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

    I recently received this early Jensen model 10, when I bought it I assumed from the photos that it was pretty much a standard model 10 version 2, as shown on the Jensen website (except for the generator contact set-up). When it arrived however, I soon realized that it has a later, smaller cylinder, although it has the same valve chest as the early 1935-37 versions (with only one screw on the side, as opposed to 3 on the later ones). Aside from that, and the different generator contacts, it otherwise appears the same as the 1935-37 versions, with the sky-blue paint (painted also on the generator windings), the lamp mounted on the base, decal, etc.

    All I really have to go on is the photo on the Jensen site, and what few other photos I have been able to find here and there (so far). I do not have much knowledge at this point, so I would appreciate any comments from those who know far more than I do.

    As far as I can tell, it appears to be entirely original, except for replaced sight glass gasket washers, and a replaced lamp bulb marked "Korea". The wires on the bottom from the generator to the lamp are clearly original, likewise the power cord and plug. I know nothing about the cord variations among early Jensen engines. Overall it is in remarkable condition, I have done nothing to it so far other than a light cleaning. The boiler retains a mirror finish, and what little oxidation there is can I am sure be polished out almost completely. Really looks to be a remarkable time capsule. It even included the original instruction sheet (4 x 5 1/4 inches) - see last photo, taken with it under plexiglass (I am guessing that these are pretty rare!). That may also provide a clue as to when it was made?

    The engine also came with an enamelware funnel that looks as old as the engine. Could this have come with the engine from Jensen (I doubt it)??

    I include here photos taken both with and without flash. The flash photos grossly exaggerate the oil stains on the blue paint, in natural light most of them are far less prominent. Can anyone tell me a good method to try to clean those stains properly, without marring the paint? The paint seems to be in very good condition otherwise.

    This came out of an estate in Bakersfield, California, and I assume that the dry desert climate helped preserve it. Would be happy to post more photos. Any help appreciated - Thanks! - Greg

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You snagged you an Uber rare one there Greg, nice plant for sure.

  Thanks Bruce and Randy - I just found a very recent e-bay sold listing of a model 10 that was stated to be 1947, and it had the exact same cylinder configuration. Interesting, because it also had the later dark blue base with the lamp on the base, and a non-riveted boiler, but it also had the earlier Jensen decal. I believe that it was probably earlier than 1947, but it suggests to me that maybe they were using whatever parts were available in production, maybe using older parts if they ran out of the more recent ones? Regardless, all things considered I believe that Randy's estimate of late 1930s is probably correct (I see that you have a lot of Jensen engines!), and if you have a couple just like mine, then it is obviously a known quantity.
   Any suggestions on the best way to clean up the stains on the blue paint?

   Thanks Randy, that makes sense, as it seemed strange to me that the engine would have so much oil stain, when the boiler and the rest of it shows so little sign of being used very much. Looking at it closer, it looks like underlying rust is the issue, I might try to clean up a bit more and see what happens but I won't push it. In normal light it looks pretty good already, I would not want it to be mistaken for a re-paint! 75 Jensen engines is amazing!

Congratulations on this purchase. Very well preserved, beautiful machine.

   Thanks so much for your comments and photos - together they provide a very informative guide to the cords of early Jensen engines, very useful for anyone interested in dating the early models. Mine clearly has the late 40s type of cord, so maybe the cord was replaced at some point? The engine shows very little signs of use (especially the boiler), so I have to wonder what happened, if it is late 30s, as everything else suggests. At least it does match one of the known early types of cords. I could post a better photo of the plug, if that might help also.

   Another question I have concerns the color. I read on one collector's website that the sky blue color was only used in 1936-37, the story being that Jensen found a quantity of that blue paint to buy at a bargain price, and since it was during the depression, they were trying to save money every way possible. Once it ran out, they switched to the darker blue! Any truth to that story, or any further information regarding dating Jensen engines, based on the sky blue paint color?

    Thanks, I have checked the cord up close under magnification and with a flashlight, there are no other colors there, but some parts of the black fabric covering look more brownish, I assume due to age.

    By a fortunate coincidence, a recent post (also yesterday) by Gil RedRyder shows four different model 10 engines; all are the standard 1930s type with sky blue paint, lamp on the base, and riveted boilers (and all four in excellent condition). Notably, two have the early leviton cord pattern, but the OTHER two have the same later black cord as mine. After seeing them, I did a quick search to look for other examples with the same cord, on e-bay, and wherever I could find them. I was able to find photos of a number of sky blue engines with riveted boilers that also had the same cord, including a couple more of the standard model 10, as well as a model 5, and 25 (maybe 20 also). As well as some later 1940w engines with the dark blue paint and non-riveted boilers.

    All things considered, it would seem that the later black and white cord was also in use for some of the 1930s engines. I suspect that they were just using what they had, and what was available, and the black and white cord common on the post-WW2 engines ended up being the type they adopted as standard, but the same cord was also being used much earlier. That would make sense in the 1930s, when steady supply might have been a problem? The only other explanation is that all of the otherwise 1930s sky blue riveted boiler engines that I have seen had their cords replaced in later years, and all with the same black and white cords that became standard after WW2. Which I believe is highly unlikely, especially since almost all of them looked to be in excellent condition.

    Just my two cents, I think that trying to solve little puzzles like this is half the fun of collecting old treasures!

You just need a heater (Jensen still sells them) and a new firebox, which you have a good pattern to bend one up from. I would recommend putting it back to original… Jensen was off by about 20 years on the age.