Spalding's Corner

Looking for Clues to Mystery Engines

September/October 2004
 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

We finally received an answer to the 'mystery' engine featured in the May/June issue of Steam Traction. Paul Ward, 592 Fox Road, Lexington, OH 44904 (psward@neo.rr.com), believes the engine is an early offering from Canadian manufacturer George White & Son's Co.

RELATED CONTENT

Paul notes several items in common with other George White & Son's engines, including: Whistle not fed by steam dome, governor belt with twist, front wheel hub with swooping motion between spokes, quadrant mounted to the back of the boiler/firebox, cylinder mounted just back of the smokestack, low bunkers and a short steam dome. The stack and the the dog-leg flywheel looked unfamiliar to Paul, but a copy of an old catalog image shows this exact same arrangement. Note, too, the stack on the White engine featured on this issue's cover.

Noah Brubaker, 1577 Johnson Mill Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, was the first person to identify the 'mystery' engine featured in the July/August issue of Steam Traction. Noah correctly identified it as a Leader, manufactured by Marion Manufacturing Co., Marion, Ohio. Noah thinks it's a 12 HP unit, built in 1895 or earlier.

This month's mystery engine comes, as usual, courtesy of John Spalding, 112 Carriage Place, Hendersonville, TN 37035 (genesis645@aol.com). There's no information on the photograph, but we can tell you this engine was produced by a company not particularly associated with threshing duties, even though the pictured engine is pulling a thresher.

As ever, the first person to correctly identify the picture, by mail, gets a free copy of Prof. P.F. Rose's Steam Engine Guide. Good hunting, and get those answers in quick.

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Farm Collector readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Steam Traction?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


SUBSCRIBE TO FARM COLLECTOR TODAY!

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

FARM COLLECTOR is a monthly magazine focusing on antique tractors and all kinds of antique farm equipment. if it's old and from the farm, we're interested in it!

Every month Farm Collector brings you:

  • Windmills to cream separators
  • Hog oilers to horse-drawn equipment
  • Implements to engines to farm toys

If it's old and from the farm, we're interested in it!

Be sure to take advantage of the

Square Deal Subscription Program.

No Missed Issues. No Renewal Notices. No Additional Cost

The Square Deal Subscription Program is designed as a paperless transaction with automatic renewals at a preferred low rate. With advanced electronic notification, 100% satisfaction guaranteed and an easy opt-out plan, the Square Deal Subscription Program is the best value, risk free, eco-friendliest way to subscribe. Click here to read our Frequently Asked Questions.