ending.
While perusing an October 5, 1910 issue of Engineering-Contracting
Magazine, we ran across this advertisement for a Wemco gas engine
as built by Wood Electric & Manufacturing Co., South Bend,
Indiana. Several months ago we ran an illustration of an engine
built at Newton, Iowa by Parsons Band Cutter & Self-Feeder
Company, but never heard a sound from anyone with information on
this particular variety. Can anyone provide additional information
on a WEMCO, or is it possible that one might still exist?