Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Gil,
Does your boiler have the hollow screws for the sight glass and steam dome?

No, there are solid screws. These came in 2 sizes which are 5-40 and 6-32. Hollow screws are believed to have appeared immediate post war due to the existence of very rare riveted boiler machines with dark blue paint and hollow screws. There are also some also very rare examples with dark blue paint, rivets, and small solid screws (1930's style). This piece with the robins egg blue paint and hollow screws is the first I recall seeing with hollow screws and the 1930's light blue paint. It could be he (Tom Sr.) just didn't want to bother to repaint a left over engine base Mrs. J. had painted pre-war.


Or..... One must ask..... Did he begin experimenting with hollow screws pre-war?
Based on my observations over the last 20 years and info gathered over the last 30-40 years, it is more likely someone brought the engine back for a boiler repair or replacement in the early post war period. I would like to know what other machines, if any, have hollow screws with robins egg blue paint, with the exception of the 2 newer boilers I had converted to riveted that retained the hollow screws.


Gil