3 Washington Street Brattleboro, VT 05301
The setting was the 10th annual Central Massachusetts Steam
& Gas Machinery Association Show at Orange, Massachusetts
airport June 28 and 29, 1986. The ‘star’ was Doug
Johnson’s giant C. H. Brown engine. You couldn’t miss it!!!
Weighing in at 12 tons, this engine sports an eight foot flywheel,
has a 13′ piston, 34′ stroke and packs 125 horses of power.
What’s the story behind this gleaming black giant that
dominated the Orange show?
The engine was made in Fitchburg, Massachusetts around 1909 or
1910. It ran the machinery in the Smith and Day Furniture Company
in Baldwinville, Massachusetts and as near as anyone can figure was
last used in 1949 or 1950. Twenty years later when the engine was
going to be scrapped, a construction man saved it, remembering that
Doug Johnson of Wendell Depot, Massachusetts was a collector of old
engines. Acquired by Doug in 1974, the engine sat in pieces in a
field by his house and rusted for ten years more.
In the summer of 1985, assisted by his brother Don Johnson, Doug
set out to restore the engine to working order. His goal? To have
it ready to display at the Central Massachusetts show in 1986.
‘We worked nine days a week,’ quips Doug, ‘after
work and weekends for eleven months straight.’
The brothers built a shed to cover the engine, with a large
plastic front facing south for solar heat in the winter. In
freezing weather the shed would maintain a workable 40° to 50°
because the huge metal parts had absorbed heat all through the day.
At times condensation would be a problem and they would have to
leave the flaps open whatever the outside temperature.
Both brothers work in Athol, Massachusetts, Doug as a machinist
and Don as a machine operator. How did these after-work hours
affect their home life? Says Doug of his wife Sheila: ‘The
understanding is a lot. When your wife doesn’t moan and
complain, that makes it a lot easier.’
Says Sheila Johnson in turn: ‘He loved working on that
engine. He had to have loved it if he would miss meals!
Sometimes I would call him three or four times and keep reheating
his supper. But I didn’t get upset because he was having such a
good time.’
Brother Don adds: ‘No, I’m not married. Actually,
you’re married to this when you’re working on
it!’
Doug Johnson has been a collector of gas engines for many years.
‘At one time I had 80 or so. I bought, swapped and sold. I did
most of my collecting before the time of the gas engines shows,
when engines could be had cheaper than nowadays. Right now I have 8
or 10 engines, including a real nice Abenaque.’
Doug also owns the restorable parts of a Putnam engine. Like the
C. H. Brown it was made in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It will weigh
in at 25 tons with a 16 foot flywheel. He would consider selling
it. ‘It should be set up permanently once it’s restored,
and not moved.’
Clusters of fascinated show-goers gathered around this black
giant at the Orange show to watch the slow motion proof that it was
indeed in fine working order. As yet the Johnsons have no boiler to
provide the steam to operate the engine. At its public debut in
Orange the engine was being turned over smooth as silk by a 3 HP
Briggs and Stratton with a 200:1 gear reduction just to show off
the velvet smooth motion of this ‘Black Beauty.’
Sheila Johnson: ‘I’m glad it’s done and glad he
succeeded in getting it done for the Orange show.’
Doug Johnson: ‘I kept saying, ‘I don’t think
we’re going to make it.’ ‘
Sheila: ‘And I kept saying I knew you would!’
