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Author Topic: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant  (Read 3493 times)

Maxwell

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"Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« on: February 17, 2020, 10:19:14 am »
Hi, I ended up with a Saito steam plant that I won at auction in NY. During the weekend, I decided to start a full cleanup and restoration of the boiler which was in very dirty but good condition. After removing the flue cover, I found this spent 45 caliber cartridge hidden. I thought maybe the cartridge just fell through the stack or burner openings, but no it was too big to fall in accidentally. I preserved the untouched cartridge in a zip-lock back, who knows. The item used to belong to a famous collector out of NY who passed in July 2019. Any ideas on how to deal with this is appreciated? [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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Stoker

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2020, 10:41:12 am »
Could it be the hiding place for the cartridge that was used to "off" Jimmy Hoffa, or is it just someone's attempt to make a smoke oil reservoir that would produce better than Saito's thin coil of tubing???

Inquiring minds want to know!     ;c)
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Steamloco

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2020, 11:39:09 am »
Forget the cartridge, where's the bullet? Not in the previous owner I hope. :-)
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Maxwell

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2020, 12:33:05 pm »
Quote from: Stoker on February 17, 2020, 10:41:12 am
Could it be the hiding place for the cartridge that was used to "off" Jimmy Hoffa, or is it just someone's attempt to make a smoke oil reservoir that would produce better than Saito's thin coil of tubing???

Inquiring minds want to know!     ;c)
Smoke oil reservoir is a good theory, thanks
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RedRyder

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2020, 12:59:03 pm »
If you want to turn it over to the ATF, they will likely have an agent come by to pick it up if they think it might have prints on it pertinent to an unsolved crime.


Wierdest for me was a couple dead hornets that found their way into a steam engine cylinder and could not figure out how to get out.


I am glad I removed the head to clean and oil the upper cylinder before trying to turn or run it.
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Maxwell

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2020, 01:03:56 pm »
Quote from: RedRyder on February 17, 2020, 12:59:03 pm
If you want to turn it over to the ATF, they will likely have an agent come by to pick it up if they think it might have prints on it pertinent to an unsolved crime.


Wierdest for me was a couple dead hornets that found their way into a steam engine cylinder and could not figure out how to get out.


I am glad I removed the head to clean and oil the upper cylinder before trying to turn or run it.

I might do that as well. I have nothing to loose except maybe the SAITO boiler, but it's worth solving a crime if it's related to one.
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CBWho

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2020, 01:39:33 pm »
Could you post an image of the entire setup? Those Japanese engines don't get much posted about them. Why?
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Mr. Tom

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2020, 03:38:38 pm »
This post reminded me of another bullet related oddity. My sterno powered “Red Injun” uses a spent Winchester 38 special cartridge as a cylinder. An ingenious repair I’m guessing.
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Nick

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2020, 04:15:14 pm »
^^^Even better that the connecting rod runs through the primer pocket/flash hole  8)
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Nick

Nick

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2020, 09:38:00 pm »
Quote from: RedRyder on February 17, 2020, 12:59:03 pm
Wierdest for me was a couple dead hornets that found their way into a steam engine cylinder and could not figure out how to get out.


I am glad I removed the head to clean and oil the upper cylinder before trying to turn or run it.

My 50 boiler that had the heaters removed, had mud dauber nests inside the tubes and the exhaust was plugged with a bit of mud too.
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Nick

Belugawhaleman

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2020, 02:44:55 am »
My Cranko Mogul locomotive has a metal rod rattling around in its boiler that I can't get out. It was apparently
Inserted through the overflow plug hole. I can't get it out, but the engine runs just fine.
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St Paul Steam

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2020, 03:47:50 pm »
I hope Mike wont mind me adding to his thread , I was working on this last weekend (Jensen #25 heater) & found that the 110V cord was connected to the heating element with alligator clips...they weren't even strong clips .this was an eBay purchase from who knows how long ago, I don't think I tried to steam it...it was just for spares.

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Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Nick

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2020, 03:55:15 pm »
Haha nice fix  :D  The heat probably weakened the alligator clips
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Nick

Nick

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2020, 03:58:11 pm »
Here's the mud dauber nests in my 50's firebox and boiler heater tubes




There were none left inside, probably died of Mesothelioma...  ;)

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Nick

txlabman

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Re: "Weirdest Thing" to find in a steam plant
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2020, 06:04:10 pm »
Now that's funny Nick!
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