they look pretty good to me Mike.
Thanks, Bruce. It’s just vinyl tube from a Roundup spray jug. Lol
I wish someone knew the process that Tom Jensen used for the original handles.
Given the era in which these were made they were probably bakelite plastic. I looked into making these last year and found some pearl "esk" plastic rod that I thought might make good handle material...I think I found it on Etsy , didn't buy any though.
they look pretty good to me Mike.
Thanks, Bruce. It’s just vinyl tube from a Roundup spray jug. Lol
I wish someone knew the process that Tom Jensen used for the original handles.
Given the era in which these were made they were probably bakelite plastic. I looked into making these last year and found some pearl "esk" plastic rid that I thought might make good handle material...I think I found it on Etsy , didn't buy any though.
The only info I’ve ever found is that he made the handles using “boiler paste”, which I assume was some kind of refractory material.
they look pretty good to me Mike.
Thanks, Bruce. It’s just vinyl tube from a Roundup spray jug. Lol
I wish someone knew the process that Tom Jensen used for the original handles.
Given the era in which these were made they were probably bakelite plastic. I looked into making these last year and found some pearl "esk" plastic rid that I thought might make good handle material...I think I found it on Etsy , didn't buy any though.
The only info I’ve ever found is that he made the handles using “boiler paste”, which I assume was some kind of refractory material.
I was just looking around the net & found "fire putty" refractory cement, that kind of thing makes perfect sense Mike, Tom Sr. probably just got tired of rolling putty (to messy) & waiting for it to harden was probably why he found wood dowels quickly more suitable.
A huge Congratulations....!!!
Well done, Mike... Very well done...!!!
This is an absolutely superb example.
The handles look nice, even too nice. The originals are pretty crude looking.
If you get a chance, please check the heater wattage. Many were 400-450 watts and our friend Bill has one here with a 600 watt cartridge heater. It is very early like yours.
What an awesome find!
Gil
Thanks, Gil! I felt like I went back in time when I got this engine.
The heater in this one is marked 550 watts and it makes plenty of steam.
One of my other Big Power Plants is even earlier than this one, but unfortunately, the original heater was gone when I got it.
Nothing like finding a near NOS engine. Congratulations!
Thanks, Gil! I felt like I went back in time when I got this engine.
The heater in this one is marked 550 watts and it makes plenty of steam.
One of my other Big Power Plants is even earlier than this one, but unfortunately, the original heater was gone when I got it.
Mike, I can barely believe the ink is so clear and crisp where it says 550 watts. Just amazing. As you suggested, must have been steamed very little.
Gil
Thanks, Gil! I felt like I went back in time when I got this engine.
The heater in this one is marked 550 watts and it makes plenty of steam.
One of my other Big Power Plants is even earlier than this one, but unfortunately, the original heater was gone when I got it.
Mike, I can barely believe the ink is so clear and crisp where it says 550 watts. Just amazing. As you suggested, must have been steamed very little.
Gil
When I got the engine, the sight glass was assembled without any packings and the packing nuts were screwed down tight as if they would seal it up by some miracle. I suspect this was done a long time ago and the engine was given up on at that point, but it’s really anyone’s guess as to why this engine survived so long with so little use.