13285 CR 200 Ridgeway, Ohio 43345
It’s a 4 HP Galloway sawrig, built between 1916 and the mid
1920s, when the 4 HP designation was changed to 5 HP. This engine
was originally found in the rough at the Trager farm, northwest of
Kenton, Ohio, and purchased by Lloyd Albert, from whom we purchased
it at auction on December 5, 1992. My finance wrote a poem for me
(GEM February ’94, page 20) about the sale day.
In February of 1993 we cut down three 20′ diameter oak trees
to make room for our future home, saving the logs to be sawn into
lumber for the sawrig. These were sawn by Willis Lehman and the
late Duane Clegg at Buckeye Farm Antiques in May 1993, Wapakoneta,
Ohio.
During July 1993 Melva and I were married and the hobby was put
on hold as we adjusted to our new lives together. During the
winter, the engine and steel parts from the sawrig were sandblasted
in preparation for the next step.
We finally started tearing apart the old sawrig on June 26,
1994. Melvin Turner, my father-in-law, did the woodwork, and Melva
and I and whomever I could persuade did the cleaning, priming,
painting wheels and other parts.
The gas tank was ordered from Mike Green, Des Moines, Iowa, who
has always made good quality tanks for my engines. The Rockwood
pulley had disintegrated over the years, so we were on the lookout.
New ones are available but I have one of those ‘newlywed
budgets.’ At the Miami Valley Show, Plain City, Ohio, Melvin
spotted a pulley that would work with some machine work by K &
W Machining. The biggest problem to solve, I thought, was the part
to hold the wheel on (had three, lacked one). I thought I would
hacksaw and file and have the machine shop do the lathe work. I
showed him what I needed to make. He said he could make the
complete part, and at a fair price. Ahhhh!! Now it looks
complete!
The engine, as do most unrestored, needed a lot of sandblasting,
scraping, priming and painting. Old Wise Engine Man say, ‘4 HP
iron isn’t as easy to handle as the 1 HP iron.’ Old Wise
Engine Man also say, ‘Wise up, use forklift next time.’
After the coats of paint and varnish were on, we displayed it at
the county fair in the Hardin County Restorers and Collectors
Display.
While family and friends watched over the sawrig, we took a
vacation to the great state of Pennsylvania, visiting family near
the Nittany Show at Penn’s Cave. Of course, we couldn’t go
through western Pennsylvania without visiting Coolspring Power
Museum, where Mr. Merry gave us a great tour that was really
appreciated. After videos and T-shirts, we headed for home.
The paint on the Galloway had dried enough to be pinstriped. We
chose the striping and lettering from American Gas Engines Since
1872 by C. H. Wen-del, not gaudy, but enough to brighten it up.
By mid-September, Melva went to work. I’m very proud of her
work. The finished sawrig was displayed one time in 1994 at our
club’s showing at the Hardin County Heritage Days. We are very
proud to own the Galloway, and thankful for family and friends who
pitched in to help in this restoration.
Any traveling collectors through the area, give me a call, be
glad to show you a few engines!