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

If I lived in 1900 and I were to purchase a set of SIPP steam engine castings, did they come with a set of plans, or was I expected to do whatever to machine the engine and put it together?  If the engines did come with drawings, do copies of these drawings exist anywhere? 

My current plan to restore my 1/4 hp sipp to operation is to redraw the parts that I need in Fusion 360.  3D print the parts to make patterns, and then cast the replacement parts in bronze. 

An actual set of plans or drawings would go a long way to helping me with this endeavor.

Jim in Minnesota

Yeah, that's a safe bet.

I find it hard to believe that there are so many surviving SIPPs, but no surviving drawings or plans.  I would even be happy to see a set from 7 mountains for their repro SIPP.

Jim in MN

Well, in fact, it is likely that the majority of Sipp steam engines left the factory in a fully finished state, intended to be put to work upon arrival. I suppose that later on, as the century progressed and the use of small steam subsided, more of the engines were built as home projects using semi-finished or even raw castings and it is these that should have had plans with them.

Keep searching the internet and the various model engineering and other steam forums, and sooner or later perhaps, a set of those blueprints will show up!?!?

Quote from: Stoker on April 10, 2023, 08:37:07 pm

I have a reproduction of a Sipp catalog, what year it represents I know not, but it looks to be early century in style and tone. In it, they do list blueprints as included with the casting kits.

That being said, I have never seen such a set offered anywhere, but if anyone on the Forum has a set, I'd bet on it being Gil.

You may be right, Daniel. I don't know quite where they are after our move but I do believe I have a set. When I find them I will let you all know.

It isn't any too surprising about you not being able to lay your hands on certain low priority items after a long drawn-out multi-phase move involving multiple locations.

However, should you ever find any useable Sipp plans, for either the 1/4 or 1/2 horsepower horizontal engines, I would happily help pay for any costs in getting them scanned and sent should you be so inclined.