19 Purdue, Pueblo, Colorado 81005
I belong to the Front Range Antique Power Association and I have
a Simplicity Flywheel Engine.
Let me tell you about an exciting event that happened to me.
One day without leaving my own yard I found what might be one of
the rarest engines in this part of the country. This is the way it
happened-
I was working in my garage when Joe Bucciarelli, my neighbor
from across the street, came over. He is in his late 70’s and
he saw the Witte Woodsaw I was working on. He said, ‘I see you
have one of those old engines.’ I said, ‘I collect and
restore them.’ He said that he and his brothers had an engine
with bigger flywheels that stood at about his waist. So, naturally
my attention level rose 110%!
After conversing for a while I popped the question. ‘Would
you like to sell it?’ I told him I would repair it, clean it
and fix it up and give it a good home. He said he would have to
talk to his three brothers. My excitement faded when I heard that
FOUR people would have to agree to it.
To cut a long story short, after talking back and forth for
about 6 months my neighbor asked if I was still interested in the
engine. I said ‘YES!’ He said, ‘My brothers said
they’d sell it.’ My heart raced! We made immediate
arrangements to go to his three brothers’ place.
Joe went inside to get his brothers, when we arrived. They came
out and unlocked a big garage where this engine had been kept for
‘umpteen’ years. It was rather dark inside and they pointed
the engine out against the wall. I could tell even in the dim light
that the flywheels were fairly good sized. With all the junk piled
around and on the engine it was hard to get over to it.
After removing all the junk piled on it, I took my flashlight
and looked for a brass tag. There was none. Written on the side,
however, was the word SIMPLICITY. The engine was complete and free.
So, I paid them and made arrangements to pick it up the next
morning. They said they would leave it outside for me. That
didn’t work out too well because when I went to get it, it was
frozen in ice! After some time spent extracting it from the ice, I
finally got it home.
I repaired the magneto bracket and made some minor repairs to
the head. Mr. Bob Turtle, now deceased, from Colorado Springs
helped me repair the magneto itself. I had been trying to get the
engine running for a year and a half, then in La Veta, Colorado on
August 8, 1987, Wes Stratman, Stan Gacnik, Don Mauger and I got the
engine to run for the first time!
This motor was used to run the lift for trucks and wagons for
the sugar beet dump in Salt Creek, Colorado. Joe remembers seeing
this engine run when he was a small boy. So, I believe it to be a
1900 Simplicity, 4 HP, LL-4, S.N. 12146. If anyone has any more
information about this engine, I would very much like to know.
I also acquired a Novo engine from another neighbor named Joe
Mismash, now deceased, and his brother. Almost the same
circumstances!
Not being entirely sure that this Simplicity is a 1900 4HP, I
have enclosed a picture. The lettering on it is LL-4 #12146. If you
can tell me what year it is for sure I would appreciate it. Some of
the engine club members seem to think it is a later model than a
1900. I also would like to know if WW1 Army OD green is the correct
color for this engine. It appears to be the color that is on the
engine now. Just recently my son-in-law in California called me
about a 2HP Simplicity. After several calls back and forth I
purchased the engine. Where the carburetor attached to the head,
there is a piece broken and missing. If anyone can show me a
picture or drawing of the part, or lend me one so I can make the
part, or even sell it, I would be grateful!
