Greetings to all our Gas Engine Magazine family and friends-we
know you are thrilled that it is show time again – and you are
trying to scoot to all the shows – t’ would be all right if you
could use scooters-what with the price of gas-Boy! that hurts to
think of the high cost of every thing these days – doesn’t it??
It’s bad enough how high prices are-but sometimes having the
money isn’t all that counts – if there is no gas – the money
won’t help much. Well, here’s hoping you all get to some of
the shows – and have a big gab fest and straighten out this country
– oh yeah! (Still the best country to live in, I believe – and I
hear a lot of Amen’s on that statement.) Have fun as you share
your ideas, your joys and your sorrows as you once again attend
reunions. Then don’t forget to let us in on these items of
interest.
Here comes a letter with lots of information, so you’d
better check this one out: LESTER L. ROOS, 328 N. State Street,
Geneseo, Illinois 61254 writes: ‘I too, like most of your
readers, look to Smoke Rings for information. With this in mind, I
wish to pass this on to the readers. Due to my health, I have
disposed of the Stover Engine & Mfg. Company records,
blueprints, etc. Following are the addresses of the places of
Stover information, paints, parts, etc. For serial numbers and
shipping dates: C. R. Johnson, 2538 Stephenson Circle, Freeport,
Illinois 61032. Telephones 8 15-233-1872 and 8 15-449-2316. For
copies of parts lists, instructions and parts prints, also
windmills: Charles H. Wendel, R.F.I)., Atkins, Iowa 522O6. Phone 3
19 446-2352.For engine parts: Jerry F. Sheldon, 12701 117th street,
Orion, Illinois (5 1273. Phone 309 799 3605. For feed mill parts:
Vernon Hensel, Ohio. Illinois 61349. Phone 815-379-2330. For Stover
decals: M. E Brison, Route 1, Box 192, Millersport, Ohio 43046.
ARMIN HELGESON, Genoa, Wisconsin 54632 wants to know if there
are any wrench collection clubs out in Gas Engine Land. He says
‘I have been collecting old and odd and different wrenches and
I think there is a need for such a club.’ (Hope you hear from
someone-I don’t know of any clubs, but I’m sure there are
several collectors of same.)
E. K. COATER, 8448 Chase Drive, Arvada, Colorado 8003 relates:
‘This past year I have taken up the hobby of collecting and
restoring small 1? to 2? HP small gas engines. To date I have 2
Fairbanks Morse model Z’s, I McCormick Deering and I John
Deere. What I need to know is where may I obtain information as to
the approximate year they were built. So far I have established the
year of manufacture on the M c Cormick Deering engine.
The serial numbers on the Fairbanks Morse engines are 510003 and
584836. The serial number on the John Deere is 356256. Any help
will be appreciated.
Having just subscribed to Gas Engine Magazine, I find it very
interesting reading and several of the ads have helped me locate
needed parts lists and service information. Thanks.’
CHESTER C. STAUFFER, 334O Shearin Avenue, Lima, Ohio 45801 sends
this along: ‘I read Joe Parks piece on Keck Gonnerman and what
they built, but he did mention their kerosene tractors which they
built. I should judge in the late teens or early twenties as I
owned one of them which Dad had bought second handed and it then
was a pretty old tractor. He bought it in 1925 or 1926 and I traded
it on a McDeering 10 20 in 1927, so it must have been built around
that time.
It was a very well designed tractor for that time and the gears
were covered and the motor was similar to the Hart Parr of the
1920s, 18-36 HP that is, but the bearings were aluminum and did not
hold up too well as they cracked.
For what it is worth, Keck Gonnerman also made kerosene
tractors.
I am now retired from Ford Motor Co., but threshed starting in
1926 when my brother and I purchased a McCormick-Deering 22-38
separator with 14 ft. feeder and 10-20 tractor which was a very
good outfit. 1 later custom combined and ran a sawmill at Oak
Harbor, then later a Russell.’
RANDALL ANDERSON, Winona Senior High School, Industrial Arts
Department, 90l Gilmore Avenue, Winona, Minnesota 55987 sends along
his picture of a Frost King engine and would like to hear from you
with any data you can offer: ‘I am an Industrial Arts teacher
at Winona Senior High School, Winona, Minnesota and teach in the
area of small gas engines. I recently obtained an old
‘hit-and-miss’ gas engine and restored it to its original
state.
I am interested in its origin and its approximate date. I do
believe it is prior 1915 and have enclosed a picture.
The name plate on the engine reads as follows: FROST KING, JR.
The John Lausen Mgfn. Company, New Holstein, Wisc. Spd: 475 No:
16837, HP: 1?.
If you could give me any information concerning its date,
history, or direct me in some way it would be greatly appreciated
by me and most assuredly by my students. Thank you for your
time.’
Seeking your help is RICHARD BOCKWOLDT, R.R. I, Dixon, Iowa
52745 as he inquires: ‘Would you know to whom I could write to
find out the right colors of paint for the Huber tractors? Someone
must know of the colors as in this part of the country, there are
very few Hubers and they are all different in color.’ (I
believe you’ll get some answers Richard.)
ED WHITE, 572 Haywire Road, Winlock, Washington 98596 says:
‘Enclosed are pictures of an unidentified upright, air cooled
two cycle, gas engine ignited with a Bosch chain-driven magneto.
The engine base is of two piece construction bolted together and is
made to fit the frame in which it sets. I don’t think the
carburetor is original, nor the gas tank. There is no
identification other than the small Bosch magneto.
I would like to know its maker. Also what sort of flywheel or
drive did it have? What was it used for?
No one that has seen this engine seems to have any definite
knowledge on it. Any help from Gas Engine Land will be greatly
appreciated.’
A letter of a new interest comes from ROBERT KOON-TZ, 4O33
Harrison, Gary, Indiana 46408: ‘This last weekend I managed to
acquire a real clever and interesting gadget to add to my
collection. This contrap tion is a ‘Duplex Automatic woven wire
fence machine,’ that much I know because it is cast right on
it. It was made by Kitselman Brothers in Muncie, Indiana. It has
several patent dates on it, the first is December 4, 1868; and the
latest American patent was December 1897. It also has a patent from
Canada on July 24, 1897.
This machine looks as if you have to string the straight wires
first and then proceed with weaving the wire between them. The
machine itself has 11 spools of wire, possibly 12 originally,
fastened onto it. It is operated with a hand crank which causes the
spools to rotate. This is an intriguing machine. I’ve watched
fence making demonstrations before and have been fascinated ever
since. When I found this fence maker, I just had to have it!
I would like to know if any of your readers know anything about
this machine and its operation. I will be working with it trying to
get it figured out so that I can demonstrate it at the shows this
summer.’
Questions from NORM NOLL, 20451 West Barton Road, New Berlin,
Wisconsin 53151: ‘I have recently acquired an Associated Busy
Boy l? HP. It has a decorative sub base much like a popcorn engine.
Cast into it is the name ‘TRAHERN PUMP CO., ROCKFORD, ILL.’
It has the same color as the engine, red, but I don’t know if
it is original paint. Did this base come with the engine
originally, or did someone put it on? As far as I know the engine
was used for 20 years to pump water for a steam engine. Also, I
would like to find out the striping pattern for a 4? HP Massey
Harris with spark plug.’
ROBIN GAY, 197 Russell Street, Cleveland, QLD. 4163, Australia
writes the GEM family: ‘I am writing in the pursuit of
information which I am sure some Smoke Rings reader must have
stored away.
The information I am seeking is on a vertical Stover engine
which I have in my collection. The details are as follows-the
engine is a vertical with low tension ignition by a Wizard dynamo,
horsepower is not known, but bore and stroke are 5′ and 6′
approximately. The details on nameplate are as follows: Invincible
Stover Oil Engine, NO YB 50671 – Invincible Motor Construction
Co-LTD – Woolrich – Sydney, N.S.W.
I presume from the nameplate that it is a Stover engine which
was either assembled or distributed by the Invincible Motor
Construction Co – LTD of Sydney, Australia; this was common
practice here.
It is the only engine of this type that I have seen in Australia
and would be very pleased to receive any information which GEM
readers may have. Also I would like to know the age of the engine
and if there are many still in existence. It appears to be very old
to me and I generally think of engines with Wizard dynamos as being
prior to about 1915. Maybe some reader could give me a more
accurate start and finish date that Wizards were used also.
I would also like information on a 5 HP Bulls Eye as I have not
been able to find out much about it.’ (I must again mention
here-the column is for exchange of ideas, information and just
plain talk through letters-but if you want items that can be bought
such as parts to engines, or books, manuals, literature, etc. will
have to be listed in the classified ad departmental 10C per
word.)
LARRY THULANDER, 1O24 Bay View Avenue, Napa, California 94558 is
hollering HELP! ‘I am in dire need of some assistance. A while
back, I bought a little upright motor called a Kewanee. It is a 3
HP engine type 3500, Engine # 1337. The only thing weird about it
is the crankshaft is on roller-ball bearings. Could someone tell me
please a little more about Kewanee and my little motor? Thanks very
much.
From down South comes the next letter from RALPH OLMSTED, 120
Guadalajara, New Iberia, Louisiana 70560: ‘It looks like we
might finally get our first engine gas-up in Louisiana. Tentative
plans are for a meet sometime at the end of June (this letter is
being printed too late for anyone to get there by June- but we hope
we will be getting a show report of their first meet. And anyone
interested in the organization could write to Ralph about it.)
I recently found and managed to get home a rather
large-for-me-Fairbanks Co. Diesel oil engine, it has 5’2?’
flywheels, 8?’ bore and 16′ stroke. Itlooksjust like the
St. Marys oil engine advertised for sale in Jan. 1978 G.E.M.
Also it looks like pictures of an Atlas Lyons and Midwest V.D.H.
I badly need to correspond with anyone who is knowledgeable of any
of these engines. It uses the Hvid fuel injection system which is a
new ball of wax to me. There is a part missing on my engine and I
don’t know what it was. On the side opposite the sideshaft
there is a 2 bolt flanged opening directly into the combustion
chamber. This is directly below the air inlet pipe. The engine
seems complete without this part, but can’t run with the
opening. I would appreciate any information about this and
correspondence with owners of similar engines.
Also I recently found another 15 HP 1920 f.m. Z. Look brothers,
there are still engines out there. May the Lord shine a little
light on us engine nuts, just like normal people. Thanks and God
Bless.’
PAUL TEWKSBURY, 162 Madison Avenue, Skow hegan, Maine 04976
wrote us a letter and said the picture of his engine was enclosed.
Sorry, but there was no picture with it, but here is his letter.
The picture he was sending was a copy taken from an Avery catalog.
‘It is a 4 cylinder with a 6?’ diameter piston with a
7′ stroke. I believe it was a 50 HP as there is no name tag on
it. I came upon this engine about a year ago in an old sawmill. I
believe it hadn’t been run for 20 years. It needed a little
welding of the manifolds and rocker arm and I had to make new valve
guides. All in all, it wasn’t in too bad a shape for being laid
up for 20 years. I had it running in about 3 weeks with the help of
a friend and another Engine Buff.
If any of you Engine Buffs have additional information on the
engine, 1 would be very grateful.
GLENN FOX JR., Route 9, Box 224, Statesville, North Carolina
28677 has 2 Novo engines, one a 2 cylinder and a 1 HP. Could anyone
tell him the original color of the engines. He would be most
appreciative.
ELLERY H. MERRELL, Route l, Emigrant, Montana 59027 would like
help on finding information about a 6 HP Titan gas engine. Says
Ellery, ‘I believe very few of these were built as the serial
number is 2007. If anyone knows where I might get information, or
anything pertaining to this engine, perhaps a diagram, so I can
build parts I would really appreciate it.’
Here comes a letter from one of the younger generation- ‘My
name is STEVE PARKER, Box 45, Lane, Illinois 61750. I have this
friend who owns this motor in these pictures. I hope you can tell
me and my friend what kind of a motor this is.’ (I’m sure
he will be anxiously waiting for an answer, Friend.)
BOB BRIGGS, 760l-22nd Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140 writes:
‘I need help again. I talked a good friend of mine out of a
single cylinder marine engine. There is no identifying name on the
engine. It is a 4 cycle with external push rods and is
throttle-controlled. It has a Zenith carburetor and the timer has
(The Cuno Mfg. Co.) Meridan, Connecticut on it.
This engine came out of a boat built in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in
1910 by C. Dunkel. I have the original title to the boat and it
lists the engine as a Duncan Compound and 5 HP. The engine ignition
is battery and buzz coil. Maybe someone can tell me where this
engine was built and any information they might have would be
appreciated.’
RALPH L. GRAY, Lorinna, Maine 04928 sends a note: ‘I enjoy
reading Smoke Rings very much and I would like help on two parts I
need for my Associated 4-mule team Chore Boy line, last patent Dec.
l, 1914 on the brass plate serial number 4093 11, magneto bracket
no. D.V.A. Also gear that goes on it.
Some help is wanted by GLEN R. SWENSEN, 2101 Elm Street, Grand
Rapids, Minnesota 55744: ‘As a neophyte collector of old
engines, I need some Smoke Rings advise or information. Two marine
engines came my way recently. One is a two cycle, single cylinder,
spark plug type engine that says Gray Motor Co.-no serial number,
and the other is a four cylinder Universal Model C with serial
number 1O2O3 manufactured in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The problem with
both is the same. I apparently do not understand the ignition
systems. Would sure appreciate any help anyone could give
me.’
Seeking some aid is RONALD O. PAYNE, R.R. 2, Canton, Illinois
61520: ‘I recently acquired a piece of old iron. It is a
Fairbanks Morse air compressor, serial number 2480. Can anyone give
me any information on it? At first it appeared green, but in
process of cleaning it up before restoration, it appears to have
been black. Can anyone tell me when Fairbanks Morse switched from
black to green? I now have it operational and plan to take it to
the shows this year. As it has always been inside, it was in very
good condition. It was not used in the water system it was taken
from since 1949. The only thing that required attention was the
valves, both intake and exhaust. It has a
41/8 x 6 bore and stroke. Can anyone tell me
what size engine was sold to run it? No one at the farm it was
taken from knows what was used to run it when it was in operation.
Any info would be a great help.’
JOHN W. PECK, Senior Circuit Judge, 613 U.S. Courthouse,
Cincinnati, Ohio 452O2 sends us this information: ‘Although I
cannot pretend to be a full-fledged collector, I have been
increasingly interested in gas engines for the last few years. I
have a Foos, Jr. and a Cushman which are in excellent working
order, and a Jaeger which soon will be.
However, it is a fourth engine which I picked up recently that I
am writing about. it is the smallest gas engine I have ever seen,
with twin flywheels measuring only 8′ across. It is water
cooled, with presumably gravity flow, and has part of a
Lunkenheimer mixing valve on it. The electrical system is entirely
missing.
I will be indebted to anyone who can tell me anything about this
engine, such as who made it, when and why. I would also very much
like to receive any information or suggestions concerning the
electric system which your readers may care to offer.
I join the countless others who have expressed appreciation for
your great magazine.
A lengthy letter comes from JIM TRAPP, Box 367, Harlow-ton,
Montana 59036. Phone: 406-632-5569: ‘Enjoy reading Gas Engine
Magazine very much. I have been working and playing with gas
engines for over 50 years-engines of all kinds-also steam and
diesel. I note there are some who do not find a carb for their
engines. I use a car ignition coil, 6 or 12 V with 6 or 12 battery.
A lantern battery works good or 2 for 12 volt coil (I can’t
quite make out the correct words in this letter, Fellas, but
I’ll do the best I can and I imagine you’ll know what he is
trying to get across.) One side of battery to a good ground on
engine, run another side of battery to priming side of coil, the
other side of priming to ignition terminal on engine with points
and plug use center terminal on coil to plug. Be sure and use
condenser on terminal to points. Make sure igniter engine points
close and are good. Also, igniter rod is spring loaded to keep
points open except when triped(?) also this rod passes through
igniter into chamber and must be clean to insure a good ground.
Also am enclosing a rough drawing of ignition system that works
good when you do not have a good mag. Also have worked out several
other ignition systems for a number of engines including charging
magnetos to battery.’ (I am sorry, but I can’t make out the
rest of the sentence, but Jim says you are to write him for
information and he will try and answer your questions.)
Then he continues: ‘I should add that in using car coil be
sure your grounding switch or igniter points remain open right at
point you want ignition to spark. Coil best be put in good wooden
box as overheating in case where points stick closed and on oil
fitted coils they will blow up.’
Then here is a note-Way to run your engine on coil and battery
if you do not have magneto. This can be used with regular igniter
coil, car coil or vibrator coil-Model T Ford.’
Now it’s time to leave with a few thought-provoking bits:
Never explain-your friends won’t require it and your enemies
won’t believe you anyway. – – – Our great need is not more
knowledge, but rather to put into practice what we already
know.–Someone once told me that there are two kinds of people;
those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to
try to be in the first group; there was much less competition
there!
