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Author Topic: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43  (Read 889 times)

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Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« on: January 19, 2026, 07:20:00 am »
Happy 2026 Everyone :-)

It's been a minute since a Empire has come into eBay that I have been interested in but this one perked me up.  Its listed as a 43 and is very much like a B-43 with the cylinder hut & balance wheel stand-offs.  Though it's a short copper boiler, which is generally limited to 90s.  It is complete and the seller had a video of it running!  It also is coming with Weeden Accessories (saw, stamper, & broken line shaft).  All in to my Texas door, $118.00.  The seller has only been on eBay since summer of 2025 and this is the 1st item he has sold (that always worries me).

Seeing the style of the cylinder hut/wheel mounts, whistle topper and no protector cover over the power connection, I am thinking pre-WWII.

It might be months before I see this engine in person, since I am sending it to my Texas home (I am in Atlanta).  So posting the images / video from the eBay listing.



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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2026, 08:07:53 am »
Another great item with this listing are the included instructions, which I didn't pay to much attention at first - since I have a set.  Though this one is different than the one that I have.  This one instructs on one three different No. B-43 & No.62 Engines.

1. Regular Engines
2. Reversible Engines
3. Engines Equipped with a Pump!

Isn't that cool!  The paper isn't in the best shape but it is readable.
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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2026, 10:38:35 am »
Cannot say that I have ever seen one just like that.

I'd have to think it is an uncommon engine, or at least an early configuration and a wonderful addition to your collection!!!
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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2026, 10:54:52 am »
@Stoker, I 100% agree.

Everything points to early configuration before they went to the more common pressed steel configuration.  Even the darker red paint leads me to believe earlier manufacturing era. 

Now I am going to have to take a new full collection "Family" photo - I really didn't expect to find/buy another Empire that I would classify as uniquely different from my other existing engines!
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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2026, 07:47:22 pm »
The seller messaged me back after I asked if he had any history on the engine.  He told me that he found the engine & accessories in a box at his father's house after he passed away.  It seems he nor his younger siblings knew anything about a box with a toy steam engine!  He is guessing someone gave the engine to his dad but no one in the family really knows for sure.  While the dad wasn't a collector vintage things, the seller said his dad was a NASA Engineer - so one could see how a friend / colleague could have given it as some kind of a gift.

My mind thinks of some kind of a cool NASA Engineer's x-mas party in the 70s / 80s and it was a White Elephant gift!  Wouldn't that be a hoot of a gift LOL!
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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2026, 05:54:50 pm »
I got the Engine, well actually my family got the engine and they FaceTimed me opening the box.  The seller sent me the top of the box that had stamps on it.  Pretty cool stamps - though I wished the seller had sent the whole box.

Stamp 1:
A "Win the War" 3-cent stamp (Scott #905) from the United States, issued in 1942. The "FRAMINGHAM MASS." text is a town name cancel (precancel) specific to Framingham, Massachusetts.

Stamp 2:
A 5-cent James Monroe stamp from the 1938 Presidential Series (Scott #810), featuring a "precancel" postmark from Framingham, Massachusetts. The stamp depicts the fifth U.S. president, James Monroe, who served from 1817 to 1825.

Precanceled Stamps are for bulk shippers, so perhaps the box was original.

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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2026, 06:27:57 pm »
Also, on the underside - the base is stamped "62" which makes so much more sense over a No. 43.  I have a long tank 62 with the "hut" for the oscillating piston and then I have a short 62 with a copper tank but its more like the later stamped steel perch for the piston.  So this is still a design that I didn't have, even if its a No. 62.
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Richard

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2026, 03:25:11 am »
As much as I love nickel plating, these bare copper Empires are quite attractive!!
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Nick

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Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2026, 09:43:21 am »
Quote from: Nick on January 28, 2026, 03:25:11 am
As much as I love nickel plating, these bare copper Empires are quite attractive!!

I agree, interestingly I have another No. 62 Short that is copper and having this earlier one insures me it wasn't a previous owner's swap.  

Fun fact, the seller of this No.62 sent a really nice & long letter trying to gleam some history on her father's steam engine - its a real mystery to them.  Anyways, not only was her dad a NASA Engineer, her mom was one of the NASA "Computers" - just like in the movie "Hidden Figures".  Just to think this little No. 62 was around all these historical NASA staffers is so cool.  Though that might be me being a big space nerd ;-)
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Richard
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