This little engine is becoming the quintessential definition of a Classic.
The basic design is 65~ years of continuous production and still being made today.
So it starts as a design and product of an angry Welshman, who has them built by Manxmen , which then somehow sends them away to an Indian Tribal Series in Arizona, where a mysterious twin version appears , and which both morph into a JEMCO product, that is latter sent across the USA to Papa Mike in Wellsville NY , and today made alongside hi-tech 21st-century aviation parts.
Quite a journey.
https://www.papa-mike.com/about-us/Methinks the “Thermal Energy Engine” may be just an early mold stamp/embossing of the Solar Engine Phoenix Company. Perhaps same company simply using 2+ different simultaneous molds for the same engine. Thermal Energy Engine may have been what the Griffins’ (or Ed Morgan) first thought to name that Phoenix Solar engine, and quickly changed their minds to the hot-topic 1977 buzz word of “Solar Engine” ? Same company , two molds, same engine. Why waste a good mold ? The reason I think this is I can find no literature or business data for Thermal Energy Engines in Phoenix Az in mid-1970’s. To sell a toy engine in the 1970’s you had to somehow advertise it, then have a mail order address to send it from. 1977 toy Stirling engine sales from the back pages of pulp magazines had to be pretty limited and it is amazing that Solar (or Thermal) could mail-order sell thousands a year. IF someone produces actual sales or tech literature for the Thermal Energy Engine , well that blows away my aforementioned theory.
I did source Ed E. Morgan founding JEMCO in 1973, sixty miles southeast of Phoenix. No data though on what JEMCO did then in 73’. Maybe JEMCO was derived from Jeanette & Ed Morgan Company. They strongly look like venture capitalist and ‘importers’. To me it seems the John & Clyde Griffin show a passion and technical skill in manufacturing Stirling engines that I can’t yet find referenced in Ed Morgan. I can’t tell if Ed/JEMCO initially owned or founded Solar Engines, but it is clear their majority ownership in the 1980’s scrubbed the Griffins’ from the sales literature and the new 2nd Ed. 1981 Andy Ross book. It appears that JEMCO discontinued that fantastic serial numbering system from the Ross books, the actual engine, and it’s shipping box.
That “Solar Engine” R-circle trademark info would provide key dates and ownership info.
Hero—- what edition is your numbered Andy Ross book?
Catman —- from what I can see on my 2 engines , I think John Griffin was cautiously advising newbie owners to not oil that shaft because it is so easy to over-oil it and maybe contaminate the piston. 43 years latter I think PMR maybe says it OK to lightly (flea sized drop) oil the “shaft” but not the piston. Just a guess.
Link to recent ebay Thermal Engine sale. That engine is identical to my 1977 Solar engine. Note it has owners manual which likely dated it 1978 or after.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Stirling-Hot-Air-Engine-Thermal-Energy-Engines-Phoenix-w-Instructions-/254618781343?nma=true&si=pS2PyLw80iSYolzJh6SItfLFxtE%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Post 1981 JEMCO advertising, like Stoker mentioned, found stuffed in my 2nd Ed Andy Ross book —->
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