Our hobby, which consists of collecting internal combustion oil
field engines, encompasses only a small period (since the late
1890s) in the vast history of oil field machinery. Human, steam and
animal power were the motive force of the oil field from before the
time of the Ruffner Bros. brine wells, which were abandoned in 1806
because they produced oil instead of saltwater.
Illustration no. 1 shows one such machine intended for power by
horse. This machine, named the “Ohio,” was for well drilling and
prospecting work; it was built by the Loomis Machine Co. in Tiffin,
Ohio.
The next illustration, no. 2, shows a portable steam-powered
drilling machine called the “Advance” built by the Loomis Machine
Co. Contact OilField Engine Society at: 1231 Banta’s CreekRoad,
Eaton,OH 45320-9701; oilengine@earthlink.net
www.oilfieldengine.com
