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

If you have a Digital Volt Meter, check its resistance - should be about 31~33 ohm.  But anywhere between 30~40 ohms you should be fine, though I have had heaters blow after a few runs.  The heater is simple, IMO.  It is nichrome wire wrapped around mica, then bigger mica sheet that makes like a sandwich.  If you have any electrical knowledge you can make one yourself.  There is at least one post, if not more that goes over the supplies.

This is a rarer engine with the oscillating piston & reversing lever.  It is missing its knob on the leaver.  Also this owner likes to take all the nickel off (if it isn't perfect) down to copper/brass.  So all the copper/brass you see should be nickel plating (which is why I passed on it).  Aside from that, the seller is very honest and he will accept returns if he has made an error or even if you decided it wasn't what you thought it should be.

As for not having a VARIAC, for the longest I didn't.  I'd recommend you get one, they aren't pricey on Amazon and come in handy with engines without regulators.  Also, it allows you to ease into max voltage on the old engines.

Here is a video of mine, which happens to also have the water pump.  If you have anymore questions, happy to see if I can help :-)

EDIT/FYI: that whistle base and topper isn't a Empire - the base I am pretty sure is from the Weeden.  The topper, perhaps hand made.  But it is better than a gapping hole!