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Author Topic: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine  (Read 928 times)

RichSteamTx

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Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« on: March 12, 2024, 01:39:28 pm »
I been wanting one of the B-42's that has the stabilizing plate for a bit now.  This was the last big engine that SlowJoey had from Carl's collection, which is where my older B-42 came from.   There is even another B-42 that has a stabilizing plate but also has rings on either side, like pulleys, that I image completely stops the side to side slop between the wheels.  I wished I had one that that but I couldn't pass up this one from SlowJoey when he called me up a few weeks back.

Here is a pre-view video: straight from the shipping box to steaming!  You'll see how well that went if you watch the video LOL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya_FqEKhzSM
Richard

RichSteamTx

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2024, 05:15:59 pm »
Now after most of the leaks fixed ;-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvnYS-SUTik
Richard

RichSteamTx

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2024, 11:03:07 am »
I also believe that this engine is the same photo in the Empire book.  The photo isn't very big in the book and of course more paint has been lost but I think I am spying enough likely matches between them.  When I took a photo of the one in the book, its a bit washed out.

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Richard

txlabman

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2024, 11:12:15 am »
Rich:

I think you are spot on.

It's a little odd that Don Stilson did not provide attribution for the B-42 Twin pictured in the book.

This later design was much better and when Danny visited he made some modifications to mine to stabalize it. 

He also went home with my second B-42 and probably has the only one in Europe.  One was enough for me; although, I would like to have both versions.

Charlie

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2024, 11:20:33 am »
But then there is this, whatever it actually may be!?!?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126374197165


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"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
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txlabman

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2024, 11:23:40 am »
But then there is this, whatever it actually may be!?!?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126374197165

Daniel:

I saw this one on eBay too. 

I don't believe the transmission on top is original; and the offered price is ridiculous.

Charlie

RichSteamTx

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2024, 11:24:13 am »
Yep, I found that odd too that Don didn't list "photo courtesy of Carl".  Though perhaps the engine changed hands at some point?  My other one runs good without the stabilizer but it has bent over slightly, which I think that is what that plate is really for but I don't want to put one on because it didn't come it with.

I also find it interesting how the made the upper brace opened on the inside and then closed later on (required on a B30 for the pulley), with those they have the added slip rings to completely stop the side to side movement.  You'd figured they would have done that from the start.
Richard

TEC

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2024, 11:25:34 am »
Very nice!  I suspect that the reason the Elektro twin wasn't produced was that Hughes found that there wasn't an an appreciable gain in horespower over the B30 -- if there was a gain. He did provide HP ratings for the Raven versions of the B30 and B31, so he does appear to have dyno'd the engines.

Metalware's solution?  A second boiler.  These are impressive engines.

RichSteamTx

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2024, 11:25:52 am »
But then there is this, whatever it actually may be!?!?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126374197165

Daniel:

I saw this one on eBay too. 

I don't believe the transmission on top is original; and the offered price is ridiculous.

Charlie

I posted about that here:  eBay: Empire B-42 Prototype or User Modification?
Richard

RichSteamTx

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2024, 11:29:32 am »
Very nice!  I suspect that the reason the Elektro twin wasn't produced was that Hughes found that there wasn't an an appreciable gain in horespower over the B30 -- if there was a gain. He did provide HP ratings for the Raven versions of the B30 and B31, so he does appear to have dyno'd the engines.

Metalware's solution?  A second boiler.  These are impressive engines.

Even with the engine on the table/shelf not running the B-42 looks impressive!  

The tank with the whistle in my video is really under powered, compared to the one without a whistle.  Best that I can tell all leaks have been stopped.  So the only leak on the whistle side is what you'll get from the regulator and whistle levers.  Even with that, when it is wide opened the whole engine will creep on my desk.  Which is impressive because that is a lot of weight to move on vibration!
Richard

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Re: Another Empire B-42 (Double Boiler) Engine
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2024, 11:41:20 am »
But then there is this, whatever it actually may be!?!?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126374197165

Daniel:

I saw this one on eBay too. 

I don't believe the transmission on top is original; and the offered price is ridiculous.

Charlie

Agreed!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.