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

Has anyone here researched the pre-Weeden Edgar Side overtype engines which were marked "The Pioneer"? The only think I know is what's marked on the engine including "244 Marker St., Philadelphia" which was mis-stamped--should be 244 Market Street. What else is known about the maker? They are certainly a notch way above typical Weeden engines in workmanship.

Thanks Nick. I thought of him but can no longer find his website. Can you provide a link to it?

I once had an Edgar Side Pioneer.

It was far more highly detailed than the similar Weedens.

I believe that Edgar Side was taken over by Weeden and that the earliest similar Weedens had some of the fine detail due to the large parts inventory Weeden got with the company purchase.

Gil

Frank of Weedensteam.com might know something more.

forum handle is Weedensteam

Just made this video of my Edgar Side Engine.

https://youtu.be/kPBRTZlnbmA?si=qxqJAlPzlPoyE9Fa

I've learned a little bit more about Side since my last post. His engines are very similar to contemporary (Ryder's?) "Holly" and "Peerless" engines but finer in construction and more expensive at $15 in the 1880s. Holly engines ($10) were advertised as a better value than other engines priced at $15, perhaps referring to Side's. English immigrant Edgar Side began making his "Pioneer" toy steam engines in Philadelphia around 1885 and most likely continued until his death in 1909. He worked at 244 Marker (no, not Market) St. in Philadelphia and later across the river in Camden, New Jersey. His finely-crafted engines were very expensive at $15, equivalent to around $500 in 2026. They may not have sold well and all of his leftover engines and parts were purchased by the Weeden (toy engine) company in the late 1910s. Weeden sold Side engines as Weeden models 121 and 124 and made some modifications such as adding a metal base, oilers, nickel plating, a sight glass, and even electric heating. Model 124 was a Side engine powered by a separate Weeden boiler. Edgar Side engines are considered one of the finest American-made toy steam engines. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Thanks. Weeden's models 121 and 124 were actually old stock Side engines with small modifications, although similar engines by Weeden like nos. 32, 34, and 649 were entirely Weeden and not as finely made.