1401 E, First St., Redfield, SD 57469
My Kelly engine has a cast iron name plate which says, ‘O.
S. Kelly Western Mfg. Co., Iowa City, Iowa.’ The numbers
‘1034’ are stamped into the block with ‘D82’
moulded into the base and it also has ‘D16′ cast into the
side plate, which carries one end of the crank shaft. The flywheels
measure 2 7/16 x 22′ diameter, the belt pulley is 8′ x
8’.
This upright engine has a 41/8‘ bore
and 5 stroke. It is rated at 2 HP. It has a splash oil system with
an auxiliary drip oiler for the cylinder. It is water cooled.
(Originally there was a large galvanized tank for the water. I have
replaced this with a stainless steel small tank.) The cast-iron
base forms the gas tank. It has a battery and coil make and break
ignition system.
My father bought this engine new in Coon Rapids, Iowa about 1909
or 1910. It was used to drive a line-shaft from which a cream
separator was run.
In 1927 we moved to Montana in an immigrant car and took the
Kelly with us. It was used there to pump water for a time but was
finally abandoned and stood idle for many years.
It was after my brother, who owned the farm, passed away that my
other three brothers and I discovered the old engine under some
straw bales. It had been partly dismantled and parts were scattered
about in the weeds.
Now the restoration began. We gathered up all the parts we could
find the last part to be found was the governor. We finished
dismantling the Kelly and loaded it in my travel trailer. I then
brought it to South Dakota.
After two years of my spare time making parts, scraping,
sanding, cleaning and painting, it was ready for the final test. I
turned the crank and the old Kelly came to life! It brings back
many nostalgic memories you see, I grew up with this engine. I,
too, was seventy-six last May.
This is the only Kelly engine I have ever seen. It is a
beautiful engine a deep yellow color with striking red striping and
is enhanced by a polished brass water jacket.
I would appreciate hearing from GEM readers who might be
interested in the Kelly engine. Does anyone know if this engine had
a vented crankcase?
