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

I found this engine at a yard sale a while back and could not resist acquiring it for its beauty and quality craftsmanship. I was going to fully restore it but can just never find the time and, seeing how rare it is, it should really go to an enthusiasts collection. I will be posting this for sale within the next week or so on E Bay for sale to the highest bidder.

The Jensen model 50 is the largest Power Generation Plant, producing 1/10 horsepower at full steam. Since Jensen's founding, each of these uniquely designed engines has been individually and lovingly handcrafted and factory tested. The model #50 is definitively the pride and joy of any collector who is lucky to have one and is the most coveted and rare "Holy Grail" of all collectors who don't. Only a very small handful of these engines were built each year. I heard a collector say that he only knows of about 10 or so of these Mod. #50 engines that have survived and are still around. Production began in very late 1930's and was discontinued in the 60's. It was resumed again in 2016, and a new #50 engine is now is available from Jensen (by special order only) for $ 5,000.00.

The underside of the boiler is still bright and a gentle rub with Mother's aluminum metal polish made it shine like a mirror. The bottom of the boiler is not corroded and I did not see any corroded fittings on boiler, pipes, engine piston, etc. I have only sprayed WD 40 on all the metal parts and cleaned off most of the gunk and years of dust build-up with a toothbrush. I cleaned the wood with a mild wood cleaner. I'm waiting for a couple of parts from Jensen: a spring belt pulley, light bulb for the post and the boiler gasket replacement kit and, after they are installed, I will post the engine for sale on Ebay (within a week so). I will let everyone here know when it's posted.

After oiling, the flywheel, piston, dual ball fly-ball governor and generator all spun freely, and you can feel the resistance from the piston's compression when turning the flywheel by hand. This beautiful engine obviously needs a bit more TLC and restoration and has only about three missing parts (smoke stack, boiler sight glass and a pipe from water pump to boiler). A discussion on this internet steam forum explains how the replacement sight glass of the new #50 (available from Jensen) can be easily modified to fit older units, and also how immersion heater elements of some other models and/or makes can also be fitted into the Jensen. The missing smoke stack and water pipe can likely be fabricated, or one could just use a clear aquarium type clear pvc pipe from the water pump to the boiler. I did not test the heater elements, but due to advanced age and being non-grounded type, it would be wise -for safety- that they be replaced or at least rewired with a functional ground.

You can see & hear the engine actually running (on compressed air) here on YouTube : Coming soon

Engine specs: 5 inch heavy gauge Brass, Nickel plated Boiler with Whistle, Gauge and Throttle Valve, Massive Cast Iron Engine Base and Axle Journals, Heavy Cast Iron Flywheel with PTO "V" grooves, Reversible with Multiple PTO's High Torque Engine with Double Acting Cylinder and Slide Valve, 7/8" Bore x 1" Stroke; 110 V. A/C-D/C Working Flyball Governor, Standard Feed Water Pump.

SEE AND HEAR IT RUNNING ON COMPRESSED AIR on YouTube: Coming soon
 

Nice find! That is a very nice example and with a bit of TLC, will be a fantastic piece. These are not as rare as you may think. I have three of them myself and know of quite a few others. You should do very well on eBay.

Yeah what Junkologist said, not that rare, so no one else worry about bidding on this, I'll probably bid the second time it is relisted only kidding what a beauty

Thanks for the heads up!

An epoch garage sale find.

When?  Nine days later and still not on Ebay.

you are keen on it!!!
Arnold

I would guess some are attempting to buy it before it reaches Ebay (not me!).

I assumed that was the reason to entice us all here.

Quote from: parallelmotion on December 31, 2022, 09:20:06 pm

I would guess some are attempting to buy it before it reaches Ebay (not me!).

I assumed that was the reason to entice us all here.

Bruce, Brent, I believe you are both correct. I had sent a pm advising him to let his auction run it's full course on eBay. He had already been receiving offers. He even offered Jensen the opportunity to make an offer. It turns out our friend Bill made him a superb offer which he accepted. 

You will see more of this Jensen #50 as it is on it's way here to the Office of Steam where I will give it a sympathetic restoration consisting mostly of a deep careful cleaning, new gaskets, and replacing missing parts.

I will make a thread and steam-up video.

Thank Gil. Interesting strategy--feign an Ebay listing to solicit offers. I no longer own a 50 and just can't get very excited over some pricey rivets.