https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-STUART-HORIZONTAL-MODEL-STEAM-ENGINE-19-1-4-LONG/303398474207?hash=item46a3f551df:g:YnAAAOSwfzJd8Bl2
There is currently an identical engine on ebay, but listed as a stuart.
crazydoug
Wow! Is it really worth that much? I'll have to watch it and see.
Definitely the same engine, though.
Don't know what it's worth, but I made the seller a lower offer (much lower), assuming he would come back with a counter offer or reject my offer- to my surprise I soon saw the "pay now" in my ebay messages. So it will soon be on it's way to the U.S. I asked to wait till after the Christmas postal rush to ship it.
I also tracked down the Wells manufacturing Co., still in business since 1907, but only making industrial ductile iron castings. I was surprised to get a response to my email within a couple hours. The reply was from Matt Wells, grandson of George Wells, who according to Matt, merely dabbled in the model engines as a hobby, mostly making castings or machining models for his friends in a model boat and engine club he belonged to. Matt promised to ask his cousin about my engine, who he claims was more closely involved with his grandad during that time. I will be sure to share whatever info he can share with me.
Doug, I love reading stuff like that! Really glad Bob posted his engine, as now there are 2 on the forum and hopefully much more of the history will soon be known.
All sounds great, Doug! I knew that the foundry was still there, but hadn't thought of writing to Matt about it. Please do let us know what you find out.
Congrats, Doug...!!! As mentioned above -- Now there are 2 of these on our forum!
Makes me wish I had mine. In fact after John Coleman passed away, I tried to reach out to his family to find out if they would be letting go of some of his inventory, especially the Wells and it was as if they dropped off the face of the earth. I could not get a response from any of them.
Gil