Route 4, Morrison, Illinois 61270
I’ve been quite interested in the discussion on the
different makes of engines in the last few issues of GEM and would
like to offer some information I have on the subject that may
help.
I have a 1952 Buyer’s Guide and Implement Repair Directory
and while it does not seem to be 100% reliable in all respects, I
will pass on what information it contains.
The Rock Island and Empire engines are marked (Alamo) and also
the Royal, Hoosier, Lansing and Victor. Most Rock Island and Alamo
engines in this locality used the wizard magneto. Nelson Bros,
carried repairs for the Jumbo, Little Jumbo, Trojan Dazzle Patch,
Dan Patch, Minnesota Monarch, National and the Nelson Royal.
One place this directory does not ring true is that it states
repairs are available (1952) for the Iowa and Associated engines
but are not for the Busy Boy, Chore Boy, Hired Man, Hired Hand, 4
Mule Team, 7-8-12 and 18 Mule Team engines. These were also
Associated Manufacturers Engines. The last of these engines were
called the Iowa Oversize and had heavier crankshafts and full
length cooling hoppers. At one time, they were the worlds largest
builders of farm power engines. They did a huge export business
under the name of Amanco.
Now, I would like to introduce another family of engines for
discussion if I may. These are the Weil Bros. Banner, United,
Faultless, Majestic, Sheldon and Sandow. Let me add, that United
and Sandow at times handled other makes. United sold at least four
different makes under their name. One was the Arcadia, still made
in Nova Scotia, Canada. Another was the 1? Hp. Busy Boy and another
small engine with the push rod and governor on the left hand side.
Sandow sold many 2 cycle upright engines, some say built by
Detroit.
I believe the first mentioned makes were built by Waterloo Boy.
If you take your issue of GEM for Mar.-Apr. 1966 – on the back page
you will find a picture of a 2 Hp. Majestic. In the July-Aug.
issue, page 21 there is a picture of Melvin Oilers Weil Bros. Then,
in the Nov-Dec. issue, page 16, there is a picture of John
Miller’s 2 Hp. Waterloo. This engine is an old style job and
seems to be original. A dead ringer for my Faultless even to the
gas tank support brackets, except for the governor, the Waterloo is
basically the same as the others and I feel sure that this can be
taken from a Waterloo and will fit on the others. The Waterloo
governor is gear driven while the others have the weights on the
flywheel, similar to Galloway and Associated.
The waterhopper varies in shape between some, even some of the
same name. I have a picture of a 1918 Majestic (adv) which has a
tapered hopper, while Ray Geisinger’s job has the straight
sides like my Faultless and Oilers Weil Bros. Some of the Sandow
engines had a tapered hopper, but a different top very much like an
Associated. One thing I noticed on Geisinger’s Majestic is a
better designed rocker arm bracket. On all others of this type, I
have noticed this bracket also serves as a nut for a head bolt and
if it does not tighten just right, it must be shimmed so the rocker
arm and valve line up right.
Here again is where I feel at odds with the Repair Directory. It
states that repairs for Sandow, Sheldon and Old Majestic are
available from John Deere, which points to Waterloo Boy which J. D.
bought out. If J. D. sold repairs for these three, they also had
repairs for the others.
Here is my International Famous Vertical Engine. It is a 3 H.P.
Hit and Miss engine running at 360 R.P.M. The engine is in
excellent orginal condition, including red cylinder and crank case
with black flywheels. The finely painted design on the cyinder is
still clear and colorful. The engine was bought new in 1913 and
used by the owner in his barn on a line shaft. From the shaft he
operated a water pump, corn cropper and beet pulper.
I also found an engine which was purchased new by the owner and
he stated it was built by Waterloo and sold by a carriage and wagon
works. This was the same type as the other names I have mentioned,
but the day was cloudy and I couldn’t see to read the tag as
the engine was back in a shed with no windows.
The Directory also states that J. D. handled repairs for the
Caldwell, Hollowell, Ever Ready, Gault, Jacob-sen, Oray and the
Hustler. I have heard of one Ever Ready, but never knew of the
other names.
These engines mentioned of the Waterloo type used the
Lunkenheimer carburetor and it was on the left side of the head
while the exhaust was on the bottom.
There is a similarity between these and the engines spoken of as
being of Nelson manufacture as to the governor and flywheels, but
the most noticeable thing about the Waterloo type is the long
connecting rod and engine base which is in one piece with the
cylinder, not bolted as the Nelson type.
I have noticed at times in the Iron-Men and E. & E. that
some ask for help in finding repairs for their English Fordson
tractors. Central Tractor Parts Company, 1515 E. Euclid, Area Code
515, Des Moines, Iowa have the best supply of repairs I know of and
they carry new parts in manifold and carburetors, valves, valve
guides, valve springs, coils and points (genuine K. W.) rings,
drain plugs for air washer and crankcase, fan belts, radiator
cores, connecting rods, steering shaft with gear and also the
sector gear. All wheel and transmission bearings and gaskets for
engine. They have used parts for all Fordsons.
In case of a pinch, write to the Ford Motor Co., Dagenham,
England and I think they will see that you get what you want, as
they ship their cars to the U. S. A. right along and they could
most likely send tractor repairs along with the repairs for their
cars.
I once owned an Irish Fordson and at that time the repairs came
in duty free, but not so with tractors and the dealer and I once
figured up that a tractor could be bought as repairs and assembled
here far cheaper than to buy the entire machine.
I just looked up my 1938 price list on repairs. New engine,
crankcase and front axle bracket and head, $215.00 less magnet and
fan. Manifold and carb. assembly, $18.75. New radiator, complete,
$37.50. Transmission case, $35.00. So, if you would add that much
more you would have your tractor. If repairs are duty free now,
they would not be as high as for American makes even after
transport charges are paid.
I have a Field Type W. Engine which is the very same as the Type
W. Sattley. Montgomery Ward also sold a side shaft job under the
name Ward, that was built by Field-Brundage. It seems that M. W.
bought out F-B about 1915.
Here is a picture of my Dad’s McCormick Deering 10-20 which
I recently finished restoring. It is in excellent condition and
runs wonderful.
Socialogists are prone to speak of the ‘ideal’ family.
Here is my ‘IDEAL’ Family – left to right, Type M 3? hp.
S/N 20421 ,Type M 2 hp. S/N 13716, Type R 1 hp. S/N 11001, Type R ?
hp. S/N 07118.
I have talked to two or three men who spoke of meeting a man at
the E.D.G.E. show in Michigan who has the history of F-B gas
engines down in good shape. He lives in Jackson, Michigan works in
the building where these engines were formerly made, has talked to
some who helped build them and I believe he owns at least one
engine of that make now.
Some readers of GEM in that part of the country surely know of
this man, so why doesn’t somebody contact him and maybe he will
be able to make us happy.
The Rawleigh-Schryer factory burned down in 1917 and most all
the records with it. The Rawleigh Co. still have some of the
advertising literature in their files.
Maybe some of the old Stover employees in Freeport might know
someone who worked for Rawleigh and find out from them, as that
seems to be the best way to learn the engine history.
Could someone tell me what type the old style Fairbanks-Morse
were known by? I refer to the horizontal engine with the cross
shaft through the base having the govenor, cam gear and push rod on
the right side and the igniter and fuel pump on the left. I have a
four Hp. on which the patent dates run up to 1908. It has a large
brass name plate but the place for type has not been stamped in.
Recently, I got a 2 hp. and it states, Fairbanks-Morse, 2 Hp.,
patented August 1899, but no type. I think they were known as type
M, but some disagree on this and I would like to know for sure.
