514 Brown St., Jackson, Minnesota 56143
I found my Fuller & Johnson pumpjack engine about 20 years
ago in one of my farmer customer’s hay mow. The crank handle
was missing, battery box caved in and full of mouse nest, gas tank
in two pieces, mufflers missing, engine stuck. It sat in my shop
until 2 years ago when I retired and had time to restore it. I
dismantled it down to the last nut and bolt, cleaned, sandblasted,
made missing parts, repaired others, painted and installed the
engine on a well pump. It runs well and takes its place alongside a
Monitor pumpjack engine.
I got my start at about the age of five, when I helped my dad
work on (and get greasy) the Emerson Brantingham and Fordson
tractor and model T Ford car, and all the other farm neighbors’
tractors, up until Pearl Harbor. After four years chasing Hitler
across North Africa, Italy, France and Germany, I went into the
automotive and general repair business. We would repair anything
the customer could drag in, or go out and repair it where it broke
down. I specialized in magneto and electrical repair. Over the
years I have met some mighty fine people among the gas engine and
old tractor and car ‘nuts’. A lot of these fellows call to
discuss pet projects, and there is always the standing offer to
‘stop in and see my pet project and have a cup of coffee’.
(I think I will take some of those Florida and California guys up
on that offer if the snow gets any deeper here!) I have helped
people out with parts or repairs all over the USA, Canada and even
New Caledonia (a small island off the coast of Australia). A great
bunch of people.
My present newly acquired project is a water pump powered by a
Wisconsin air cooled 4 cylinder in-line engine. I have never seen
another like it and our Wisconsin distributor thinks I am pulling
his leg when I tell him I have one. I am trying to find out the age
of this outfit, and if I fail, I will have to call on you for some
help.
