Well, I know we are not safe in the arms of Spring yet, but so
far in this area we have been very fortunate as far as not having
snow to shovel. We’ve had only light snows but I’d better
not say too much or we’re liable to really get it. Of course
there are the sad effects of no snow such as no sledding, no
snowmen and etc. and while we’d like the fun part we’re not
too anxious for the work part of getting the snow from the
pavements and driveways – I guess you’d say we’d just like
to ‘have our cake and eat it too’ which just isn’t
possible.
The reunion ads are starting to hit the main office and that
means ‘firing up the engines and getting ready to load the
precious GEMS on board for another round of shows and fun time.
I’ll bet you folks can hardly wait for the first Gas-up, but
then most of you do have the meetings and dinners previous to the
Reunions and I imagine they are just as much enjoyment.
Ron Magnuson of Box 1, Good Hope, Illinois 61438 has this to say
this issue: ‘Just a note to let you know that I would like to
hear from some of the readers concerning the shade of blue for the
Alamo Blue Line. I have a 7 Up. Alamo. I would like to know what
some of the readers use that have Alamos, in the way of paint,
before I paint mine.” (See, not only women fuss and worry
proper colors and decor). And then Ron goes on to say: ‘Keep up
the good work, gets better every issue. Only one thing wrong with
your magazine. It doesn’t come often enough. I would like to
see it printed every month’. Thanks, Ron, these kind letters
give us all inspiration to do better each time.
And I have a special note for Joe Fahnestock who writes our
interesting Spark Plug articles. ‘Dear Joe: Just had to write
and thank you for (what we think is) the Greatest article ever
written! (Jan-Feb. edition of the Gas Engine Magazine) It really
SPARKED our day. Thank you!’ (And it is signed Spark Plug Carl
Rismiller, Spark Plug A, Spark Plug B, Spark Plug C Jr. and Spark
Plug D and Missus Spark Plug.)
A nice letter from Arthur M. Anderson, 2117 East 36th, St.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407 tells us: ‘Got my Gas Engine
Magazine and I’m always happy for such good reading material. I
trust the good Lord will give you good people at Stemgas the
strength and wisdom (so do I) continue this fine work.
One of the first things I noticed in ‘Smoke Rings’ was a
query from Paul R. Spearing, R.R. 1, Baxter, Iowa who wanted to
know about the type of oiler on his 1909 Fuller and Johnson upright
air-cooled pump engine. We had an engine just like this one and
left it on the farm when we moved back in 1930. How I have wished
many times to have been able to get it back or get another like it.
I fear that long since it was sold for scrap.
As for the connecting rod oiler, it was very simple. It had a
built-in grease cup with a threaded cap which screwed into the cup
forcing the grease to the bearing. This cap had two little holes in
it (not all the way through) and perhaps a quarter inch apart.
There was also a little T handle with two little nibs that would
fit into the holes in the cap, this being used to screw the cap in
or out. As I recall, the T handle was clipped to the inside of the
little crankcase cover’.
Arthur wrote to Mr. Spearing but thought this information might
be of help to more readers and thus we printed the letter.
Nick Groff of 1418 North First Ave., Kelso, Washington 98626
wants to know if anyone can help him with his problem. He writes:
‘It’s about my Ottawa Gas Dragsaw. To all of our readers
that might have restored one of these engines you might know the
trouble I’m having gettin it in time. It seems when it goes
through the intake stroke, it sucks through the carburetor like it
should but then it blows back out the same way. Then vice-versa,
when it goes into the exhaust stroke. Could this be caused by an
auxiliary exhaust system? Or is it an eight cycle engine? And why
is there two mixing valves on the carburetor? I would like to know
how to use the priming cup on the front of the water jacket. Please
advise me on the timing.
This engine has an interesting back- ground. The original owner
told us that he and his brother had pestered their mother about
buying the engine for so long it almost drove her out of her mind.
She finally gave in and bought it for them. They felt they really
needed the saw because it would save them all the work of cutting
firewood by hand. Any help with these questions would be most
appreciated.’
Well, a lot of fellows get their problems solved through these
magazines and we’re happy to be of service in this way — and
they make good friends at the same time.
Jay Kobiske of Route 3, Waupaca, Wisconsin 54981 wrote us saying
that he thinks there should be a club for literature collectors. He
says there is a club for everything else and that the members could
exchange information and extra literature. He started collecting
tractor books since 1960 and is on the lookout for older books.
Well, maybe someone who feels the same way as Jay could write
him and get a few of you together – who knows you may form a
Literary Club-that’s the way these things get a-going!
I had a nice letter from Ernest Eggerth of Renwick, Iowa 50577.
Ernest wrote: ‘I get both your magazines and enjoy reading
them. I am an old thresher but love gas engines and tractors.
Last summer, my only grandson, Allen Fitch, said he wished he
had a gas engine so I told him I knew we had one in the machine
shed. We found a 4 Hp. Cushman engine that my father bought in
1910. He used it to run the moving parts of a grain binder and then
two horses would pull the binder. We used it many years and then
when I bought a tractor the Cushman was not used, I could not find
the coil, but a coil from a Model T worked and it runs fine.
I have some old machinery, a model T 1925 truck that runs and
also many old hand tools. Have three wood planes that my
Grandfather Eggerth made and also some highly prized pieces he made
of wood, in Czechoslovakia. Also have a 28 x 46 Nichols and Shepard
steel grain separator that I used 22 falls and it still runs
good.
I love to read your column, Smoke Rings, and the other columns
by Rev. Ritzman, Irene, Mrs. Ritzman and Uncle Jake. I am so
thankful that all of you recognize our wonderful Lord, as He is our
only hope. Also, I was so pleased when I heard those three
astronauts read from Genesis so far up near heaven-I wish more
people would recognize that there is a God. I wish all of you nice
people a most wonderful New Year and God’s blessing.
Wasn’t that a nice letter and I think all of us are inspired
by the readings the astronauts gave on Christmas Eve. Joe
Fahnestock did a wonderful article on that and it is in the I.M.A.
That takes care of the letters this time and we are well on our way
into 1969. We’re all busy here at the Branyan household and
anxiously awaiting news of the second grandchild’s arrival and
then looking to April for the 3rd one – I guess well soon be
veteran grandparents. Also Keli is about to have her cast taken off
of her arm. She broke it Dec. 29 – she fell in the bathroom while
getting undressed – one of those freak accidents as she just lost
her balance while undressing, but she has been a wonderful sport
about the whole thing and is so independent. She still does
everything she did before except wash her hair, but she even
practices her piano every day and the left arm that has the cast
on, the fingers are just sticking out, but she tries and I think it
is probably good exercise for her. Donny is busy with basketball
and the weights to build himself up and Tommie is just busy keeping
all of us busy. Bye bye for now. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day
and a Blessed Easter Season.
