544 School Road, Nazareth, Pennsylvania 18064
The rare 6 HP Messinger gas engine shown on this month’s
cover, owned by Greg Rush, was manufactured by the Messinger
Manufacturing Company, which is located in Tatamy, Pennsylvania,
not far from Nazareth. Messinger manufactured farm machinery close
to 100 years, but made few gas engines. These engines were sold
locally.
One of the unique features on this engine is a drip oilier that
was cast into the water hopper. It is of the headless variety with
pack less valves. This style engine was manufactured in 3, 4, 6,
12, and 18 HP.
Greg did all the restorations, including making some of the
parts for it. Dennis Peters of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, built the
wagon, using all original parts of the iron hardware; the wagon was
styled after the original cart.
Greg also owns a 2 HP hopper cooled fully restored Messinger,
and a 9 HP hopper cooled Messinger that he is presently restoring.
He also owns other pieces of Messinger items that include
literature and farm equipment. He would like to hear from anyone
who has any Messinger items.
His 6 HP engine was featured in the 1993 Tatamy Centennial
Parade. The engine was on a trailer, and he had it running for the
whole parade.
