133 Maple Street, Greenbuss, Massachusetts 02040
Several months ago I caught the fever just from talking to a
fellow who stopped to see my 1928 Reo 1-1/2 Ton Dump Truck, which
was parked where I work. He was interested in gas engines and
talked me into looking for one. Well, the next day I had one which
was given to me (a 2 H.P. Monarch). It was well froze up and not
knowing a thing about a Hit and Miss, I was really interested in
seeing what made the thing work, being the antique nut I am. The
engine came apart so easy I was surprised, even though it had sat
outside for 20 years or so.
I got the pieces cleaned up, honed the cylinder wall, went down
to the Auto Supply Store, and got some Piston Ring (1954 Chey Rings
fit but I had to put two rings to each groove). I came back and
ground the valves and started to reassemble it. I got it all back
together and was ready to fire it up (this was all done on a
Saturday), but I was stumped with the ignition. I turned the engine
over a few times and found that the Push Rod for the exhaust valve
made contact on the compression stroke at T.D.C. Well, I figured
that, what I know now, is the Mag was missing, a Model T coil would
work. I taped the rocker arm good, put on a brass plate with a wire
to it and wired up a T coil to it. Every time the push rod hits the
brass plate it fires the plug. I filled the gas tank and the
hopper, hooked a G.V. Battery to the coil and after two or three
hours of cranking I got her running. After three or four hours of
watching the foolish thing jumping every time it fired, I just had
to show it to everyone. The guy who gave it to me still does not
believe it runs. There is no way to time it with my Model T Coil. I
know now what that extra push rod is and the cast iron bracket
where the spark plug is, is broken. The missing piece held the
Magneto. Maybe someday I’ll find one.
Since then I have been looking everywhere for old engines. I now
have 16 of them plus the whereabouts of six or seven more. They are
more fun than old cars (I have a 26 T Express wagon, 28 Reo Dump
and a 1930 AA Platform).
Here is what I’ve collected;- The 2 H.P. Monarch Model U
1916 Evenrude-Water Pump 192? I.M. Trask
4-6 H.P., 850-900 RPM, Lobster Boat engine, looks like the
Cushman pictured on page 33 of the Sept.-Oct. 1973 G.E.M.
John Schneider, nearest the camera, is ready to line up his
40-60 2-cylinder Hart-Parr tractor for the parade at the 1973
Pontiac, Illinois Show on Labor-Day week-end. John 1/2 of the John
& Fred Schneider team at this show. These brothers are without
a doubt, the most amiable pair we have ever met. They enjoy
exhibiting their equipment and they have excellent items of
interest.
If John opens the compression release on the engine while it is
throttled up a little, you might lose your poise and jump straight
up when it gives out a healthy boom.
192? Johnson Outboard
1928 Briggs & Stratton Garden Tractor
192? Unknown
This one looks homemade except for the cast iron. The machine
parts are Model T. It is a 2 cylinder, one cyl. the engine, the
other an air compressor. The crank and cam shaft are Model T cut in
half. Valves, rods, engine, piston, carb and timing cover are Model
T. I would like more information on this one.
1923 Jacobsen lawn mower
190? Mianos 2 cycle Make & Break Boat Engine
189? steam engine, double acting about 5′ tall
191? 2-1/4 Hired Hand, needs connecting rod and piston
193? 2 cyl. Novo, model number RV3-l/4×5, parts engine for
anyone interested.
Half of a 7E H.P. Hercules Engine 103741 needs the flywheels,
crank shaft, gas tank, engine base and a rocker arm to make it
run.
1917-18 2 H.P. Fairbanks-Morse
192? Taylor Vacuum Engine
192? Witte
The best one I have is ‘The New England’, built by the
New England Gas Engine Company, Boston, Massachusetts.
It has a place for an engine on the cast brass plate but was
never stamped. I’ll take a guess this was built at the turn of
the century. It weighs around 1500 lbs. I’d say it is a 5 H.P.
It has an upright Flyball governor at the front of the engine.
Connecting rod and crank shaft were machined from square stock and
not cast like the rest I’ve seen. There is a valve on each side
of the engine and the rocker arm is underneath the cylinder. The
plug, in the center of the heads, is a Make and Break unlike no
other I’ve seen or heard about. I found this one at an antique
shop for $50. I brought it home the next week and had it running.
The only pat. dates I can find on it are on the grease cups-1893
and 1894. Any help on this one would be greatly appreciated.
This hobby has really turned into something interesting.
