Here we go again. (Still collecting engines.)
At a show in August 2012 at Blanchard, Michigan, I was riding around with my Standard Twin garden tractor with a sulky when I went by a fellow who thought my setup was neat. As we visited we got on the subject of engines and I told him I had traded my Avery tractor for four engines. He told me he had a Faultless engine and he was willing to sell. Of course I was interested as I hadn’t seen a Faultless and thought that might be nice to have for my collection.
So then back in February 2013 my son and I dropped off an engine with Gary Calvin so he could get it going. As close as we can tell that engine is an air-cooled Bluffton. A picture on the lower left corner of page 60 of American Gasoline Engines Since 1872 Vol. 1 by C.H. Wendel shows a Bluffton Cream Separator Co., Bluffton, Ohio, engine, which looks identical to mine.
On the way home we stopped to look at the Faultless and to my surprise it looked as the pictures showed. I also looked at what the fellow said was a Casey Jones railroad engine (more on that in a minute). He told me a price for the two engines and said he would come to my place to see what I had to trade toward them.
After I thought it over I called and told him the engines got to me and I would somehow get them. He got a chuckle out of that and said he would put my name on them. On April 11, 2013, he and his wife came and he picked out some things I had and we did some dealings, so now I have the engines. He also said he had another engine that he would put my name on. It is different as it is an inboard boat motor.
On April 28, my son delivered the stuff and we picked up the engines and then went down to Scotts Old Tyme Power and Equipment Assn. Plow Days and Swap Meet at Scotts, Michigan, to show them off. My oldest son showed up and he asked if the engine would run and I said it should. There was a little gas in the tank, so he choked it and it started up. I said, “I’ve only had it about 2 or 2-1/2 hours and already have it running.”
This engine, the Faultless, I can take to shows and don’t have to do anything to it. Also notice the top of the water hopper that is held on by four bolts.
You can see a picture of an engine similar to my Casey Jones railroad engine in American Gas Engines Since 1872 Vol. 1 on page 448 under M.W. Savage Co. I’m sending a picture of my Casey Jones engine. If any GEM readers come across anything about it I would like some info about it.
In July 2013, the same fellow who sold me the Faultless sold me the other engine he put my name on: a Waterman marine engine. The Waterman was apparently used to launch boats. It has a lot of brass. I got it home and took it to a show the same day to show it off. It is something different.
I’ve also included pictures of a 7 HP Jumbo that I picked up back in June 2013. This was taken before loading it. That’s me by the engine.
On July 30, 2013, I stopped by a scrap yard to get some prices on scrap metal, and on the way to my car a fellow pulled up and I saw an old small outboard motor in the back. A nice looking engine that looked all complete except the gas tank. He said the fellow bought a new one and gave him that one. It appears it was manufactured by Clinton Engine Corp. USA.
July 31, 2014, is the start of our show here in Michigan, the Western Michigan Old Engine Club, Scottville, Michigan. As far as I know there are only two of us that are left or in the show who were around when it started 40 years ago.
Contact Charles Hargreaves at 2131 Victory Corner Rd., Ludington, MI 49431 • (231) 843-9374
