Welcome aboard from Connecticut!
Nice auction haul, Gene!
The black one is most interesting.
I have not before seen anything like it.
Could you post photos of it in the other (reversed) position?
Also helpful would be a short video showing the engine turned by hand that includes the steam chest and the gear assembly while you are hand turning it and moving the reverse lever back and forth with the steam chest cover off. This may exercise may also give you help with the timing issue.
The flywheel resembles a large valve wheel that was re-purposed as a flywheel with the help of a lathe.
Gil