Well, I don’t know about you folks, but we had a White
Easter, yep! No wonder we couldn’t see the Easter Bunny — we
really had quite a snowfall and the shovels had to be brought out
again from hibernation (we thought for quite a few months) and put
back to work. Just goes to show us — the Master is still supreme
authority over us — and I’m glad. I think we get so smug in
this day and age and think we can solve our own problems and then
along comes lots of those beautiful snowflakes and we are thrown
into chaos — transportation comes almost to a standstill,
communications are interrupted and we fret and fume. I like it
though in this respect — to me it is as a gentle warning from a
loving parent to stop and think — we’re not as great as we
assume we are — everything is not solved scientifically and we
should not take all our wonderful blessings for granted. Some of
you folks may not understand what I’m trying to say — but
methinks many will.
Anyhow, Easter has come and gone, winter is past (I think) and
this is the May-June issue and you’ll wonder why I was talking
about all that snow in the spring issue, but then it has been an
unusual year with snow so late in the season. So, stop reading my
ramblings and get to shining that engine or putting that coat of
paint on to beautify it. And by the time this printing reaches you
you’ll be heading for the Reunions. — and for some of you it
will be your second, third or fourth Show of the year as they start
quite early now in the South and some of our readers journeyed down
to those affairs.
In the Nov.-Dec. magazine on page 22, Mr. Al Troyer of Sturgis,
Michigan, has a question about a two cylinder Edwards engine. I do
not know what year they were built. I had one in the early 30s and
it was old then. But about starting, they have no outside fly wheel
and no place for a crank. They start very easy, nearly always on
the first pull. Mine had no muffler, so I poured gas in the ext.
pipes to prime. Then I used a 1-inch wide strap with a ring on
handle on one end. Wrap it around the pulley like the small lawn
mower or boat engine. Be sure to wrap the strap over itself so it
will not slip. That is all there is to it.
The above advice comes from Jacol Vander Hoff, Lowell, Oregon
97452. Hope it will help some of you folks, including Al.
LeRoy Under, R. R. 3, Box 247, Monroe, Wisconsin 53566, writes:
‘I think I have the answer to your What Is It? on page 12 of
your July-August 1969 issue. The two cycle marine engine is a
Lockwood Ash. The information on the nameplate of one says:
‘Lockwood Ash Motor Company, Jackson, Michigan, Model 24, 2?
hp. No. 21808. Use only Mobil Gargoyle Motor Oil, mix 1 pint to
five gallons of gasoline. Turn grease cups once a day. It runs in
either direction by moving the lever on the distributor.’ I
hope this information will help.’ Thanks LeRoy for your
efforts.
Philip D. Hochstetler, 204 W. Reed St., Napanee, Indiana 46550,
would like to know the address of the Diesel Power Publication. Do
I hear any answers?
Richard Frazer, RFD 3, Preston, Minnesota 55965, sends us this
communication: ‘In response to the letter written by Gerald
Jacobson in the March-April issue of GEM on the
3/4 hp. Associated Engine, I beg to differ.
There was a leather strap riveted to the drum that rotated on the
flywheel shaft. Inside the drum was a spring assembly that rewound
the leather strap, after the engine started. The dogs that you will
see are fastened to the flywheel so that centrifical force will
make them disengage when the engine is running so the drum will
return and stand still.’
Well, there is Mr. Frazer’s comment and I don’t
understand a thing about it but I’m sure you gas engine fiends
know what he is talking about. (I’ve never heard the term
‘dogs’ used before as being fastened to a flywheel – tell
me, someone, what that is and I thank you — Anna Mae.)
Richard D. Hamp, 1772 Conrad Avenue, San Jose, California 95124,
relates this bit of information: ‘I have found a couple of
items which have helped me in my engine restorations. First, I have
found a cure for worn threads on carburetor needle valves. I wrap
the thread with a layer or two of plumber’s ‘Ribbon
Dope’ made by the Permacel Company of New Brunswick, New
Jersey. ‘Ribbon Dope’ is teflon tape.
Next, I have found a way to seal small pin holes in old gas
tanks and prevent further rusting. I use ‘Slushing
Compound’ made by the Fuller Paint Company. This is used to
coat the inside of aircraft tanks. You pour it into the gas tank
and slosh it around to coat the walls and then pour it out. It
coats the tank walls with a layer of a rubber-like substance to
seal small holes and prevent rusting. It is rather expensive as it
is about $11.00 per gallon, but one gallon should coat over two
dozen one gallon tanks. A friend of mine coated the gas tank on his
1933 Pontiac and only used about a half pint. The Fuller Paint
Company number for this ‘Slushing Compound’ is
8509.’
As you will note from Elmer’s column, he is spending the
weeks from Sunday night until Friday evening in a convalescent
haven only a few miles from his home. His steam is down a little
and he’s in the shops for a tune-up, I’d say. Many friends
drop in to see him and he is still our wonderful BOSS — it’s
his word that counts in getting out our publications. I’m happy
that he can be having all the care he needs and deserves and his
family visits him daily. As a matter of fact, I’m leaving soon
and go down and heckle him a bit — he likes that.
Bye bye and I’ll see you next issue. Have fun at the
get-togethers.
My Fordson tractor down on my farm in Campbell, New York with
Cindy, waiting to go for a ride in the wagon behind the tractor.
Whenever an engine is started, be it steam or gas, Cindy will be
there for the ride.
Many readers of the Iron-Men Album will recall that Cindy was on
the front cover of Nov.-Dec. 1965 Album with me. I was sure proud
of that — as it was a surprise to me.
An M. W. Savage gas engine. This engine was built by M. W.
Savage of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The nameplate reads ‘Dan
Patch.’ He named the five horsepower and larger engines he made
after his famous race horse – Dan Patch. As you well know, he was
the fastest race horse. He ran sixty miles per hour or a mile a
minute. I guess he has never been surpassed.
The smaller engines he named Dassele Patch, after the other
racing horse he owned.