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

Thanks @Stoker - it was a gamble for sure.

In Box News:
The the original Empire B-30 box was mostly coming full apart.  The outer facade of the box was pealing off on 3 sides and I thought some 3M spray adhesive would sort it out but not so much.  But my favorite 3M double sided tape did the job very nicely.  Then inside of the box I used Red (darn near Empire red) duck tape on the corners, bottom, and the opening flaps.  While I hated doing that, you can't tell from the outside at all.  Interestingly at the bottom of the box was a 1951 Chicago newspaper giving the engine some cushion, I kept that in there.  So it seems this little engine has done some traveling in its life.  So for now, it has its forever home ;-)

Then I wrapped it up and put it under my Christmas tree, a present from me to me!  I am sure the family will be amused by this and I can hear them now: "you are such a dork!" LOL