623 North 8th Street, Petersburg, Illinois 62675
This story begins 12 years ago, when I was working for a propane
gas company filling domestic gas tanks on the farm. I saw an old
cement mixer in the corner of a shed. It had a metal hood on one
end. Could this be an old hit and miss engine? I raised the door
and sure enough, there was one in there.
To make a long story short, I tried to buy the engine, but it
was not for sale. Then last spring the farmer was retiring and
having an auction. There on the sale bill, in bold type was this
2 HP Schramm. This was going to be my chance. I
talked to my son Kevin, with whom I am 50/50 on a few engines. We
agreed on what we wanted to pay for it. My share was $250, which
was more than I wanted to spend, but we got it.
The wheels on the cart were all frozen up-we had to drag it up
on the trailer to move it. The engine was locked up, too, but it
was all there. The battery box with a knife switch was still here,
all it needed was a buzz coil. The gas tank was home to a mouse
family, so we had to make a new one. The piston was stuck, but with
some diesel fuel, a week’s time, and a hammer, that was freed
up. The head had a crack in it, but with some J.D. Weld, that was
fixed as well. I took the engine and the cement mixer off the cart,
made the cart shorter, then put the engine back on it.
There must not be many of the 2 HP engine made. I have never
seen one before. I have seen a few of the air compressor engines.
The gray paint has very few hours on it. It shows no wear any
place. It mixed concrete for a corn crib and then was put in the
corner of the shed for 60 or 70 years. After this engine was put
back together and some gas put in the primer, it started on the
first quarter turn. It didn’t stay running, but with a little
mixer adjustment, it started back up and kept running. This engine
starts so well you can walk by it and it will start running! The
serial number on the engine is #20141.
If anyone hass any other information on the engine, please
contact me, Harold Stier, at the above address.
