My Collection

        I have been collecting old engines since I was 5.  My dad got me a big engine complete with cart and saw rig.  It was inside a shed that was barely standing.  The old woman who owned the property told us we could have the engine.  Lacking a trailer, we towed the whole rig home behind the truck!  That was almost 18 years ago, now I have 53 engines (45 are F&J) and four tractors plus a traction engine.  Here is a description of the engines and tractors I have so far.

    My first engine was a 7 hp SAXON that was sold by Brackett, Shaw & Lunt.  The engine was built by Hercules and is the throttle governed EK model.  As part of my machine process class I rebuilt the engine.  It's all in pieces until I get sufficient space to keep it once restored.

    I also have a little 1 1/2 hp SAXON with "paint like glass" and fancy striping.  This engine always draws attention at shows.  I bought this little gem in Orange, MA in 1994.

       2hp headless Witte # 27006 built in 1916.  It has the first version of the hit miss kerosene mixer, although the pre-heater assy is long gone.  Engine also has a sub base and 90% of its original 3 color paint job.  I've got to make the cart rails longer to accommodate a battery box, and the fuel tank is not correct.  The original was taller and this kerosene engine has a small gasoline tank nested on the main tank for starting.  I picked up a big Wizard high tension dynamo for this engine as the sub base is drilled for the bracket.  Should look good when I get it all done.

1919 4hp headless Witte on factory trucks with factory clutch pulley and seldom seen Webster magneto.  This is another hit miss kerosene engine.  The tank sits on pulley side of hopper and is piped into a float mixer which in turn is bolted to the regular mixer.  Both brackets were broken and the whole fuel system save for the float mixer body is missing.  I have new cast brackets and all the fuel line piping/fittings plus completed the float mixer.  Still need to get a tank made and fabricate the air heater sleeve.  There is no wear at all on this engine, it has phenomenal compression and runs excellent!

    One engine I never thought would be in my collection!  The big cast brass tag reads "Leader Domestic,  Built by the Domestic Engine and Pump Co. Shippensburg, PA."  Engine has a four digit s/n that dates to 1911.  This Leader Domestic was never used much, being more rusty that worn out.  A previous owner took the engine apart but lost interest, it sat on the dirt floor of his shed for the next 12 years.  My dad filled in a hole in the owner's backyard in trade for the engine.  After some cleaning I have the engine assembled and running, it runs quite slow and quiet.  Now I have to paint it and assemble a proper cart. 

    My high school graduation present from mom and dad!  This 1912 model CA 4 hp Sparta Economy was purchased from a former collector in CT.  Missing was the correct mixer and fuel tank, I have a mixer but still need to the tank made.  Compression is very high on this Sparta but it starts on the first pull every time and runs quite slow.  What a great way to remember graduation 1999!

       This is a 1916 2 hp Alamo Blue Line engine.  I got it for $50 missing only the gas tank and muffler.  This is a brand new engine!  No carbon was in the cylinder, there is no wear in any of the parts.  I got an original muffler that came on a different engine I bought, just need to get a fuel tank now.

Here's my Bates & Edmond 1 1/2 hp Bull Dog.  It has a Fairbanks tag and is complete except for the muffler and crank guard.  For the last 40 yrs this engine had been used as a door stop!  After cleaning a huge spider nest out of the mixer and a good oiling, it runs great!

I traded a little Brownwall engine for this Kelly & Lewis Triumph 2hp model H.  These throttle governed sideshaft engines were made in Melbourne Australia.  They are quite an unusual engine with an enclosed crankcase, of which the fuel tank  is nested above.  They feature a float mixer, mechanically operated valves and Lucas high tension magneto.  This engine ended up needing substantial work but the results were well worth the effort.  The engine will quietly chuff along at a steady 150rpm all day long.  It's sitting on a Sandwich cart I bought at Portland.

To view the restoration progress click here.

I traded a 2hp headless Witte for this 2hp type 2B Rosebery engine #5909 with geared ML high tension magneto.  It was built by Rosebery Engine Works of Sydney Australia sometime in the 1920's.  The engine is heavily based on the Fuller & Johnson 1 1/2hp N but is throttle governed.  It runs great, nice and smooth.  To view the restoration progress click here.

This Buzacott type 2A is the mate to my Rosebery 2B.  I traded an Ideal mower engine for it.  In pic on right is my engine running at the 10th national rally in Naracoorte, SA in March 2005. 

Currently partially assembled awaiting restoration.

Here is a model engine I built from plans in Home Shop Machinist.  It's called  "Victorian Engine" and looks fantastic.  Now if I could just get it run as good as it looks!

In the early autumn of 2007 I picked up this nicely preserved 1938 3hp John Deere model E engine.  It is in great shape with little wear and runs pretty slow for a Deere.

Pic to follow once I get the mag charged.

This engine here has been something of a mystery.  It's obviously a copy of a 4 hp model N.  It was found in Canada which leads me to believe it might have been made by the Manitoba Engine & Pump Co. since they also copied the Farm Pump Engine.  Of interest is that it will only take the early diamond shaped 1913 model ignitor, the later oval body will not fit.  I've had to make many new parts but have yet to find the time to put everything together. 

    Here is my unusual brass tag Farm Pump Engine complete with pump.  This is outfit No. 633 and it left the factory in 1915.  Paint is all original, more being left on the engine than pump.  I purchased this engine in November 1996.  This engine was used to pump water up to an attic storage tank in a Connecticut country estate house.

    It wasn't exactly what I wanted but it would do!  I have always wanted an early 1 1/2 hp N but could never find one nearby.  This 1924 1 1/2 hp model N is as late as they get, production switching to the NB a few months later.  My example even has an NB block and governor weight along with the Wico EK mag. This engine #88659 was shipped May 8, 1924 to the T.L. Smith Co. of Milwaukee, WI.  As such the engine came with the steel channels for cement mixer use.  I purchased this little gem on Martha's Vineyard in October 1997.

    It took years of searching to finally find this 3 hp model K with geared Sumter No. 21 mag.  The tag was gone but several features tell this model K was one of the very first ever made.  Although it turned over the engine was not running and hadn't for many years.  Everything was worn out, almost all nuts were rounded over and several parts were missing.  Mechanical restoration included boring out the cylinder and fitting an oversize piston, new valves and guides, repairing a badly cracked head, strengthening the cam gear mount as it had been snapped off and welded back on, rebuilt igniter and mixer, new gears, complete governor rebuild and re-bushing every bearing except the mains.  Missing were the hot air heater, mag bracket and mag, crank shield and starting crank.  100+ hours of machining went into this project but no where will you find a better running 3 hp K!  It still needs a proper paint job though.  I have some castings for a cart, now to put it all together......  This engine was purchased from Ritter's Engine Shed in March 1997.

    This 6 hp model N #53236 was shipped 8-24-16 to the Ames Plow Co. of  Boston, Ma.  The engine is in perfect mechanical condition, not even being run in.  Much of the original paint, striping and decals are present.  When purchased a non original igniter was on the engine, I replaced this with a Wizard 2SO oscillating mag.  The engine probably had one from the factory as there is a second SNAP mark for the timing plus several other Fuller Johnson engines shipped to the Ames Plow Co. had the Wizard mag as well.  I picked this big engine up on Martha's Vineyard in October 1999.  I built the cart using pics from an original model N catalog as a reference.  

Picked up a nice complete and hardly used 2hp NC in mid summer of 2006.

Pics to follow in the spring.

    Here is an extremely rare 1 1/2 hp JW B-2 #150093, making it the 93rd model J built and the 19th out of 21 JW engines to leave the factory.  It was shipped 7-10-25 to Ft. Wayne Engine & Mfg. Co., Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  It's in excellent mechanical condition, not having even being run in.  New valves came with the engine so they were installed along with new guides.  I also replaced all the pivot pins.  The hopper had a good sized piece missing but this was fixed with fixturing metal poured into the hole.  Other than a paint job, battery box, muffler and cart, I did no other repairs or work.  This engine starts easy and runs extremely well.

    This is the first engine I ever bought through the internet.  This 7 hp K #59981 was shipped 9-20-18 to A.L. Stewart in Blabon, ND.  While stuck there are no cracks and all major parts are there.  Got everything apart, even the stuck piston and busted oilier pipe.  I have the flywheels removed after tackling a rather difficult and uncooperative gib key.  Engine is in fine overall condition with little wear.  I've got the cart coming along good.  Wheels need some new spokes welded in and pin striping put on the rails.  Made new crankshaft gear, governor gear and magneto gear for the engine, completely rebuilt igniter, new pivot pins, rebuilt magneto, new kerosene needle valve, fixed broken magneto bracket and cracked dash pot.  I cut a new exhaust valve seat and made the valve with an oversize head.  Not much else needs to be done other than paint everything. 

    This 6 hp oil cooled engine #397 was built around 1904, has both hot tube and igniter ignition.  Engine runs very well and is quite easy to start.  I purchased this one from Verne Kindschi in March 2001.  The igniter was a bit leaky so I made a new seat for the movable electrode, doesn't leak anymore.  The governor was also worn and sometimes would cause the engine to run away!  Ended up making a whole new camshaft and sliding sleeve, new detent and catch, re-bush detent swivel and governor weights.  Also repacked oil pump and fuel pump plus cleaned out the fuel tank.  The engine is back together and after some final tweaking it runs great!

3 hp Double Efficiency engine #7184 shipped 8-30-15 to Oaerman Hardware Co. Marion, IN.  This is a very late model DE with geared Elkhart magneto.  Finally after nearly 5yrs of searching I've managed to borrow enough parts to cast new replacements and get this engine running!  

This is a 1/3 scale Fuller & Johnson 3hp model N.  Not sure if I will convert this model into a 3 hp K or 2 1/2 hp model N kerosene. 

I sold my first 6hp model AH and bought another one that is complete including starting crank.

Pics to follow this spring.