Hi! Summer’s over, schools in – leaves are turning color and
you can already detect that unique smell of autumn and feel the
crisp-ness in the air – it’s really great! I love living where
we have the four seasons – even if some of us do have to battle the
allergies – soon time to think of getting the Halloween costume
ready for another season. Last year Tommy wanted an Uncle Sam
outfit which I finally threw together – turned out pretty nice;
previous years – an Indian, Santa Clause, bunny, pig, duck, horse,
bum – I just wonder what will be next?? And then before you know
it, we’re into the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays – well
-time really jets along – next issue will be January – February
1976 . . . as if you didn’t know -I bet you’re all as busy
as I am – and realizing each year has a shorter amount of time than
the previous year – well -at any rate enjoy the shows and meetings
that are left yet and God Bless you in the remaining days of
1975.
Many of you folks have been sending in reports telling of the
rainy days that were present at so many of the shows – I’m sure
you had fun anyhow – BUT we know what it can do to an event
-Earlene Ritzman was to have the Korn Krib
Auction Sept. 27 as many of you know and Mother Nature really
unleashed the waters again and we had another big flood and the
Auction had to be cancelled the day before – which really made for
quite a mess – as many folks didn’t know it was cancelled and
came anyway – there was no place to park as the grounds were
saturated and you know what it would be like in a farm field after
a deluge such as that. Praise the Lord, the flood was not as bad as
1972, but it was quite tragic in areas. The auction date has been
moved to November 1st, with cards being sent out to all you folks,
so I’m sure by the time you read this, you’ll know about
it. I’m sure it will not be suitable to some people who had
been here before, but you can only do the best you can when Mother
Nature throws you a Flood. Earlene did respect the folks’
wishes and had cards printed with directions to park in town and
then she hired a bus to bring the viewers out to her place. All in
all, I think it was handled as well as could be expected. We’ll
have a report on Auction next issue!
And onto the letters: From WALLACE TINSLEY, Route No. 10, Box
176, Anderson, South Carolina 29621 – ‘I placed an ad in Gas
Engine Magazine a couple of issues back about wanting to hear from
someone about a carburetor for a Rockford engine which carries a
type carburetor that fits other make engines and is pictured on
page 23, bottom left of page, in May-June 1972 G.E.M. I did not get
a reply, so I thought maybe someone could still help me. This is a
very rare engine. A Mr. Carpenter in Iowa said there were only 4 or
5 in U.S.A. that he knew about.
Also I would like any information on a Model V Ideal motor I
have.
We have a few engines in this part of South Carolina and have
been showing them in Historic Pendleton, S. C. park the last two
years without any cost to people. I have about eighteen. There were
not very many engines sold down there because most farms were very
small in days gone by and most that were left were sold for junk
during 1941 War.
We engine lovers down here would really like for someone to find
some source of finding or getting magnets for Wico E-K magnetos.
They could really sell a lot of them.’
A nice note from REV. GEORGE I. GOODWIN, JR., Box A, Worcester,
New York 12197 -‘Just want to say thanks for a great magazine.
I really enjoy it. Have just started collecting gas engines. I have
a 4 cyl. Continental, 4 cyl. Le Roi, 1 cyl. upright air-cooled 5 HP
New Way and a 1 cyl. IHC 1-1/2 – 2-1/2 HP. Anyone have instructions
for the Le Roi model XP7?’ (Well, anyone???)
DON HAYER, 2570 N. 20th St., Springfield, Oregon 97477 wants
some information: ‘I have a 2 HP Economy, 4′ bore, 6′
stroke and 22’ flywheels. The serial number 35383. This engine
still has the original paint and decals on it and is in very good
mechanical condition. I would like to know the year this engine was
built. I understand it was sold by Sears & Roebuck. Is this
true?? (Is it Veterans?)
Some advice comes to the readers from JAMES P. STEFFY, 24
Cottonwood, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864 as he tells us:
‘Recently I acquired a book on gas engines copyrighted in 1913.
It has in it a formula for determining the approximate horsepower
of any gas engine of the 4-cycle variety, single cylinder, using
gasoline as a fuel. The formula was derived by examining several
hundred American engines of the agricultural type and gives very
good average results. Having the bore, stroke, and revolutions per
minute, the formula can easily be used. D -cylinder in inches; L –
stroke in inches; N – revolutions per minute: Horsepower D x D x L
x N. / 16,600.
As an example, for an engine where the bore is 6 inches, the
stroke 8 inches, and the speed of the running engine 400 RPM (as
measured by counting cam gear RPM and multiplying by 2, or by
tachometer – or by manufacturer’s rating). HORSEPOWER -6 x 6 x
8 x 400 – 16,600 – 6.94 or 7 HP APPROXIMATELY.
For a 2 cycle single cylinder gas engine using gasoline as a
fuel, the horsepower will be from 1.3 to 1.7 times the horsepower
determined by using the formula for 4 cycle engines.
J. Rex Haver, 643 Bellefonte Avenue, Lock Haven, Pennsylvan
17745 is anxiously waiting for information as: ‘In 1914 the
Maytag Washing Machine Co. came out with a washer, equipped with a
, upright, gasoline engine, painted red with a black cylinder. The
engine was manufactured by the Elgin Wheel and Engine Company of
Elgin, Illinois. I believe Elgin supplied the engines to Maytag
until 1921, when Maytag bought them out. Maytag manufactured and
continued to use the upright engine until 19 when they came out
with Model 82.
While I was at the 1975 Williams Grove, Pa. Show, a gentleman
asked me if I was interested in buying an upright Maytag, as the
price was right, I bought it. When he delivered the engine to my
exhibit noticed it was a very dark color. While cleaning the engine
at home found it had been painted a very dark green. After scraping
the paint down to bare metal, I concluded the original color was
dark green.
Did Elgin Wheel & Engine Company sell these upright engines
other companies, while supplying Maytag?
This would account for the green color. A hole has been drilled
the cover of the gas tank, just above the gas cap. A 3/8 inch
nipple with collar and plug has been screwed in. There is an air
vent hole just below the collar. Can anyone tell me why the pipe is
there?
The sides of the base of the gas tank are straight on this
engine while on my other upright, the sides are sloping. Does this
tell anything? Thank you for any assistance, all letters will be
answer and a summary will be sent to G.E.M.’
Courtesy of J. Rex Haver, 643 Bellefonte Aue., Lock Haven,
Pennsylvania 17745.
I hope this will enlighten the many engine owners plagued with
missing horsepower information on their engines.’ (Thanks, Jim,
I’ll bet the folks are glad for that data). As for me –
it’s clear as mud!
WILLIAM J. RUNDLE, 2565 East Kleindale Road, Tucson, Arizona
85716 sends this picture along and says: ‘I need some
information about the engine in picture and hope some of the GEM
readers can help. You have put previous questions in your
‘Smoke Rings’ column and I have acknowledged the answers
which some reader somewhere always seems to be able to supply. The
previous owner told me that it is an Economy by Sears Roebuck;
also, that it never had a sub base which would have raised it up so
the flywheels would clear the ground. Nothing much like it is in
1918 edition of a gasoline engine catalogue by Sears except that
they used the same Lunkenheimer carburetor. Will appreciate hearing
from anybody who can identify it.’
GARY J. OECHSNER, Route 1, Theresa, Wisconsin, 53091 would like
any information on Northwest Gas Tractor, believe 30-60 or 40-70
HP, built around 1911 by Northwest Thresher Company, Still-water,
Minnesota. Any types of information would be appreciated, data,
pictures, etc. horsepower size, color scheme, number of cylinders.
Northwest sold to Advance around 1911.
RAY PICHEL, Route 1, Heller-town, Pennsylvania 18055 has a
letter as: ‘Found a Deutz-Otto Diesel, one cylinder, hopper
cooled, solid flywheels. Would like to correspond with anyone who
has one or had worked with one. Seems simple to start, however I
haven’t tried anything with it yet.’
A newcomer, JAMES M. ‘MIKE’ POWERS, 309 Cabin Road S.E.,
Vienna, Virginia 22180 writes: ‘Mr. Robert Tone, also of
Vienna, was kind enough to lend me a copy of your May-June 1975
issue. Because of him and your publication, I attended the Williams
Grove, Pennsylvania, Steam Engine Celebration and bought my first
gas engine – a Stover. Now, I am starting the search for
literature, photos, anything that will show me what my machine
should look like, what color it was and when was it manufactured?
Perhaps your readers will be kind enough to help me.’ (I hope
so, Mike. Help him out Fellas!)
WILLIAM R. COLE, Box 358, East Otis, Massachusetts tells us:
‘I have been getting G.E.M. since 1973 and look forward to each
copy. I am looking for some help on a Novo engine Model RF 3-1/4 x
5, engine number 4022. I would like to know the ignition timing,
how many quarts of oil in the crank-case, and what type of
carburetion it had.’ (There you are Friends, lots of
questions).
A man with a problem writes to the readers: ‘I have a 2 HP
Lauson engine built in the 40s, Model #TLC-349, Serial #4-61904. I
have had this engine for many years and realize this is quite a new
engine when you compare it to most of the engines discussed in
G.E.M., but I wonder if someone could possibly give me some help on
getting it running again. My problem – the thing will not generate
enough spark to arc across the spark plug. I have done about
everything possible, new coil, new plug, new wires, etc. I even
tried having the magnets remagnetized, which did not seem to make a
difference. The timing is correct and all components seem to check
out when tested such as coil, plug, etc.
A couple of small engine mechanics in our local area seem to
think the only thing left to do would be to replace the flywheel
for one that has stronger magnets. Naturally, there is not a new
flywheel in the country, plus I can’t locate a used engine that
I can purchase – fact of matter, I have never seen another engine
like this one. My reason for getting the engine running again is
that I put a lot of effort into completely rebuilding this engine.
Please, can anybody help me?? I will answer all letters.
DAVID D. MOFFITT, 225 Adams Street, Leslie, Michigan 49251 has a
plea: ‘I have a Pine Tree Milker Engine of about 2 HP, vertical
hopper-cooled cylinder, throttle governor, Wico EK fired. It has
single flywheel on left side and a vacuum pump built into right
side of engine block assembly. This engine has a picture of a pine
tree with a cow under it with the caption (The cows adopted child).
The engine starts and runs very well. I would like to know when,
where and how many were built, and to hear from anyone with a
similar engine.’
J. KENDALL, 262-01 Francis Lewis Blvd., Rosedale, Queens, New
York 11422 writes: ‘Answering an inquiry from Ben Cantele,
Mellenville, New York concerning Maynard engines – one of your
recent magazines makes mention of this engine, but bears
repetition. Maynard engines were sold by Chas. William stores to
buyers in New York area. Company had a catalogue, now reprinted,
believe these engines similar to and possibly made by Nelson Bros.,
manufacturers of Little Jumbo.’
WAYNE F. HALSEY, 541 Wisconsin Avenue, N. Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
54935 is seeking information concerning the Hippe-Steiner and
Steiner long life gas engine companies of Chilton and Plymouth,
Wisconsin. If you have any data, please write him.
MAURY H. MOSES, Box 148, Military Drive, Chatham, Virginia 24531
is interested in knowing of anyone who has an Ottawa gas engine
powered log and tree saw. He would like any information on them. He
said he used to have one directly from the factory in 1949 with the
5 HP water cooled engine. It was a good performing machine, but he
had the misfortune of losing it in an out building fire which
totally destroyed it. (Please write him if you have the same
interest).
A new member of our Gas Engine Family writes – his name
-CHRISTOPHER BOOKER, Star Route, Box 7, Macks Creek, Missouri 65786
– his letter – ‘I received my first copy of Gas Engine
Magazine, Sept.-Oct. 75. I think your magazine is great! Saturday,
Sept. 20 I went to a farm auction about 75 miles from here as they
had a 3 HP Fairbanks – Morse gas engine listed on sale bill.
However, I was let down at the condition of it and it brought twice
what I figured it was worth. The reason I’m explaining this is
that I met about 100 Gas Engine men there, plus 2 women who bid on
the above engine and most of them claimed they subscribe to G.E.M.
and I was telling one I would like to get a 1-1/2 HP John Deere and
on my way home I stopped and saw one and purchased same. I
don’t know if you keep records of this or not, but mine is a
John Deere 1-1/2 HP, 600 RPM, Type E, Serial No. 320904. Thanks
again for this good magazine!’ (And thank you for writing us –
you can tell that is another one bitten by the gas bug -and I
presume a very happy fellow – just beginning his hobby).
And speaking of hobbies – some people collect buttons, I mean
the pin back kind, just like some of you folks send me now and then
from the reunions of your shows, etc. Well, there’s a fellow,
name of TED HAKE, 1753 Westwood Rd., York, Pa. 17403 has a book out
called ‘The Button Book’ – all kind of things in there –
steam engines, tractors, farm equipment, wars, politics, comics,
holidays, everything. His book lists over 5000 buttons. Just
thought this was worth passing on to our Family. The book is
$5.95.
DONALD K. KILEN, Route 3, Box 315A, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 has just
obtained a Fairbanks – Morse Eclipse – 2, serial number B10595 and
would like someone to send him some information on it. He is very
new at gas engines as a hobby and it seems other collectors in his
area are few and far between. So far, he has found no material on
his engine. (He is eagerly waiting for some words on his new hobby
-here is a newcomer to turn into a veteran – do your stuff – you
great guys).
Here’s a friend that needs help -he’s not a subscriber
of ours (YET) but he needs help and I know we’ll come to his
aid. FRANK A. DORSEY, 19 Westmoreland St., Westminster, Maryland
21157, tells it this way – ‘During the Arcadia Steam Show, it
was my privilege to talk to Mr. Harry J. Pearce of Elkton, Maryland
and he told me about the magazine you published. I am preparing a
paper for our County Bicentennial on early implements and tools
used in early times.
What I would like to find out about is a tractor that was made
by the Moline Machine Co. about 1915 that could be used for
cultivation. This, I believe, was the first motorized cultivator
sold in our territory and was sold by Mr. George Sauble of
Taynetown, Maryland. If you know of one of these tractors or have a
picture of one, I would like to obtain it to include in our book we
are preparing.’ (I’m sure there is someone who will help
Frank – and the bicentennial book will be more complete ).
PHILIP RUBIDA, Box 494, Platte, South Dakota 57369 writes us:
‘I have received my Sept.-Oct. magazine and I always look
forward to it. I have noticed on page 31 the drawing on ingenious
device for a gas engine. As I can see it, that just shorts out the
battery with a none vibrator coil. With a vibrator coil like a
Model T, it is not wired right. I am sending a drawing, not as an
artist. It is just to show how I would wire that device. I would
like to hear your comments.’ (Now, no feudin’ Fellows, just
comments, or different opinions).
DALE WRIGHT, 4260 E. 8th Ct., Hialeah, Florida 33013 visits with
this note: ‘Here I come again asking for help with another
unknown. I’ve tried on my own with letters and photos. Everyone
says – Smoke Rings in G.E.M. is your only hope – the readers
responded to my earlier request -hope you will be able to come to
my aid again. Thanks for my favorite magazine and to the GREATEST
PEOPLE who read G.E.M. (Here is Dale’s very good drawing of his
unknown. Hope you experts out there can come to Dale’s aid
again -I love this – you wonderful people answer these inquiries
and somehow they get the impression I am helping them – I know so
little really, but I’m happy to be the liaison between you
all).
You know, Gas Engine Members! I get quite a few requests for
more pictures and stories from readers, asking to hear from the
older men, as folks are waiting to hear of their happenings in days
gone by. As Walt Townsend from McNabb, Illinois 61335 says it
‘Wish more ‘old timers’ would share their experiences
with us young bucks.’ (So, sit down and write those yarns you
weave at the shows – many of us are a-waiting to hear them).
HAROLD GADDYE, R.R. 2, Binbrook, Ontario, Canada LOR ICO writes:
‘In reply to Dale Wright of Hialeah, Florida about the Gilson
engine and where it was made – The Gilson engine was made in
Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The approximate time of the manufacture of
engines would be from 1900 to 1930. They were made in sizes from
3/4 HP to 15 HP. Records of the engines have not been kept by
Gilson since the engine line had been discontinued, so we have to
use a little imagination as well as talk to some of our elders to
find out about age of engines. The Gilson plant still makes
refrigerators and washing machines, also other small articles.
In their days, they made a good line of farm machinery, silos,
stable equipment, drag saws – to name a few. The Gilson engines
were never made in the vertical models, but made a good horizontal
engine from beginning to the end. In this area, the engines are
fairly common, particularly in the smaller sizes up to 3 HP as they
were used for orchard sprayers and pumping.’
Following is a letter from PHILIP DE JARLAIS, 620 Dayton Road,
Champlin, Minnesota 55316:
Thanks to all of you at GEM, I found out all about my Coldwell
engine. You printed my plea for help on page 19 of the
September-October issue and two days after I got my copy, a letter
came from Mr. Joseph Mercer of Hookstown, Pa. telling me all about
my engine. A copy of his letter is attached.
You will note that the Smithsonian Institution was no help and I
have sent the information to them with the hope that it will be on
file for someone else.
In answer to my inquiry, the Robert Bosch Corporation queried
their Stuttgart archives and came up with a copy of the manual for
the DU 2 Bosch magneto used on the Coldwell engine. I have
forwarded a copy of the manual to Mr. Mercer as he is having
magneto problems.
I am a member of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor
Association Chapter 12, Anoka, Minnesota, sponsors of the Rogers
Engine Show. The article titled ‘Interstate 94’ on page 26
of this same issue was an excellent article by Walt Dehn. The show
was held on one of his farms with lots of parking space and fine
large shade trees.
I surely appreciate all the help from GEM and Mr. Mercer. A copy
of this letter is being sent to Helen Ament along with my renewal
check. I don’t want to miss an issue of GEM.
Continuing on with reference to the above paragraphs I’m
going to print the letter from Joseph A. Mercer, R.D. 1, Box 110,
Hooks-town, Pa. 15050 which he sent to Philip – thought you might
like to see how some of these answers come in to the folks:
I saw your letter in the Gas Engine Magazine. I have one of
those engines. Name plate is on the cover plate that is part of the
oil filler tube. It reads Continental Motor No. 5889 Type 5B Date
3-11-13. Continental Motor Mfg. Co., Muskegon, Mich. U.S.A. This is
a marine engine. This one was used on the Ohio River and later used
to run a cordwood saw. The Magneto is defective. Back in the early
forties I put a Model T timer and 2 coils and Battery on it and had
it running. The timer can be attached to the short shaft, extension
of the camshaft, that sticks out of the gear case.
I will enclose a tracing of the name plate.
I will also include a flyer of our show. It will probably be too
late by the time you get it.
I have four of those Bouvard & Seyfang engines that George
Kas-dorf, Sr. speaks about on page 6 Sept. & Oct. issue of
G.E.M. I hope the above is the information you want.
And to go on further – the following is from the Robert Bosch
Corporation, Broadview, Illinois, Automotive Service Department,
Edward C. Regal, Warranty Coordinator – this letter to Philip
DeJarlais:
A 12 HP Economy engine owned by Curtis Kiser, Harrisonburg,
Virginia exhibited at Bridgewater Vol. Fire Co., Steam & Gas
Meet, Bridgewater, Virginia. Photo by Charles Clemmer, Dayton,
Virginia.
Robert Early, at left and Jim Suter, at right, of Pleasant
Valley, Va. are the proud owners of this Star tractor, exhibited at
Bridgewater Vol. Fire Co. Meet. Photo by Charles Clemmer, Dayton,
Virginia.
We have received your letter requesting information on the Bosch
DU2 Magneto Ignition System found on your Caldwell marine engine.
As we had no information in our files on this magneto, we have
asked our Central Historical Archives in Stuttgart for the required
data. We are pleased to send you a copy of the booklet received
from them. We believe that most of the information requested by you
is to be found in this copy, although we regret that spare parts
are generally no longer available for this unit. Through careful
investigation and assessment of any defective parts in the unit
possessed by you, we believe that any properly equipped machine
shop should be able to manufacture or recondition any of the
components in your magneto unit.
Again, we trust that this information will be of assistance to
you in your rebuilding project. If you have any further questions
or requests for information, please do not hesitate to contact
us.
Thank you for your interest in products of the Robert Bosch
Corporation.
And finally, the reply to the letter Philip had sent to the
Smithsonian Institution; The National Museum of History and
Technology, Washington, D.C. 20560:
With reference to your inquiry about the engine bearing the
inscription Coldwell, we regret that we have been unable to develop
any information about the manufacturer thereof. We have checked
Moody’s for the period 1900-1920 without success.
I doubt if it was a marine engine. Perhaps it was used, as part
of a combine or other agricultural machine. The broad, wide wooden
take-off pulley would seem to indicate a flat belt drive.
I regret that I can offer you no positive information.
This 20-40 HP Oil Pull exhibited at Bridgewater Vol. Fire Co.
Steam & Gas Meet by Carlton Shickel, Bridgewater, Virginia.
Carlton’s Father and Grandfather formerly owned this Oil Pull.
Photo by Charles Clemmer, Dayton, Virginia.
John Deere [AR] owned by Robert Burkholder, Mt. Crawford, Va.
Harold Burkholder at the controls at Bridgewater Vol. Fire Co.
Steam & Gas Meet. Photo by Charles Clemmer, Dayton,
Virginia.
Perhaps I need not have recorded all the above correspondence,
but Philip sent it to me and it was so well organized – I thought I
worthwhile to pass it on and I’m sure most of you would
appreciate it. And even though Smithsonian Institution could not be
of much help, I liked their reply and I’m sure they will
appreciate Philip sending them the data he received. It is a good
example of what happens through this column and the avenues people
explore in seeking information.
It’s Holiday time and before you get too involved in the
festivities of the season, may I remind you -take care or after the
holidays you will be behind on your bills and way ahead on calories
– now don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Also as you head for the Holidays and the New Year, I’d like
to leave you with this: Pray for great things, Expect great things,
Work for great things, But above all, PRAY!-Reuben Archer,
Torrey.
Maynard engine and saw exhibited by Bobby Shank of Bridge-water,
Va. at the Bridgewater Steam and Gas Meet. Photo by Charles
Clemmer, Dayton, Virginia
Dale Hollen, Mt. Crawford, Virginia at the controls of his 27-44
Twin City, exhibited at Bridgewater Meet. Photo by Charles Clemmer,
Dayton, Virginia.