Read the latest gas engine news from Anna Mae.
The latest gas engine news. Well, here it is — the January-February issue of Gas Engine
Magazine which heralds the beginning of the second year — may it be
a Happy One for all of you folks and not to be selfish, but I hope
it will be a better one for the staff of the Gas Engine Magazine
for as you know, I’ve been in the hospital twice — and Earl
Snell (Kitty’s husband) has just been in over a week and then
Elmer met with an automobile accident which hospitalized him for
about 11 days, then he was home about five days and had to be taken
back for another lengthy stay — but right now, everyone is looking
for the best to come this new year of 1967.
One of the bright notes in this year for us was the birth of a
granddaughter — our first grandchild born December 2 at Allentown
Ostepathic Hospital (Eddie and Kathleen now live in Bangor,
Pennsylvania and I understand it was quite a trip to the hospital
as it takes about an hour to get there, but Grandma and Grandpa
Cascioli got them there safe and sound, this is the Cascioli’s
first grandchild too. The new parents named the little one Stacy Jo
and she weighed in at 5 lb. 14 oz. We understand she is doing fine
but we at this end of the line are all awaiting anxiously for the
first visit that we can make to see our new little member —
although they only have one niece she inherits two Aunts from our
immediate family and two Uncles all at once — that’s a pretty
good beginning! Perhaps next time I’ll have more to tell about
the little angel.
A short letter from F. Hal Higgins of Davis, California
offers us two corrections on errors made in our Nov-Dec. magazine.
He writes, “Page 20, item under the International Motor
Cultivator, top right, has LeRoy — change Y to I and you have it
right. Page 23, that four-wheel Massey-Harris would be helped by
inserting the word (drive) after wheel. There weren’t many
4-wheel drive tractors at that date, and a lot of gas tractor
followers like to know which ones were of that type.” Our
apologies and thanks for constructive criticism.
This is my two horse power International Tom Thumb with hit or
miss governor and make and break ignition-battery. I found this
engine in Hodes Junk Yard, Pleasant Gap, PA. Everything was rusted
fast but as most of the parts were there I bought it, paying five
cents per pound. The fellow who helped me load it in my station
wagon said “I don’t see what you want this thing for,
you’ll never get it running.”
I do not know where it came from but apparently it had been out
in the weather for years as all of the grease was gone and most of
the. paint. I spent hours taking it apart, cleaning rust, painting
and putting it back together. The only part that I broke was the
exhaust valve. I had one, almost the same size, so that was no
problem. As this engine has a brass connecting rod, I equipped it
with brass grease cups.
George Kempler, Emporium, PA made new springs for me and now I
have it completed and I must say it is a nice running engine.
That’s about all I have for this time, but I believe
I’ll leave with a New Year’s Meditation by Mrs. Merrel
Thompson that goes:
Dear Lord, as I close the door on this year,- I ponder on the
things I’ve done . . . On the things I’ve said and the joys
I’ve had . . . Then I wonder, have I lost or won?
I’ve thought of the new friends I have made, And of the old
one staunch and true . . . The path of the old year was made
easier Lord, Because I have walked it with You.
I think of all the many times, When my burdens were so heavy to
bear, And how my faith slipped away from me . . . But somehow
You were always standing there.
Now as I open the door to this New Year, And carefully peep
inside, I wonder what it holds for me . . . But I’ll throw the
door open wide.
And whatever it brings to me and mine, I’ll meet it with a
heart so true . . . I know that, Lord whate’er it may be — you’ll be there to carry me through.
Pictured here is an engine, owned by Carrington Hide and Fur
Co., Carrington, North Dakota being used daily to drive a steel
shear metal cutter. They said this engine was originally used for
oil well work and is a Fairbanks-Morse 7 hp gas engine. The
unusual feature of this engine is the cooling system. It seems that
water is filled to not quite full in the square compartment above
the cylinder, and more or less, sealed with a plug. The radiator is
sealed completely to the engine without any opening at all, and
considering the size of pulley used to drive the fan, it must be
running at a high rate of speed. The steam or hot water must need
to evaporate upwards in the radiator and after cooling drop back
down again — this way it must require the temperature of the water
to rise to a certain degree before this system can start
cooling.
This is a closed crankshaft model and is self-oiling by either a
pump or splash system. It uses a Fairbanks-Morse high tension
magneto, and will work all day on five gallons of gas.
Our 18-36 hp Hart Parr gas tractor getting ready to thresh
some oats on a little 22-inch separator.
Homer G. Prudom, Fairport, N.Y., passed away on
Oct. 17, 1966 at the age of 76 after an illness of several months.
He began work as a steam crane operator for the Luddington
Construction Co. about 1910 in relocating the Barge Canal from
downtown Rochester to several miles south of the city. He then went
with the company to New York City in 1918 to work on bridge
construction, again as a steam crane operator. He later worked at
the New York Central car shops in East Rochester until his
retirement about 10 years ago.
He was born on a farm in West Shelby, and as a boy worked with
steam powered threshers and tractors. Through most of his years, he
used steam-powered machinery. About nine years ago, he and several
others decided to form the New York Steam Association to preserve
this type of Engine machinery. Later on in 1964, he was one of the
charted members and one of the first Directors of the Pioneer Gas
Engine Association, Inc.
His knowledge of the steam and gas powered equipment seemed to
be endless. He will indeed be greatly missed by all who knew
him.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; a daughter, Mrs. Bertha
Bellinger of Arlington, VA; two sons, Alan and Homer of Pittsford;
12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
