Author Topic: Nearly Became Parts, Nickel Plated Empire No. 90 (Read 1850 times)

RichSteamTx · « **on:** February 15, 2024, 09:36:33 am »

Got this engine off eBay last week, it was listed as No.43 but ended up actually being a No. 90. While the eBay sale had a lot of photos, it didn't have one from the bottom of the base and there wasn't a photo from the top down. So when it arrived I was surprised to find it was a No. 90 and the stack fitting area was a mess (see photo)! I could kind of tell there was something going on with the tank fitting but neglected to ask for more photos. The seller was a good chap, so in the end I got the engine for around $30-ish dollars (shipped).

I was very near throwing it into the parts bin but I kept at it. When I finally got my Copper Tanked #90 and compared it to this one, I finally figured out the steam line was inverted. Though it had other problems that I had sorted out before that.

Fix nasty solder job around stack fitting and try to soften the file marks as much as possible.
Fix replace broken/missing mica for heater blanket.
Fix up sight glass.
Get seals for steam fitting and whistle base.
Borrow spring & lock washer for oscillating piston
Replace rusty nail in the whistle shaft with a stainless steel cotter pin.
Bend various bits to try to improve performance (technically more needs to be done but its tricky)

TEC · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2024, 09:28:26 pm »

I'm glad you were able to save this engine. I wonder if someone just decided to plate the boiler. It looks nice, except where the plating has been damaged.

RichSteamTx · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2024, 10:02:50 pm »

Hi @TEC - welcome to the forums!

You have a very nice website and I loved your Elektro to Empire section, I am not sure how I never found it before. I love Empire's and have most of their line - there is a electric B-39 (a member here, crazydoug66, has it) and then the D-Cell B-44 that I know for sure I am missing. While I do have some EMPCO's - I try not to dive into the earlier Elektro's or other badges like Quality Brand.

Unsure if someone would take the time/effort to plate this little guy. I guess it is also possible someone swapped the boiler.

Glad you put your Website in your sig, it was a real treat visiting it!

TEC · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2024, 10:29:46 pm »

Thanks, Richard. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. It's pretty new, and Google hasn't found it yet, though Bing has. In fact Google doesn't seem to like my website, probably because I won't put their tracking scripts on it.

Stoker · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2024, 10:57:25 pm »

WoW Yes .... what a fantastic website. I just scanned through it quickly, but it's late, so I'll settle in with some coffee and read through it in the morning!

WELCOME to the Forum TEC!!!

txlabman · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2024, 12:01:22 pm »

Quote from: TEC on February 17, 2024, 10:29:46 pm

Thanks, Richard. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. It's pretty new, and Google hasn't found it yet, though Bing has. In fact Google doesn't seem to like my website, probably because I won't put their tracking scripts on it.

Bob:

Your website is awesome! Congratulations.

I am curious where you got the pictures for the Electro Twin on your website.

Perhaps a third example?

I am only aware of two examples that exist: mine and one on the west coast (which wasn't for sale the last time I spoke to the owner).

Here is the video of mine being steamed up:

https://youtu.be/pQIOloQmE54?si=Daz5iiTks7-aElhS

You are welcome to link my video on your website.

I have a playlist with 12 Empire videos on it right now.

Charlie

TEC · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2024, 12:25:01 pm »

Thanks, Charlie! I'm glad you liked the website.

The pictures of the twin are recent. The engine has been in the collection for 20 years and is the engine featured in Stilson's book.

The only other twin I'm aware of was this one where the seller apparently didn't know what they had. https://toysteamengine.net/vintage_steam_engine_toy_model_cast_iron_base_vertical_boiler.html If that's not the one you now have, then there may be more of these than we thought.

I like the video, and will certainly take you up on your kind offer of a link.

RichSteamTx · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2024, 12:32:56 pm »

I wonder who got that, I am pretty sure I could have gotten that one to work, in the theory. I hope it went to a good home back in 2016.

Nick · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2024, 01:11:47 pm »

Welcome to the forum Bob, I have many of your father's books

TEC · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2024, 01:23:34 pm »

Quote from: Nick on February 18, 2024, 01:11:47 pm

Welcome to the forum Bob, I have many of your father's books

Thanks, Nick. I'm not sure Dad published any books, he did work with Stilson on his, as well as some of the other authors (e.g.of Weeden books). He also occasionally wrote articles for magazines such as Live Steam. Dad published the TEC newsletter, which I'll be making available on a quarterly basis. The Complimentary Issue is there now. These are not scans of the printed copies, but pdf's created from the original artwork, the photographs will be much better than the original laserjet prints!

Nick · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2024, 01:56:15 pm »

Quote from: TEC on February 18, 2024, 01:23:34 pm

Quote from: Nick on February 18, 2024, 01:11:47 pm
Welcome to the forum Bob, I have many of your father's books

Thanks, Nick. I'm not sure Dad published any books, he did work with Stilson on his, as well as some of the other authors (e.g.of Weeden books). He also occasionally wrote articles for magazines such as Live Steam. Dad published the TEC newsletter, which I'll be making available on a quarterly basis. The Complimentary Issue is there now. These are not scans of the printed copies, but pdf's created from the original artwork, the photographs will be much better than the original laserjet prints!

Yes, I meant the TEC newsletters

Were you a collector at the time he was writing them?

TEC · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2024, 08:30:16 pm »

Quote from: TEC on February 17, 2024, 10:29:46 pm

Thanks, Richard. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. It's pretty new, and Google hasn't found it yet, though Bing has. In fact Google doesn't seem to like my website, probably because I won't put their tracking scripts on it.

Here's a picture of a 62 next to a 90. The boilers are the same length Hopefully this works. First attempt at pictures on this forum.

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RichSteamTx · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2024, 09:27:03 pm »

Interesting you place a 90 & 62 together. I remembered I had the same thing with 62s, one nickel and one copper. Here they are.

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RichSteamTx · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2024, 05:57:43 am »

Quote from: TEC on February 18, 2024, 01:23:34 pm

Quote from: Nick on February 18, 2024, 01:11:47 pm
Welcome to the forum Bob, I have many of your father's books

Thanks, Nick. I'm not sure Dad published any books, he did work with Stilson on his, as well as some of the other authors (e.g.of Weeden books). He also occasionally wrote articles for magazines such as Live Steam. Dad published the TEC newsletter, which I'll be making available on a quarterly basis. The Complimentary Issue is there now. These are not scans of the printed copies, but pdf's created from the original artwork, the photographs will be much better than the original laserjet prints!

I didn't put this together until I was looking through Stilson's book a bit ago. That is really cool he helped with his book. There is a CAD drawing on page 51 for the cylinder and rod assembly that Stilson attributes to your Dad, Richard Cutler.

Might you have a high(er) resolution of this CAD drawing (or any/all drawings of Empire items)? This would help me match up & get the little parts around the spring, I hope.

RichSteamTx · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2024, 12:05:41 pm »

Two Nickel 90s have come up on eBay lately, I got one of them that has a pretty good tank. I likely paid to much for it but I really wanted a nicer tank. I'll likely see if I can sell the extra once I do the tank swap.

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

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Author Topic: Nearly Became Parts, Nickel Plated Empire No. 90 (Read 1850 times)

RichSteamTx

Nearly Became Parts, Nickel Plated Empire No. 90

TEC

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RichSteamTx

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TEC

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Stoker

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txlabman

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TEC

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RichSteamTx

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TEC

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Nick

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TEC

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RichSteamTx

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RichSteamTx

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RichSteamTx

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