My Empire B-31 Steam Engine running a No.34 Variable Speed Unit connected to the very rare No.48 Giant Stride Swing!
In the back around B-34 Variable Speed Unit & Windlass No.51 Buffer & Grinder No.52 Circular Table Saw B-36 (No.36) 24' Windmill & Water Pump
https://youtu.be/ldrVAcVmUGI
Some amazing rarities on show in this video!
Thanks for sharing with us all!!!
That's awesome... a real treat to watch in action!
Thank you...!!!
Gil
Thank you guys <3
Playing with the Variable Speed Unit, they are very handy getting the swing speed where you want it at full steam.
Though speaking of these speed units, the windlass unit has a problem. The main variable drive spins on its shaft (the big wheel side). Unlike its bigger and round base brothers, these variable drive's don't have a set screw. Perhaps if I clean the shaft and inside the variable drive I can use some super glue to "set" it into place...
I am going to try and get all of my accessories running on two engines, I think I am going to have to setup in my garage so I have enough space. I think I know have an example of each accessory or at least what you find in the Empire book (though it seems there are two versions of the No.34 but I am not going to think about that!).
I though I'd do just a overview of the swing itself.
https://youtu.be/4k3rxvn6R5AFYI: I was texting Steward and he told me not only does he have one of Bruce's swings but a original one too. He says, including mine, he knows of 4 originals. So mine is't the only original one that is know to exist.
I was just chatting with Steward (Empire man 202 here on the forms) on the phone. He got his swing about 9 years ago at an estate sale for $25 and it has its original box too! When he tried to talked to the lady about what she had (it was worth a lot more), she said its marked for $25 and it will go to the dump with anything else that doesn't sell. Crazy, so he shut up and handed over $25. He also tells me the solid wire for the seats are original, which is how his it.
A bit about Steward: his cancer has come back and is in his glands this time around. He is down in Florida fishing with his family/grand kids and he says it is likely his last trip anywhere. He isn't feeling very positive about making it much longer. He was watching the eBay sell for this swing and told me I did pretty good at 3k, if he wasn't in bad shape (he isn't buying stuff anymore) he would have given 5k for it. Perhaps he was trying to make me feel better but he seems to be sincere that I did okay. Anyways, anyone that personally knows Steward may want to reach out and give him your best. He is a real nice fellow.
Oh, he also has known SlowJoey for some time too - small world!
Very nice to see an original #48 swing, thanks for explaining it and showing it in operation. Stewart bought the only example I sold on EBay 4 years ago & that's how we became friends. I will call him soon.
I was searching for Empire things, as I generally do when I am bored. I've seen this ad before but it was rather low resolution and couldn't really make out the text. I want to say that
@txlabman / Charlie has posted it (somewhere on the internet).
1940s H. Shure CO., Chicago Ad
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