Box 786 Tapper Lake, New York 12986
I have been referred to you by the Henry Ford Museum of
Dearborn, Michigan. I am interested in information on the Meitz and
Weiss internal combustion engine. I possess one such engine in near
perfect condition and would like to get this engine running if at
all possible. Unfortunately, I do not know what fuel this engine
utilized, how it is started, and how it should be properly
maintained.
A good while ago I sent away for the patent but never received
it. I recently wrote the Henry Ford Museum and they have referred
me to you. I can give you the following information on this engine.
The Brass plate on the side of the engine reads thus; Although the
Engine is complete, there is no type of electric ignition on it. On
the end of the cylinder there is a round ball resembling a trailer
hitch. On one side of this cast ball is the number 2 and on the
other side of this ball is the number 2? This ball looks as though
it had been exposed to intense heat at some time. This engine also
apparently uses a rotating eccentric as a means of timing ignition.
I do not believe this engine used gasoline as a fuel. On
reconditioning this engine I noticed that the copper tank bolted to
the top of the machine possessed a type of white corrosion on the
inside. Could this have been a water storage tank for production of
acetylene? As copper corrodes green the only thing that I could
think of is that somehow calcium carbonate or other salt had been
deposited on the sides of the tank. I do not think this tank could
have been the site of any gas production as there is no seal at the
top.
I would be happy to pay for any copies of the original patent
that you could dig up and any copies of the operation and
maintenance manual that you could find. These do not have to be
originals; only xeroxed copies.
I am extremely anxious to hear anyone concerning this engine as
I would like to get it running soon. Thank you for your
cooperation.
This model of an Aultman-Taylor Tractor was built by Ralph W.
Shelburne, 980 West Pine, Zionville, Indiana. It required over 1100
hours to complete the work. The machine was originally a roller.
Equipped with a vertical engine it develops 14 hp. on the belt.
Photo by Harry Hall.
The Rumely Oil Pull
Come listen all you tractor men To a story I know well About the
stand of a Rumely man And what makes it run so well.
It is a slow speed engine With large pistons all built well The
fly wheel it is bigger than I would really care to tell.
And when it starts to rolling It gives a lot of pull To keep the
Rumely rolling And really make it pull. It burns the low cost
kerosene And water from the well It burns them both efficiently And
economically as well.
Doesn’t use enough to break you But runs ever steady and
well And when the load gets heavier She likes it just as well.
So now you have heard my story About the Rumely Oil Pull So if
there were some built better I wonder where they pull?
This poem was written by W.O. Krum-wiede, also known as Rumely
Bill, of Voltaire, North Dakota who has a collection of over 30
Rumely Oil Pulls.
