SEL
Photo's page http://ralph.lafayette.la.us/stationary-engines/engine.people/
I'm
36 (since yesterday :) - I've been interested in steam and infernal
combustion since I was about 6 when my dad took me to the (then)
Scoresby steam show run by a enthusiast group in Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. I got my first model steam engine at about 12 or so. I've
worked on the Puffing Billy Railway in Belgrave (Melbourne) - a 2'6"
narrow guage operating steam railway http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/
Over the years I've collected quite a few internal combustion engines
and tractors for restoration. I've also collected and built a selection
of small steam engines. Although I'd like to get into full size steam, I
don't have the money to do the job a big machine deserves so I've kept
out of it.
My current career is designing and installing computer systems specific
to public transportation both on and off vehicles. At present since I'm
away from my home in Australia (until about 2003) and working in the USA
my involvement with our hobby has been purely via shows and forums like
this one.
I have a reasonably extensive site www.steamengine.com.au
(Steam and
Engine of Australia). I also host the mailing list COALS (Conversations
of Australian Live Steamers) which is not restricted to Australians! My
original intention in building my site was education (mainly of me).
When S&EofA was first created in 1995 it was the only site in Australia,
and one of the only non-computer sites in the world. I'm quite proud
that it still survives and grows every month and still (I think)
fulfills its goals.
Everything I know about steam and IC engines I've learnt from a
combination of old timers, books, and doing it the hard way. I'm always
open to listen to people (although I may not seem that way sometimes [:)] .
Regards
Paul
Paul Pavlinovich
An ozzie away from home in
Oakland California USA until August 2002
My name of course is Arthur Southwell,
Some would tell you that I can into this world with a screwdriver in one
hand and a pair of pliers in the other. My daddy was a mechanic, and
back in those days in rural areas of this country, you followed in your
fathers foot steps career wise. Anyway, I had the good fortune of being
able to follow my daddy around during my formative years, and all I have
ever wanted to do since, is "work on" engines and mechanical things.
This started at the tender age of two when I used the little "tool"
kit
that SINGER supplied with their sewing machines, to disassemble mothers
old treadle sewing machine. This country was deep into WWII and no spare
parts were to be had. The "Singer man" couldn't put the machine back
into working order. Needless to say, my sit down place got torn up next.
But, I'm making progress, today I can usually "fix" what I
disassemble.
I collect a lot of different types of old things. Tractors, engines,
implements, machinery, and such.
Some of the pieces I have are: B&S models A, B, WI, N, 5S, 6S, 9,
14,
23 AFB. Delco light 32V (2) 850s, and a Delco 12V. IHC models LBB
3-5
HP, UD6, UD14, U2A coupled to an antique FBM 4X4 pump. Hercules 1 3/4S.
Bluffton ??? air-cooled, no name plate. Associated 4 Mule team.
Tractors: 1950 AC mod. B. 1953 JD 40S. 1963 Case 734 Diesel. 1930
Ford
Mod. A tractor conversion, work in progress.
I have lots of other engines and things but it would take to long to
name them. BTW, for Dave's benefit, I have several MAYTAGS!
Come Jan. 2002, I'll be sixty and looking forward to sixty two. You
young guys keep working and paying into S.S. so I can retire in 2004.
I have been owning and showing Flywheel engines since 1968. I have been
a member of the FLORIDA FLYWHEELERS ANTIQUE ENGINE CLUB
( http://www.old-engine.com/flywheel.htm
) since about 1984. We have a
nice show grounds East of Ft. Meade FL.
As you can see in my signature line, I'm a "Rebuilder". I rebuild
Starters, Alternators, Generators and other electrical items as well as
custom work on clutches, brake shoes, carburetors, water pumps.
Thanks for letting me be a member of this fine list.
Regards
Arthur
Hi
All,
I am Maytagtwin, sometimes referenced lovingly by the Evil Dave as
"Twin."
My present location is Nokesville, Virginia and I am in process of moving to
Clearmont, Missouri. Nokesville is a little too close to "ground
zero"
although that hadn't been announced at the time I decided to head west.
We
just came in from Missouri this weekend and, when I went to pick up my mail
on Monday, I found our local post office folks to be VERY NERVOUS.
My collection consists of Maytags, a variety of small diesels, a few hit and
miss gas engines and a throttle governed or two. Most recently two of
the
Cushman upright engines, tank/cone cooled entered my collection. One
is the
heavy dual flywheel generator type although no generator came with it.
A
McCormick Deering "M" 1 1/2 HP joined the collection the same day.
My Poverty Ridge Engine Shed is more of a state of mind than a place, but it
is gradually taking shape in Missouri.
It is my self-appointed task on this list to, on special occasions, refute
the Evil Dave's condemnation of all things Maytag. Most recently he
has
spoken of acquiring a poor, helpless Maytag Engine to work his evil upon as
a
part of the ATIS Charity Auction. That is just like Evil Dave, mixing
his
nasty habits into a fine activity such as the Charity Auction.* I hope
that
all you will confront Evil Dave with your protestations before he can harm
the poor little Maytag.
Some of the engine names in my collection are: Briggs, Reo, Clinton,
Pincor,
Atlas, Lister and Petter (+ clones of same). O & R, Acme, Yanmar,
Wisconsin,
Kohler, Sattley, Fairbanks Morse, NOVO, plus some VW, Renault, Leyland,
Kubota and other diesels.
Regards,
Ron Carroll
Security by Duke, Titanium Tipped Tooth Terror....keeping NOVO Boy in line.
PS: Activity of the day is putting an antique Gravely tractor back
into
service for brush cutting. Sulky tires are repaired, now for the oil
and
filter change.
*The truth is, Evil Dave isn't so evil at all. His coordination,
organization and support of the SEL and its activities, including the
Charity
Auction, go far to make this organization what it is. Abrasive as he
can be,
scratch the surface and you'll find another, kinder and gentler Dave under
the rough and coarse hide of that old rascal. Of course, he'll spit at
you
while you are scratching.
We
live in Rushden, Northamptonshire in the UK, about 20 miles or so south
of
where Jim & 'Dolly' live and just off the same A6 road, We have an
assortment of
30 or so engines, which are mainly diesels, but we have a some petrol (gas)
engines as well :-)) The main engine is the Ruston & Hornsby 1ZHR 11hp
open-crank diesel, which is gradually coming together as our major show
exhibit.
We have five ponies and three cats, two sons who occasionally show their
faces:-)) although they are 26yrs and 29yrs now so pretty much independent.
We have shares in our own (small) company which manufactures industrial
battery
charging systems, and a couple of small factories with about 10 people
altogether.
Our web pages, kindly hosted by oldengine.org, show a lot of the interests
that
we pursue, but the business and other interests take a lot of our time, so
engines are still a hobby rather than a 'full time' interest, we haven't yet
achieved the 'seven-day weekend' yet !!
We both attend engine shows (and other events in which we share an interest)
in
the UK, and also go abroad to Spain and Portugal on engine hunting trips which
usually result in a few Lister diesels following us home.
We have occasional visits by wandering guys and gals from Oz, and would always
be happy to see more of the List over here for vacations etc.
I'm
Richard Allen, age 51, and husband to my wife, Judy. We own a little 23 acre
farm far out in the boondocks away from noise and light polution, near
Moorpark, Ventura County, California. The county is a rural agricultural area
with several very large wilderness preserves including the California Condor
Refuge. We are located 70 miles north of Los Angeles about fifteen miles
inland from the coast (near Malibu).
My interests are not limited to stationary engines. They are
included in my over-all interest in internal combustion engines in general
(gas turbines and the Wankel, too), and compression ignition engines in
particular. I am also interested in tractors and agricultural machines,
earth-moving equipment, antique military firearms, Amateur Radio (Ham Radio),
and antique food processing machines.
I have been interested in engines, tractors, and earth-moving
equipment from about the age of two. These were all part of the environment I
grew up in; my family lived in a large grain and citrus farming district, I
watched several massive post-WW2 Interstate Highway engineering projects
underway locally, there were many oil fields being developed close by, and our
neighbor then was a kindly retired farmer who used to let me ride with him on
his Caterpillar when he did weed abatement around the neighborhood. All things
for a child to become imprinted on!
Does anyone care to hear about me?
I feel like everyone knows me because I write so much to the group.
I'm 43 and live in Union Center, NY but the mailing address is
Endicott, NY which is really 4 miles south. Both of these are 10
miles away from Binghamton which is on most maps.
I've been an electrical design engineer for 20 years with 2 years
in the middle as a quality eng - oh well. I started out with an
AAS in Mechanical Technology, then picked up a BS in Computer
Science, then an MS in Electrical Engineering.
I am single - probably forever although there is no fagot in me!
I still live with my parents on 100 acres where we raise and sell
Christmas Trees on 8 or 10 acres of it. Most is woods. We have been
doing trees since I was born. It is second nature and brings in a
little extra money.
For the last 7 years, I've had another side job fixing computer
monitors. With a friend, we have gone through just over 3,500 of
them and I am tired of them although I'll probably continue fixing.
I had a Ford LN9000 dump truck with a 671 detroit and a 12 ton
trailer and a Case 580C backhoe - all for fun and flexibility. The
backhoe is still in good shape and is used a lot around here. The
671 ate a piston and has been dead for 6 years :-(. since the 12 ton
trailer weighs 5,000 pounds empty, we haven't used it and the bed
rotted off it :-(.
My dad has a 5HP Hercules and an Oliver OC3 crawler and a 1947
Cat D4. I broke the head on the 5HP when I was younger by letting
it freeze and have felt really bad about that ever since. If I could
buy another head, I would. It doesn't leak at all but I know it is
bad. The OC3 still runs. Dad lent the D4 out and the accountant
that borrowed it broke EVERY GEAR in the transmission! Damn. We
have pretty much got it all put back together again. OH yea, he also
has a John Deere 50 that we use as our normal tractor.
I have 3 oil field engines - a 22.5 HP Bessemer hot tube that still
sits on its flywheels, a 40HP Bovaird and Seyfang 1948 still sits
on its wheels both of which should run if I get off my butt and
make them turn. The 3d oil field engine is a half breed that says
Shefield on it. A lot of you people have seen it at Portland. As
soon as it came home, it got new paint with red letters and pulley
and flywheel outter ring :-). It also starts and runs well :-)
I LOVE it......
Some of the other engines are a 5HP (I think) Friend that runs well,
a 9HP Economy that a lot of you have seen, a FM 208 that I haven't
yet tried to start and a few more flywheel engines - oh yea, and a
vertical 4HP Novo that is about ready to start :-).
I am now a FATG although my gut is much fatter than my A :-)
I own 2 Fordson tractors, one on rubber that is just for parts and
one steel wheeled one that won't turn over. I did manage to get
the spark plugs out of it and put some Kronola oil (the orange can
stuff) in the cylinders.
Other things that may be of interest are a 1926 Cement mixer with a
6HP Jaeger engine that runs perfect, a New Holland rock crusher
mounted on a studabaker frame, a Large Myers deep well pump connected
up to the Friend (its pump has been long gone), a really nice
mud sucker pump that I picked up in Portland this summer, a 20KW
120/240 single phase generator, a 60KW 3 phase generator run by
another detroit 671, a 1972 bright red Mercedes like Heart to Heart
used to drive, and a 1926 model T. Oh yea, about a dozen gravelys,
3 of which are fully tweeked and used to mow the trees.
When I had time, I watched birds and put up dozens of nesting boxes.
I used to ride a Yamaha motorcycle and have driven it 40,000 miles
but have gotten older and wiser and now am too scared of hitting a
deer. I've nailed 2 with my cars so far.
In my first life, I played as a locksmith and still have all the
3 milllion codes, 30,000 key blanks, 6 key machines, and car opening
tools. If anyone needs a key by code, just ask :-)
I am also a notary public but have never charged a dime.
My policy is to be open and honest. Sometimes that gets me in trouble
but I still think it is the best policy.
As far as the 10HP R&V s/n - as soon as I see a list of them, I'll
fork over the info and the owner's name.
I do dispise laws. I HATE cops. In the last year, I've been given
tickets for tinted windows and a loud muffler. EVERY STINKING
Harley on the road is louder than my muffler. I HATE cops because they
seem to only harrass us. In NY we have a law that says you are not
supposed to block an intersection. I don't think they have ever given
out a ticket for this offense. Shoot - this would help traffic flow.
I enjoy welding - I have a Lincoln 225A lincoln buz box, a little
Lincoln mig welder and an acetalyne.
I LOVE music if you can hear the words. Rap, Rock, and Blues turn me
off. I like Oldies, classical, country, pop, some of what is called
rock, jazz and enya too :-)
I guess that about sums me up.
Bob Willman living just Northwest of downtown Bowling Green, Ohio on
1 1/2 acres surrounded by farm fields but almost within a stone's throw of
the corporation line. It wasn't that way 30 years ago when we bought this
place, but that is progress.
I have one engine a 25hp Superior type C ( 2 cycle ). It
powers my
blacksmith shop ( or will again when I figure out why it doesn't run ) using
flat belts and line shafting. Hobby smithing came first and I kind-a backed
into the engine hobby.
Other hobbies are ham radio, hunting, firearms/reloading,
photography
and probably some others which I cannot bring to mind just now - age may
have something to do with that.
I just turned 61 last month and except for school have lived all those
years
within 20 miles of my birthplace in Luckey, Ohio. I retired from IBM in 1993
along with about 40,000 other IBM'ers as part of this nations downsizing
exercise. I was much too young to quit working (52) so sought other gainful
employment to sustain the substantial list of hobbies.
I finally found work with a local sound/communications
contractor that
was
recruting my son. Fortunately for me he was too busy to work for them, but
told them that his dad needed a job. I owe him for that one!
The wife and I have been married for almost 39 years and I
wouldn't
trade
it for anything. A few years back I couldn't get off work as soon as I
wanted
and she went to Portland a day before I did - but I don't think it was for
the
engines. We have lived on the present place since 1971 and plan to retire
here
in a few years. There aren't enough moving trucks to sucessfully get all the
things of the property. The blacksmith shop alone would be a bear.
Probably could say more, but ---!
Bob Willman
The Eagle's Anvil
WB8NQW
Dave Rotigel
(Picture
being Good)
(Picture
being Evil)
Hi
All,
I was not going to get in on
this thread, but since my good friend
Twin has made some comments about me, I feel obliged to do so since some of
the newer List members may not know me very well.
I'm 63 years old, going on
64. (Now that wasn't so hard to figure
out was it?) Until two years ago I was gainfully employed as a professor at
Indiana University of PA. Since my retirement I have been unemployed. I've
now tried working and I've tried retirement. Believe me RETIREMENT sure as
hell beats working!
I got into old iron about 12
years ago and love it! I have a
number of engines. They can be seen at:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/
My main LOVE, however, is
MAYTAG MOTORS. No other old iron
provides so much opportunity to be creative. There is so much that one can
do to them that pleases a crowd at an engine show! (See:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/maytag/maytag_fun.html)
Currently
I'm FIXING a MAYTAG MOTOR for the ATIS X-mas Charity Auction. Alec Stevens
provided this MOTOR and I'm currently in the process of FIXING it. Alec and
I have not decided, as yet, what to name it--"Hello Afghanistan" and
"Hi
Osama" are two names that have been tossed around--but the jury is still
out.
But back to me. I live in
Western PA on about 10 acres. Until last
week I owned two horses, but had to put both of then down. Lucky I know
some guys who own back hoes!
I'm married to Jennie, my
second wife (too bad I didn't know those
guys with the back hoes when I was going through the divorce!) Jennie and I
have been together for 25 years. We have two sons--Dan and Mike. I have
three children from my first marriage. That's a total of five! After I
found out what caused the children, I stopped having any more!
Basically I'm just a mild
mannered guy who wants to get along with
everyone. I just don't know why we just can't all get along! Everyone's
ideas are equal, aren't they? Why would anyone criticize someone else's
ideas just because they are STUPID? STUPID people have rights also, don't
they?
Dave
PS, I also am into photography a little bit. You can see some of my work on
the cover of the December issue of GEM
I
would guess that its my turn to say a few words. Born October 6, 1941 in
Portsmouth, Virginia. US Army (Transportation and Counterintelligence
units) October 10, 1958 through October 31, 1978, retired as SFC E7.
Worked
for USPS as a Letter Carrier from 1983 until I totally retired in March
1995.
We (my 2nd wife and I) live on 133 acres in beautiful Northwest Central
Missouri. Although my address shows Cole Camp, MO, we actually live 3
miles
south of Ionia, MO. Cole Camp is 9 miles to our east. The farm is
leased
out to a neighbor who has set aside 50 acres for hay and the rest, except
for the 3 acres that we actually mow, for grazing his cattle.
I became interested in the old iron through a friend and family member on
the wife's side of the family. I have presently only one engine which I
still am in the processing of restoring. It is a 1 3/4 HP Economy engine
built in 1925. It was given to me and was totally covered in rust.
I belong to a real great Engine club in North Kansas City (Mo-Kan Antique
Power Association, Inc.), where you will find the likes of Tim Christoff and
Mike Maloy and of course Ray France, without whom, our club would have no
place to hold it's meetings. I don't get to travel too much as a result
of
living on a very limited budget, but I try and attend as many shows as I can
around here.
If you are in the area, look me up.
I'm
Luke
Tonneberger, 29 years old, and live north of Grand Rapids, Michigan in
between Sparta and Rockford. I'm married to Shirley for 5 years now. We've
been together for 10 though. She's my first and I'm her second marriage. She
has two girls from her first marriage and both of them are on their own. We
have no kids together as she can't have any anymore. Our house is in the
country but not on dirt roads. It sits on 10 acres and 5 of that's wooded.
There is a 24' x 24' pole barn I keep the good stuff in. Last year my Dad and
I opened up one wall and added a 13' x 24' lean-to so now the barn is about
37' x 24'. You can see the addition here:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/luket/trailerloaded3.jpg
I
got out of high school in 1990, was thrown out of a university for partying to
much in 1991, then worked at various factory and construction jobs for a
couple years. Decided that lifestyle wasn't for me so I quit drinking and went
back to school and got a 2 year AAS degree in mechanical drafting. It took me
3 years to get the 2 year degree because I worked full time nights so I could
go to class part time during the day. When I completed school I got a
drafting/detailing job for a fairly major office furniture manufacturer
(Knoll) for a couple years. Left that office furniture manufacturer for
another (Steelcase). Now I work 40 hours a week at Steelcase in the Specials
Engineering Department and design office furniture. In the Specials Dept I
design the funky shaped worksurfaces, odd sizes, and whatever the customer can
think up. Someday I'd love to help out some model engine makers/manufacturers
and design/draft/detail model engines either on the side or while I'm slow at
work. Here's a picture
of the building I work in.
I
got my start in engines with a 3hp John Deere my Dad bought. He restored it
and ran it a few times but never showed it or anything like that. All I
remeber as a young kid (maybe 10 or younger) is my Dad launching tennis
balls out of the exhaust stack. Nobody really took a liking to it so it just
sat around for 15 or so years. I remembered the tennis ball launching for
some reason and we all laughed about it one afternoon. I asked what ever
happened to that 'thing' and they said it was still in my brothers garage, I
could have it if I wanted it. I told them I had room in my garage and I'll
take and use it. So my brother took almost an entire day and cleaned the
crap out of his garage, hauled all the junk off of it, and pulled it out of
the back corner. He hauled it over to our house where we got it running in
no time at all. A buddy of mine stopped by after work one day and saw the
running engine. Says, "hey I saw a big billboard with one of those
'things' on it advertising some antique tractor show or something. You
should go check it out." Well my wife and I went to that show and it
was down hill from there. I think we have 16 flywheel engines now, a bunch
of little B&S's, Clinton's, (some are parts some running), a few walk
behind garden tractors, and all the same stuff you guys have, tools, piston
pumps, pitcher pumps, air compressors, and on and on.
Hello
All
My name is Michael Christie, I'm 19 years old and have been collecting
engines
for about 5 years now and I'm from Moe, Victoria in Australia. My main
interest
is two stroke stationary engines for wich I have many but but I also have a
few
open crankers. I have been a member of the list for a few months now and I
am
hopeing some one out there might be able to help me with the following
engines.
The first is a 2 stroke Ferro stationary engine. It is the type that has two
spoked flywheels and a cast base(missing) and I think it is about 2 H.P. I
am
missing the base, carby, ignition system and cooling system. Any info about
what the parts look like and especially what type of carby used would be
greatly appreciated. Secondly the Root & Vandervoort. It is a 2H.P type
BL
Triumph line engine. I am trying to find the following parts for my engine-
carby, ignitor, head, govenor, rocker arm, and the cam follwer arm. Anyone
who
might happen to have any of the previous missing parts I would like to get
in
contact with so I can get this engine finished. Any help on the above Ferro
engine especially parts for the R&V would be greatly appreciated.
Hopefully I
will hear from some of you soon.
Happy Cranking
I'll
be 54 in December of this year. I grew up in a small logging/mill town
in Oregon and have always been interested in mechanical things.
I probably would have ended up staying in that small town if it hadn't been
for the Viet Nam war. I got my draft notice in 1966 and decided the Air
Force probably offered a better future than being in the infantry. I lucked
out and the AF sent me through a couple of computer schools and I was in
computer maintenance/repair. After the AF I went to school to learn
programming and have been a computer programmer working for the same company
since 1974.
I'm not 100% sure when I got into the hobby, but it was somewhere around
1976. I started out on the tractor side of the hobby. It was when
I was
looking for parts for a Fordson that I first found out about engine/tractor
clubs and shows. Since that time I've been a continuous member of Branch
15
of Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assoc.
I'm not one of those guys that is able to keep everything they get for their
collection. I wish I was, as over the years I've had some very nice
tractors in my collection. My problem has always been that I've always
liked the expensive and rare stuff, but don't have the money to keep it all,
so I've had to sell and trade parts of my collection any time I found a new
toy I thought I needed.
When I started the only tractors that had any interest to me were the steel
wheeled tractors. At that time they also made up the majority of the
tractors being shown at the shows. (my how times have changed!)
The first 15 years I was in this hobby, Kathy (my wife for 31 yrs) and our
two daughters lived in normal neighborhoods and didn't have room for a big
collection. My tractor collection at that time was basically scattered
around the area with stuff stored at my parents, the Brooks showground's,
friends, etc.
Although we lived on a cul-de-sac, I still restored several tractors at
home. Not many people can say they restored a 1918 25-50 Avery tractor
in
their driveway!
Ten years ago I found a 4 acre place out in the country. The main appeal
to
me was it was secluded so no one would complain about noise or what I was
doing, plus it already had a couple barns so I'd have room to have my
collection in one place for the first time! Unfortunately, Kathy didn't
like the house so we did major remodeling to the house and we're still not
finished with the house.
One of my problems is not being able to say "NO". I've always
been one to
do whatever I can to help others, without thinking about whether I have the
time to do it or not. Consequently I live a very hectic life style and
always have way too much to do and never enough time.
Because of this problem, I ended up being the Branch 15 newsletter editor
for several years and also served a term as Vice President.
Five years ago, I got a crazy idea that it would be nice if there was a
publication of classified ads for collectors on the west coast. Although
I've subscribed to the national magazines since the late 70's and still do,
I've always noticed that the ads from the west coast are few and far between
in the magazines. So Western Antique Iron Trader was started and we've
grown to around 1300 subscribers and continue to grow each month.
Unfortunately, as it has grown so has the amount of time that goes into
keeping it growing and functioning. Luckily, Kathy has taken over a lot
of
what I was doing so now I'm not working on it every evening like I was.
Although I've had stationary engines since I first got in the hobby (still
have a 1hp F-M Jack Jr that I got in the first few years) it wasn't until I
started W.A.I.T. that I really got back into the engine side of the hobby.
My conversion to the engine side is somewhat because the engine hobby has
stayed pretty constant and old engines are still desired and shown.
While
on the tractor side of the hobby, the old classic steel wheeled tractors are
shown less and less often and more often more modern tractors are where the
hobby is. I also admit that sitting in a chair under a shade canopy with
an
engine display is more sociable than riding around out in the sun on a
tractor.
Being in the hobby for so many years, I've met a lot of collectors from many
parts of the country. I also have no problem in driving long distances,
so
I get around a bit more than the average person! Harry, Paul, and Kathy
know about my HOWT (Hell On Wheels Tours)!
I've got somewhere around 12 or 14 tractors and about 15 engines in my
collection. Wish I could say they were all restored or running, but only
about half run or are near running condition. Somehow I just can't seem
to
find the time to work on them!
We've got a guest room or two and have always been willing to offer room to
fellow collectors and are also willing to act as tour guides as time
permits.
Sorry about this being so long.
George
I
am 61 years old and I live in a small terraced house in Warrington in the
North West of England.
I have been retired since 1995 after working as a technical officer for
British Telecom for 38 years.
I care for my disabled wife Marjorie & as I am starting to suffer from
arthritis in my hands & shoulders. The bigger engines are getting too much
for me now.
I now mainly show old bicycles & my collection of hot air engines.
I only discovered stationary engines in 1978 when a friend who knew that I
liked to look in scrapyards asked me to look for a Lister "D" for
him.
At the time I was into electronics & I was looking for electronic parts.
In a country scrapyard I found two Lister Junior 3HP engines on cast iron
beds coupled to air compressors.
They were painted admiralty grey & had only been test run. I asked the
price
and managed to get them both for 25 UKP.(35US$)
They looked fascinating so I sold one and kept the other.
I thought I would go to a vintage show & find out if I had bought a
collectable engine.
I put the engine in the back of my van & on arrival I was surprised to be
waved straight in without paying for admission.
I found the exhibitors to be very helpful & I was immediately hooked.
Many more engines followed & over the years I have owned over 100 engines
with the average at one time being about 20.
More than 18 years ago I saw an advert in the Stationary Engine magazine for
someone to swap engines with a Danish collector.
I replied & that is how I met my late good friend Jens Lauritsen.
We exchanged over 20 English engines for Danish models & I stayed with
Jens
to help with his museum a number of times.
I still have a number of Danish & Swedish friends so if anyone needs help
in
that regard ,just ask.
I now only have 4 engines.
I sold the majority of my collection as my wifes disabilities got worse &
we
used the money to have good holidays.
I don't regret it as we can't travel now & we still have the memories!
The list has revitalised my engine interests & I do what I can to help
others.
My other interests are Good beer from all over the world & Indian curries!
Also family history.
As
a long time List member its a while since I did this and much has
changed.
I'm 52 and live in warm, and wet, Devon in the SW of England. Celia and I
will celebrate our silver next year and we have four lovely daughters. Down
to two at home now as the elder pair are making their way in the world.
(They do turn up for regular feeds and washing though :-)
After 30 years in the Insurance industry as a Project manager and IT
Consultant I was, thankfully, early retired on my birthday last week and am
now returning to my first love. The shop is nearly finished and the arrival
of 3phase electricity in a few weeks should see the machines rolling. I
should record here the generous help of several List members in helping with
some technical aspects of construction and machinery choice.
My engine story is well recorded elsewhere but I now have over 70 engines
and a growing pile of Petters. (A mania not shared by all, especially those
with white shirts).
Our change in lifestyle means that Celia has gone back to work and I am now
a full time househusband. A role which is taking some, enjoyable, getting
used to !!
Other hobbies include; family history, and fly fishing. We have also been
infected with Tilley lamps and gramophones but the treatment seems to be
working....
Hoping that FMD will be gone and looking forward to a full Rally and fishing
season next year.
regards
Roland Craven
nr Exeter Devon, UK
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/rolands-yard/
I'm
32 and live in Alexandria, TN. I married 7 years ago and have a 6 year
old son, Zachary. My wife is Brenda. My mother died when I was a
kid, and her parents raised me for the most part. My grandfather had a
stroke in '95, and I moved my grandparents into our home. He passed away
this past July. My grandmother continues to live with us. She is
78. My grandfather was 89 at his death.
Many
of you have read my story of the Rockford in GEM from Sept 2000 issue.
This was my grandfather's engine. 1912 model 1 1/2 hp hit-n-miss. With
much help, I got it to run again in Feb 2000 after being stored since about
1951. Wasn't stuck, but needed some work. Valve bent, new gaskets,
springs, etc. Nothing major. It runs well, but could use new
rings. My grandfather was tickled pink to see it run again. I'm
glad he lived long enough to see it run. We enjoyed several days of
sitting in the carport watching it run and telling stories.
I
also have a 1915 headless 3hp Witte, a 1938 Dempster No.1 feed grinder, and a
flat belt drill press. I love going to shows and have meet alot of good
guys.
I
must give thanks to Jimmy Priestly over in McMinnville. He has been alot
of help to me. And so has Ken Christison over in the Carolina's.
Both are super people.
I
also enjoy the list. I check it everyday and always look forward to it.
You never know what to expect!
Take
care & God bless.
Kevin
Kevin
L. Bandy
Alexandria,
TN
http://www.dtccom.net/~klbandy
Hello,
My name is Tommy Stojanov and I am 14 years old. I have
been into old
gas engines for a couple years now, and own about 7 now (soon to be eight if
I don't fall down the well with the engine!! ) I do a little electrical,
refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, engine rebuilds, hydraulics,
plumbing, carpentry (the list goes on!) I am a freshman in the Spencerport
School district and play football and wrestling. See ya.
Colt
Edin, Askov, MN, located in east central Minnesota.
>age 16, in High School and a bunch of sports
>340 acre farm, LOTS of haying in the summer>
>I attended a couple of shows last year with my dad, and found out at
church
>that an older farmer there had an engine in his barn... Several
months
>later, I bought it from him. (Its my engine, not dad's)
>
>hobbies: engine work, sports, farm work, great lakes history, and HS
girls
>;o)
>current projects: 1.5 John Deere E, wooden sawrig for 6 HP
United>>
I am 66, lived through the London Blitz in the 2nd world war, always had a
leaning towards mechanical things.
Started work as a factory Maintenance fitter and stayed with this trade
until I needed more money. (Got married and had two kids. Daughter now 40
and son,38) Went to nightschool. got qualifications and got a job as an
aircraft test engineer with BAC. A change of Govt in England saw my job
going down the tube so we sold up and came to Oz.in 1965. Spent the first 6
years in Tasmania, where I raced speedway sidecars and Motocross, along with
running a couple of businesses and working as a fitter.
The move to Newcastle area was taken as there was not much future for the
kids in Tas and I had the chance of getting into another business. (Didnt
work out but, thats another story!)
I started working on motorcycles full time as they had always been a big
love in my life. Took up racing Enduros and had a full life until 1984 when
I was involved in a bad accident in the mountains near here. A collision
with a kid on an unregistered bike who was racing his mates and looking back
to see how far ahead he was!!. That left me with major damage to my left arm
and put me out of the workforce.
I started playing with old engines just after this time and have had a lot
of enjoyment from the hobby. I have been involved with the Hunter Valley
engine group for a long time and held a few positions in the club.
My interest has drifted away from the full size engines and towards building
models of them. I have made around 70 so far. I still have about 18 full
size but they dont get out to shows too often these days. I also have a
good collection of hot air stuff and a good workshop to play in. I have been
getting over to the USA every few years to visit all the good friends the
hobby and the list have given me. I know I am a bit of a clown but, I sure
enjoy life!!
On things computer, I am a bit of a dummy and I have to admit that without
Ken Christison's skills, I wouldnt have a website. I just dont seem to have
the time or inclination to really get stuck into it. it is just another tool
to me and is used as such.
Reg & Marg Ingold.
Holmesville. N.S.W.
Australia.
http://www.oldengine.org/members/randmingold
Hi,
I am Tom Schmutz, age 57, married to my lovely wife Millie for 36 years.
We
live in central Virginia on Millie's family farm of 375 acres which was
bought in 1885 for $1900 and at the purchase time consisted of 519 acres.
It
is a working cattle farm with about 60 head at present. It is now leased
to
someone else, but I did farm it for 20 years until I ran out of money.
At
this time I will make a very public offer that there is plenty of room here
to store old rusty iron should anyone have a need.
I am a retired mechanical engineer, building nuclear components for the Navy
propulsions systems, and now work for Millie's brother building houses.
Seems he thought it was not healthy for me to be retired and have nothing to
do. I believe I work harder now than I have since I was a young man.
But,
building houses has many rewards such as seeing the work completed and having
a happy home owner.
I got interested in old engines about 10 years ago when I attended our local,
a few miles from our home, first year show, and became fascinated by the
engines. I have been very fortunate over the past years to have a number
of
"off the original farm" engines, and now own 20 some engines
including a 1/2
New Holland, a couple of 6 hp Famous's, and a couple of 6 hp M's, 8 hp Olds,
and a number of Economy's and others. Millie and I attend about 10 or so
shows a year from North Carolina to Pennsylvania. We enjoy showing and
demonstrating the engines and answering people' s many questions.
We also
enjoy meeting and making friends with the Great people associated with this
hobby. I was hood winked into becoming the president of our local show
Stonewall Antique Power Association a few years ago. It is a small show
held
the third weekend of May at Concord Virginia.
In addition to old engines I collect old tools, gadgets, and other junk I
hang up for people to look at in my buildings. I also have a herd of
lovely
beagle dogs who enjoy going out rabbit hunting with me. From November
thru
January the engine hobby goes by the wayside and me and my beagles have a
great time walking the outdoors and enjoying the scenery.
I am also a 4+ years colon cancer survivor who almost died from it, having
three surgeries, 5 weeks of radiation every day, and 8 months of
chemotherapy. I get blood checkup every 6 months and will have my 3 year
colonoscopy this coming Monday. To the best of my knowledge I am cancer
free.
I enjoy this list very much!
Tom Schmutz
Concord, Virginia
Hi, Bob here. Guess I'll take my turn.
I live near the village of Springfield Ontario,
( Pop500 ) on 6 acres
with a 140 year old farmhouse , but more importantly a big dairy barn
for
storing iron.
I have been working as an industrial
millwright for 27 of my 47
years. For the last 13 years I have been working for a joint GM-Suzuki
plant that makes the Chev Tracker
I was introduced to the old iron about 20 years
ago by a friend who's
a steam nut.One weekend he suggested "lets go to the steam show" and
the
rest is history , Only I fell in love with the H&M engines. Over the
years
my collection has gravitated towards Canadian built engines and mostly
GILSON . I now have over 30 Gilsons and approximately 70 engines ( too many
!! )
All my life I have been interested in
trees . I've done volunteer
research work for the Guelph University and am a member of the Harvard
Arboretum. Lately I have been planting nut trees , trying to fill
up my 6
acres.
Sheila is kept busy with her antique shop
in our 3 car garage ( does
anybody REALLY put cars in them!!) and looking after our 4 sons (
ages
13-21 ) . She enjoys collecting Panneled Thistle glass and Royal
Nippon
china.
I'm also lucky to have a wife who
enjoys the engine hobby and
actually claims some of the emgines as her own ( that is until they quit
;-))
I find that this hobby has
always been a lot of fun and filled with
great people, but since I've joined the SEL it has become more of a
worldwide family . Things just keep getting better!!!
Well I think I've tied up enough of
your time.
Bob
Bob and Sheila Bolhuis
Aylmer, Ont.
Canada
Jay
Bernard here, I'm 15, currently homeschooled (Sweet setup, i get all of
the afternoon (12-6) to tinker), I'm interested in Old Electric fans, old
engines, and old cars. I currently own 8 engines, my pride and joy being
a
1922 Stover KA, which i restored, my biggest challenge so far (thanks to
Dick Gibbens for that engine). I am currently working on a 1964 Chevrolet
"Chevy II" or nova, which will be my daily driver. My first
engine was a
Maytag 92, which runs real good. I live in Thibodaux, LA (southeast LA).
Jay B.
Hi!
I'm French-Canadian, born on a small dairy farm in 1950 in Eastern Ontario.
Being the eldest of ten kids I soon realized that there was not room for
everyone on the farm so after completing high school I moved on to the big
city, Ottawa, where I worked as a construction labour for a couple of years.
Pay was not bad but job security was more important to me so I joined the
public service with the government of Canada. I've now got 31 years of service
with them so retirement is less than 4 years away. I've had the same wife
for nearly 30 years now and she tolerates my old iron addiction. I started
playing with old tractors on steel wheels around 1985. Most of my tractors
are Fordsons but I have other makes including an IHC 10-20 Titan. I eventually
started showing my tractors which gave me the occassion to meet some of the
engine guys there. I still have all my tractors but my interest has now
switched to gasoline engines. I got my first engine in about 1993 so I
consider
myself new to the hobby. BTW my first engine was an IHC LB 1-1/2 to 2-1/2hp.
I will not list all the engines I have as I have pretty well kept you
informed when I made new acquisitions. Most of my engines can be seen at:
http://members.tripod.com/
