Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

So I been amassing a nice little Weeden collection here in my ATL apartment but I have been missing the Weeden boats.  They don't come up offend and when they do, they aren't cheap.  Or they are cheap and they are in horrid shape.  Yesterday on the Live Auctioneers site they had a great auction, while it was mostly trains they had some really great boats (one went for $5,500!)

In this auction I got 4 Weeden boats, I think they are all different models and one I think is kind of rare because it is the 1st Weeden boat.  It went under the radar because it wasn't listed as a Weeden at all but I recognized it from the Weeden Steam site.

I am still waiting for the butcher's bill & shipping invoice but with the 25% Buyer's Premium (Ouch!), ALT sales tax, & shipping the average cost will be around $550~$600 a boat.  Not sure if that is a good deal but I don't think it is a horrible deal.

I think it's a Standard Porter: Missing its burner for sure and I think it suppose to have a little flag on its bow.  This boat was made between 1888 and 1889, so a old boat for sure!
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I think it's a No. 1 Steamboat Porter: These two boats are different and one of them I can't really match to the Weeden site.
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Torpedo Style Steamboat No. 3 (Hudson): This is clearly a No.3 but it isn't a Gloucester but named the "Hudson".
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I am certainly happy, a very nice set of steam boats that are mostly complete and look nice as they are!  I didn't really need 4 boats but I didn't want to pass up the opportunity on the variety of models!  I just knew I would regret it if I let them pass me by.

Awesome!!

Yes, the extra fees do hurt in these auctions, but if you plan to bid with Bertoia again, download their app and bid directly through them to save a little bit

Well, that is a good tip - I didn't realize that at all and generally I am pretty savy on saving a penny here and there.   

I always figure with these auctions if the hammer price is under $500, plan to nearly double the final price 

Shipping through Bertoia isn’t usually outrageous, but sometimes with these sales you have to contact an outside shipper and they easily charge $80-100 for a small engine since they have to pick it up and pack it.

Sorry, not what you want to hear!!

You must have the most extensive Weeden collection!!!
Looking forward to seeing these Richard.

It can easily take up to two weeks for an invoice on shipping… :-/

I thought I'd give the Standard Porter a go after redoing the joints on the steam line, which went okay. But it went down hill from there....

The first issue, is the spring for the piston is missing.  I tried to use a spring I had and it kind of worked but then it jammed up because the spring was way too small but it did run for a bit!  Then I had a bit of a calamity, the rudder fell off!  Best that I could tell it was just glued on from the factory.  I cleaned it up and soldered it on.  I am thinking what I should do about the solder joint, the shinny solder sticks out like a sore thumb - grrr.

So I bought a Compression Springs Assortment Kit that has 4mm~6mm OD springs in the kit.  Hopefully one of them will get it going properly!