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Author Topic: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!  (Read 2321 times)

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Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« on: December 22, 2023, 02:50:02 pm »
Many thanks for the No.62 & Sign Charlie (@txlabman)!

This No.62 is a really nice engine and feel lucky to have it in my collection.  It needed a throttle when I got it but I found a pretty good deal on a parts engine on eBay that had a perfect throttle.  Like Charlie told me, its a interesting one with the grove in its large wheel.  It doesn't much like anything connected to it but that's okay.  Makes me wonder if they were just putting random parts on engines when they made it.  Maybe a engine made just after the war?  It could have had a red throttle knob when it came from the factory but I like the black one just as well.

I already have both a long and short No. 62 but their bases are the later style with pressed steal mounts for the cylinder and wheel.  So its really nice to have this earlier style base (that I like a lot more).


Richard

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2023, 02:58:52 pm »
Thanks for the shout out Rich.

Very kind of you.

Merry Christmas!

Charlie

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2023, 03:33:18 pm »
Its the very least I can do, with all the bugging you with text messages and gifting me that awesome sign!   I hope to actually get to visit you, funny how my brother stopped by and got to see all your cool stuff (he still talks about your collection).
Richard

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2023, 02:24:19 pm »
Hi Richard,

Very nice 62 -- seems like a strong runner. The grooved flywheel does seem odd. I wonder if it could be a transplant, given how it seems to have significant runout. Maybe a previous owner drilled out the hole to fit a the larger shaft, and didn't get it quite on center. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]   Still, doesn't hurt the running at all.

Nice sign, too!

Paula
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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2023, 02:53:06 pm »
Well, I am not so sure its a transplant from an accessory - which is where you see these grooved flywheels - since it has the catch for the shaft.  I suppose a PO could have done that too but if they did, that did that part pretty darn good.  Either way it is a mystery and I like how it makes it odd.
Richard

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2024, 08:00:29 am »
I found another Empire where the flywheel is grooved, this time its a #90.  The smokestack is missing and so is its boiler fitting, also the whistle lever is broken off.  Though it does have its original whistle topper.  I have decided if I'll transplant a fitting to fix the tank or just move the tank from my existing #90.

Got it off Goodwill auctions, more to come when it arrives :-)

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Richard

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2024, 08:25:36 am »
Very cool Rich!

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2024, 12:57:57 pm »
That's interesting. Assuming it came from the factory that way my guess is they had a surplus of accessory flywheels, or a shortage of engine flywheels.

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2024, 08:12:12 am »
Here's the 90 with grooved flywheel with transplanted boiler.  This #90 "Power Boy" matches up better with my #92 "Play Boy", so I assume it is a earlier model.  Which perhaps the grooved flywheel is Post WWII as they were using parts on hand?  Total guess work but its odd that some engines would have an accessory's flywheel.  But I like odd and having two different engines more or less rules out some previous owner doing some kind of a "fix".

I didn't make a video, I have lots of other 90 videos.  But this one is a strong runner and will chug along around 75~80 volts.  When at 125 it will nearly walk itself off the towel!

Edit:
I am still debating if I am going to transplant the sight glass fittings from the original tank.  Like the #92 "Play Boy" they are flat at the top, where as my transplanted tank are beveled.  These little details tend to annoy me but removing the sight glass fittings off the tank I try to avoid...  

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Richard

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Re: Empire No.62 & Sign from txlabman!
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2024, 06:40:43 pm »

Really nice job Rich!