While doing my usual visiting at Portland, Indiana, during the
Tri-State Gas Engine &. Tractor Association Reunion in August,
I stopped to visit long-time GEM advertiser Wayne Walker Jr. and
his wife. It’s always fun to check out what Wayne has for sale,
especially the hog oilers. He’s probably known best for buying
and selling parts and engines, and of course, his belt buckles. But
most importantly, he has a love of ‘old iron.’ He’s
been a collector since the 1970s. His strong passion is the
acquisition of Kansas City-built engines and ‘Junior’
engines.
He had engines in his blood back when he used his
grandfather’s 1 HP engine. In 1972, at an auction, he acquired
not one, but three engines. These engines were all Bauers 2, 4, and
a 6 HP. (Ed. note: Watch for a future story on Wayne’s
collection of Bauer engines.)
At Portland, he was excited to share with me his newly acquired
12 HP Kansas City Hay Press Junior engine. This engine was built by
the Kansas City Hay Press Co. in Kansas City, Missouri. The company
came into existence during the 1880s when it first developed hay
baling presses. In 1901, they added to their line with the
‘Lightning’ engine. The KC Junior Series was created in
1912 when it replaced the ‘Lightning.’ K.C. Juniors were
available in sizes 1 to 12 horsepower. The company briefly entered
the tractor business from 1908 to 1922. Interestingly enough, these
Kansas City tractors were powered with Waukesha engines, not K.C.
models.
Wayne’s 12 HP engine was the largest in the Junior line. It
is the only one known to still exist. I guess Wayne’s patience
paid off, after waiting eight years to acquire this engine. Bill
Graves, an Associated collector from New York, bought this engine
in the 1960s. It was used in a sawmill tandem along with a 20 HP
Mogul. The engine eventually was placed in storage for a long time.
Perseverance was in Wayne’s favor when he eventually was able
to acquire this engine.
The hay press engine has its original painta green engine with
red flywheels. Its serial number is #KC344. This engine has raised
letters, disk crank, diaphragm fuel pump, hit & miss governor,
and a walking beam valve system. Wayne has the original factory
trucks to place under the full base.
Wayne also has in his collection a 6 HP K.C. Junior engine with
serial #KC372. This engine is not complete, needing many parts to
complete his restoration. It requires a head, carburetor, fuel
pump, long walking beam style rocker arm, rod, cap and piston,
timing gear and timer, plus governor weights. He’s trying to
locate these parts to complete the restoration. All castings
belonging to any Kansas City Hay Press engine have a KC prefix,
making them very easy to identify. If you have any that he can
acquire or perhaps one to be used to create a new casting, you can
contact him at RR1, Box 98A, Onaga, KS 66521. He can also be
reached using his email at, what else, kcjunior@bluevalley.net.
