Cape Vintage Engine & Machinery Society Newsletter

Paraffinalia No 26

Willem Colloty's Chicago Flexible Shaft shearing set, with Stewart engine

A while ago, Willem Colloty from Welkom in the Freestate wrote in about the shearing set his cousin of the same name had in Vryheid, KwaZulu/Natal. The only identification on it was 'CFS' in one of the castings. Suspecting that CFS stood for Chicago Flexible Shaft, I sent the request off to Stationary Engine Magazine in the UK, and receicved a flood of replies. Philip Gray-Taylor in Cape Town has an almost identical engine, which he got from Simon Morris in the Eastern Cape. Jim Cook wrote in from Alresford, Hampshire. John Thorby wrote in from Greymouth in New Zealand, and all referred to world authority on this subject, Ron Wiley from Victor Harbour, South Australia. Ron has gone to endless lengths to research this complicated subject, compounded by the fact that no serial numbers were used, and no records seem to have survived. All he has to work on are the (few) surviving engines or shearing sets, and every time another turns up, he is keen to find out anything about it. So far, he has put together the information he has gleaned in the table below, with a request that anybody who has any more information, or an engine or set which he is unaware of, to please contact him. Here goes:

The Stewart Little Wonder

These engines were manufactured by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Co of Chicago, Illinois from 1905 to 1924 and sold in Australia & New Zealand as a Cooper engine. I have put together he following information as a way of dating these engines as no serial numbers have ever been found.

Crankcase design:

1905 to 1906. This one looks to have crankcase similar to next model. None of this model has come to light at this time.

1907 to 1914. This is a nicely rounded design of crankcase and 11inch solid flywheels are used. This crankcase looks to have been slightly redesigned around 1910, so that a magneto bracket was bolted to it.

1915 on. The crankcase was redesigned so that 14-inch spoked flywheels could be used. A taller and narrower looking crankcase.

The exhaust on all models discharges into a muffler on one of two vertical tubes that hold the bracket arms. A 1905 Stewart patent shows the exhaust pipe coming out of the cylinder at 45° downwards to the base bracket for the vertical tubes, the base bracket clamps around the bottom of the cylinder below the water jacket.

From 1907 until the end of production the same cylinder is used with the exhaust pipe coming out of the cylinder horizontally into the base bracket. The base bracket is attached to the cylinder by three bolts, different base brackets are used for the 11" & 14" flywheel models. I have been told that cylinders from later engines will fit early post-1907 engines, earlier cylinders are said to be far better quality castings.

1905 to 1907 Unknown at this time,

1907 to 1910? Chain driven magneto, magneto bracket bolts to four studs holding main bearing, type of chain guard is unknown.

1910 to 1914. Gear driven magneto running at half engine speed, type of gear guard is unknown.

1915 - One hole for the intermediate gear in the crankcase, small crankshaft gear and the magneto bracket has the triangular piece on the end. The ⅜ inch wide gears are used.

Two holes for the intermediate gear in the crankcase, so that small or large crankshaft gears can be used. The magneto bracket has the triangular piece on the end or plain bracket to move the magneto back when the large crankshaft gear is used. A different gear guard has to be used for the latter and the ⅜ inch wide gears are still used with either set up.

One hole for the intermediate gear in the crankcase, so only the large crankshaft gear can be used. The associated magneto and gear guard along with ⅜" wide gears are used. It is possible this system used only for a short time before going to the narrow gears.

1920 - Narrow gears (about 3/16 of an inch) all the same size are used, the magneto bracket and gear guard are changed again. This is the only modification that can be dated accurately so far.

The detent, trigger and exhaust lifter for the hit & miss governor were also changed in 1920, this was most likely cost cutting exercise, as mass production was begun at this time. Battery ignition looks to be standard up to 1914, with magneto as an optional extra (£5 in the UK). No information is available about the battery ignition. The only make of magneto is a Bosch (American) in the 1920 parts catalogue, others makes such as "Splitdorf" could have been used?

There two drip oilers on these engines, one on the crankcase that feeds the main bearings. The other drip oiler is on the cylinder and feed oil to the cylinder wall, a groove in the piston transfers excess oil to the little end. Excess oil from the little end is transferred via a cooper pipe attached to the conrod to the big end.

The owner of an early 11" flywheel model with grooves for ⅜" dia leather belts has told me the crankshaft in his engine is cross drilled and the big end is fed from the main bearings. There is no copper pipe to transfer from oil from the little end to the big end.

From 1907 to late 1914 11-inch solid flywheels were used, these could have been used on the 1905/06 model? >From 1915 to the end of production 14" spoked flywheels were used.

I have a picture of a 14" spoked flywheel it has the following cast on the face, C F S Co = Chicago Flexible Shaft Co & C S L A – what does this stand for? There is an intriguing picture in C. H Wendel’s "American Gas Engines since 1872" on page 96, it shows a two stand Little Wonder shearing plant with what looks to be 14" Stover type open disc flywheels with six holes (used from 1924?). This type of wheel has not been found in Australia or New Zealand so far.

Until around 1914 a round petrol tank was strapped to the water tank, it is about the same size as 4 litre petrol can. Then what I now term a 'hip-flask' type tank was strapped to the water tank; this type of tank was used until the end of production of these engines. The last of the 11" solid flywheel engines have the hip-flask type tank.

Shearing Stand Bracket Arms:

The bracket arms are the overhead shafts driven by the engine, the down tubes are flexible shafts driven by the bracket arm that the shearer attaches his handpiece. The original bracket arm had a single pulley and the drive to the downtube is engaged by pushing the tube towards the engine that engages a pin in a slot. From 1920 a fast/loose pulley system was used, the drive was engaged by pulling the tube away from the engine. Prior to 1910 ⅜" dia leather belts were used, there are grooves machined in the flywheel and the bracket arm pulley. From 1910 onwards a 1" wide flat leather belt was used. C H Wendel shows an air-cooled version of the "Little Wonder"; this has overhead valves and inlet valve still automatic (poppet). None of these air-cooled engines have come to light in Australia or New Zealand.

If anybody has or needs more information on this subject, please contact Ron Wiley. ronwiley@iinet.net.au

South African News: The Bathurst Museum is open and thriving again, thanks to a combination of keen helpers, sponsors, under the chairmanship of Alan Pike. Visit their Website www.bathurst.co.za

Several interesting engines have been popping out of the woodwork here lately. Peter Broccardo wrote in from Johannesburg to say he has a Powell, which you certainly don't find under every tree here! Then while chasing after a Stover, Hennie Swanepoel in Pretoria North, whose Vertical National appeared in the last Paraffinalia, stumbled over what can only be desribed as gold-dust! It's a Pasley, (See right:) with a magneto and spark-plug, making it what Patrick Knight describes in his A-Z of British Stationary Engines..."1910 also saw the introduction of what is believed to have been the W H Pasley & Company's final form of engine. This engine, claiming to be of a most up-to-date design, had the appearance of a National / Petter hybrid, with a base bearing a distinct National look about it, while the cylinder with its pedestal-mounted cast-iron fuel pot was typical of the Petter Handyman oil engine." Patrick kindly sent in copies of his entire file on the subject, including a profile of the company written by R F Mullins in Stationary Engine Magazine in March 1996. The company seems to have fizzled out in 1918. I'm sure Hennie will be vuur en vlam to get this one restored to look like the National, and his recently completed Fuller & Johnson pump-jack!

Another surprise that's baffling the experts is this Coventry Diesel which I got recently from Yuri Peila, who says it originally worked at Phoenix Foundry in Booysens in Jo'burg. They in turn bought Wadebridge Foundry, who used to do castings for David Brown. Yuri, his father and brother 'collected' the engine along with some compressors when they bought the furnaces from the then defunct Wadebridge Foundry, and since then the engine lay around in their yard in Swaziland until, as Yuri reports his father saying: Aaah, issa deeesel orraait Yuri, isder deeesel mechanic geeve tu heem :-) He loaded it on the bakkie and down it came to Graafwater. Yuri continues: So sorry lads, it does exist! It was photographed and appeared in Stationary Engine Magazine of July 2001, without causing any comment. It must have been radiator-cooled, as the mounting brackets and broken fan hub are in position still, along with an inboard vee-belt pulley. Any information on this engine which carries the serial number CDU / 3455 / 318, would be most welcome!

As a result of correspondence in Stationary Engine Magazine on the subject of the Bradford 'King of All' engine, and its similarity to the Lister D (So much so that it's featured in David Edgington's new book on the Lister D Story) (see below, under New Books) I remembered seeing one in pieces at oom Flip Viljoen in Villiersdorp. This meant a visit (always a pleasure!) with the camera, and a bit of loose assembly, so that we could send David a few photographs of the engine he describes in the Lister D book as 'chicken's teeth'. Needless to say, that engine's now on top of Flip's priority list!

Koos Kriel's Engine Day in Potchefstroom: John Menasce kindly sent in this report:

65 engines were on Koos' property in Potchefstroom and about 50 of them were running at one time. Larg A good selection of engines at Koos Kriel's Engine Day

A good selection of engines at Koos Kriel's Engine Day

est was a Lister type M belonging to George and Koos Botha and the smallest was probably my little Briggs [apart from a really cute scale model of a Lister type D that ran with a battery!]

The weather was great with a cold beginning and then warming up to a superb cloudless day. The Kriel family so kindly provided huge platters of delicious sandwiches made from freshly baked bread for mid-morning snacks, and copious quantities of tea and coffee were available all day . Thereafter for lunch, there were plenty of salads as well as pap en sous and braai fires for the "manne" to cook on. Tables and chairs were set under the garden shelter for the guests to sit and eat lunch at.

Cape Vintage Engine & Machinery Society was well represented by 2 Menasces, George & Koos Botha, Johnny O' Grady and many others!

There was a really interesting selection of unusual engines: Douglas, Wolseley WD and WLB, Bamford, Rustons, Deutz MA, Villiers, Briggs, Petters diesel and petrol, Aermotor, Farmer's Friend, Iron Horse, Fairbanks Morse, Clinton, Cyclohm (Anybody heard of that, with a Briggs & Stratton B? Ed), Listers, Slavia, National, John Deere, McCormick Deering, IH, Fuller and Johnson [looked like a Southern Cross pumping engine] [I think that's all??].

Outside in the street were 3 Lanz tractors, a Farmall and some John Deeres

All in all it was a most successfull and hospitable day.

The following day, there was another show up North, Cars in the Park, which had a sizeable Stationary Engine exhibit:

Johan Coertze sent in this photo of Neels Booyens' boot-sized engine (See right)which he says is ideal for exhibitions, now that fuel is getting so expensive! He says it could even be taken to a show on the carrier of a bicycle if it came to it!

Dylan Knott writes: I am interested to know how many ex-railway locomotive boilers still exist on farms/nurseries in use or not. In the 1980's 6 ex-SAR steam locomotives were stripped of their boilers prior to being scrapped at Touws River. 4 of these boilers ended up on a farm called Kliprug near Paarl and others went to other farms nearby. At one stage a boiler could be seen off the N1 in a field. I have noticed a large number of nurseries nearby and they could possibly be using boilers but have not gone there on a recce as yet. Rumour has it that boiler could be located at Paarl Nursery or at least the farm next to it. Do any CVE&MS members have any information on these?

Annual Show of the West Cape Tractor & Engine Club. Held at Kleinplasie Museum grounds in Worcester, was once again a success, although the weather forecast (not the rain, which hardly materialised) did keep some exhibitors and visitors away. The show was arranged as last year in the groupings of small-clubs, so engines and machinery were dotted around all over the show-grounds. So although the CVE&MS stand was not too full, there were plenty more engines and driven machines around. Perhaps this is a good way to lay a show out, and not have rows and rows of engines on their own? Most noticeable was the variation in size of the exhibits, from a little BSA along with part of its chassis, off a Ransomes mower, adapted to drive a small mill, shown by Stephen Sokolic, to a Ruston & Hornsby 4 HR, brought along (by crane-truck!) by Andre Nel. (See Right) As it was the annual show, there was judging to do :-( , but once that was over, we all had a good time. Good contacts were picked up during t he show (isn't this one of the reasons why we 'do' shows?), examples being an ex-Ruston air receiver with its gauge given to Andre for his 4 HR (although it starts perfectly well with one starting handle!) so that he will in future be able to demonstrate the procedure of air-starting and re-charging. Nico Lubbe with his blacksmith shop set-up was showing off a wooden bodied, brass inlaid carpenter's brace, which had unfortunately lost its knob and a home-made one had been made in its working life. A visitor went home and produced a complete one, made by Marples as a gift! I had the Petter Fielding EH Mk 1A which I got recently, thumping steadily away (using about 3 litres of diesel all day!). On my display board, I mentioned my intention of mounting it and my other one with the consecutive serial number on the same trailer, but that I was looking for three long thick I-beams. I was promised just that!

Star of the show was definitely the mobile Public Address system, based on a Clark 'airport-tug' towing two personnel trailers, with Johan Stemmet on the microphone. Seldom stuck for words, Johan was, however, not shy to hand the mike over to the exhibitors to give further information on any exhibit. A crowd of perhaps 50 interested show-goers (and other exhibitors!) was often following the commentary. One vivid demonstration was done at Andre's Ruston 4HR, while explaining the re-charging of the air-vessel. Whilst not coupled up yet to the air receiver, it was possible to see at the open pipe connection, the difference between the plain air which would be passed into the reveiver with the priming lever held half-up, and the potentially disastrous mixture of vapourised diesel and air, with the priming lever in the 'run' position! Other interesting exhibits included Derick Kleynhans' Crossley 1030 and Krupp grinding mill, sold together at the time by Malcomess, and David Stemmet's ZD Fairbanks, Morse, belted up to a 'farm-job' wing-pump, linked up to a spoked pulley with a crank attached. A real Heath-Robinson set-up! (See Right)

Netherlands News: Patrick Knight kindly sent in this report: Nuenen Rally Report – 2004

One of the engines being offered for sale by a French dealer; a Moteurs Dolo (See Right:)

UK News: Patrick also sent in this report, unfortunately he was so busy directing tractors which hadn't turned up, that he didn't have time to take photos:

International Tractor Festival 2004

I had been engaged to help set-up and marshal at the International Tractor Festival organised by Kelsey Publishing / Tractor & Machinery magazine, over the weekend 5-6th June, which was both hard work yet an enjoyable experience. There were some 500 plus tractors and items of associated equipment listed in the show programme, with all classes being represented from the superbly restored Concours tractors through various one-make classes to working tractors and horticultural tractors. There were also several club/organisation stands. In fact you could say that there was something for everyone with all tastes being catered for. Sadly, I have to report that around 100 exhibits entered in the programme failed to materalise, leaving those on site somewhat spread out. I know that we can all have problems that can prevent us from honouring a commitment but why so many failed to turn up can only be guessed at. I hope it was not people double booking shows! As Editor of Farm & Horticultural Equipment Collector (F&HEC), a sister magazine to Tractor & Machinery (and Stationary Engine! Ed) I was pleased to see that 95% of the horticultural machines were in attendance. It was also good to see that these little machines were prominently sited, directly opposite the parade arena. Come Sunday evening, as we were clearing away, it was encouraging to receive numerous thanks for all our efforts from tractor owners/exhibitors as they departed for home. A few kind words and a smile are always most welcome and encouragement to do it all again another day.

Also on a tractor note under UK news, we have a report from Terence Taylour from Ireland (OK, I know Ireland isn't in the UK, but read on): Thanks for sending my email to Andy Watson about the Single Cylinder Tractor Rally at Belvoir Castle (they call it Beaver Castle!) We booked in advance and got a cheap(ish) ferry crossing and brought the Landy and Frogdog (Vierzon) and tent, and had a great time and an award for Best Tractor in Show! from 'Tractor and Farming Heritage'.
Colin Tyson, editor of Old Glory gave the award to me, he said it was mostly because I had come all the way from Ireland!
There was a 1923 Lanz HL 'stationary engine on wheels' at Beaver, 1 speed, no reverse! A lovely little tractor, weren't Ford way ahead of them for a few years?

New Members: (Remember, this is a No Rules, No subs society!) Joe Maurer from Freeport, Illinois, is a friend of Curt Andree, and he appeared looking very cold in the last issue. Being from that part of the world, it's no surprise that he's a Stover man! Fanus Stander is the neighbour of Ben Smit (mentioned in last issue) in Boksburg. He's busy with a one-out-of-two restoration on a Lister F. Neels Swierstra now has the Hornsby R which he removed from the engine room at Hartebeesfontein. We are looking forward to progress reports on their plans to install it in their shed. Philip Jansen van Rensburg joins his father Wilhelm in our ranks, welcome! Hennie Piper was introduced by Douw de Lange, and is busy with an Aveling Barford Calf Dozer. Lefteris Hadjizacharias in Cyprus wrote in to Stationary Engine Magazine regarding bearings for his Open Crank Bamford. Alan & Glynis Pike have been instrumental in getting the Bathurst Museum in the Eastern Cape alive and humming again. Visit their website www.bathurst.co.za. Paul Domoney in Zimbabwe was put on to us by Richard Gates. Our first Zimbabwean member! Guy Smith wrote and phoned in from Mooi River in Natal, to ask for information on an injector needle for his Ruston & Hornsby 2X HR. On the same day, Ian Florence wrote in from Port Stanley on the Tasman Penninsula, Tasmania, asking to be added to the circulation. At the Worcester Show, I was pleased to meet Andras Czubora, who lives in Bonnievale, and is keen to get his hands dirty!

I have to report with regret, the passing of another member of the society. Ex-racing-driver and proprietor of Applied Heat in Johannesburg, but who farmed here in Elgin, Jacques Bouilliart died at the wheel of his V12 supercharged Daimler on Sir Lowry's Pass near here recently. Not an engine owner, but a keen suppporter who would drive long distances to attend shows.

During the weekend if the Koos Kriel Engine Day and the Cars in the Park, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Dawie van Vuuren, of a heart attack. He was the owner of Ted's Motor Spares in Benoni, and fountain of knowledge, who took the trouble to come down to our Annual Show at Kleinplasie two years ago, and set up a stall there. He was popular with us engine men for a range of our type of spark-plugs, all unused, and sturdy engine covers.

New Books: New from David Edgington are two books:

The Lister D Story. 55 pages of in-depth information on this, the most prolific British Stationary Engine ever made, with more than 250 000 built between 1926 and 1964. Although they all look alike, David points out the subtle differences in an easy-to-read format, well illustrated with drawings, period engravings and photographs, as well as up-to-date full-colour photos from many enthusiasts. To give an idea of how current and detailed the book is, it includes the unusual dipstick which Hendrik Massyn has on his D!

Old Stationary Engines. This book David has re-vamped having sold 32 000 of the first issue, which gives some idea of the number of interested people worldwide! The book has grown from 32 pages to 56, and is packed with full colour photos, almost all different from the previous issue. The text includes just enough on the history of engines, small power engines, popular makes, not so popular makes, small diesels (my favourite!) and large engines. It's easy to read, and has informative captions, so even if you have the original one, this is a must!

Contact him at Lodge Wood Farm, Hawkeridge, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 4LA. He accepts Visa and Mastercard.

For sale:

Charles van Schalkwyk in Bloemfontein het op hierdie stadium vir julle 400 x 19 binnebande beskikbaar @ R28.80 plus btw = R32.83. 600 x 19 binnebande beskikbaar @ R40.00 plus btw = R45.60

What's on:

Winter Warm-up at Trade Winds, Groot Drakenstein on Saturday 28th August. Early till late, free entry to all, bring an engine! Next to L'Ormarins wine estate.

Hein Stroh writes from the RSME: Please join us for our Annual Engine & Steam Day on the 4th September 2004.
This day has its usual format of a bring and braai. A tuckshop will be available on site. Hein Stroh - 082 497 2255

Andy Selfe (021) 859 2430 Weathertop Farm, PO Box 41, ELGIN 7180, South Africa aselfe@mweb.co.za