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

  What we have here is the first steamup of my oldest engine,
the Ryder #3 'Large Horizontal Engine' first noted in an ad
in 1875 (Thanks, TEC).  I carved two pencil erasers as stoppers
(tested for strength in boiling water) and used a 90%/10% grain
alcohol/water mix to keep the flame low (successful). 

  After a few minutes it took off with a gentle nudge on the
flywheel.  It runs very smoothly and is a relatively quiet engine. 
I thought I might sell this one pretty quickly, but, it is too
sweet to part with, barring an offer I cannot refuse.  It isn't
getting any younger and they aren't making any more. 

  Two curiosities.  I wonder if that brass tube (3/4") on the top
was meant to receive the whistle that was sold separately, and if
the engine could be a double action engine.  Just cogitating.

 

Enjoying the rush of a first steamup,
Wayne

I have to say, I like that engine.  I'd love to get a pre-1900 made engine, just to have one of that era.

Very nice!  Thanks for the video!!

Part 2 of my article series which is focused on Buckman/Union should be done by the end of summer.