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

Good morning, afternoon, evening or good night,

You are properly greeted in all time zones in the world of steam.
My name is Gil. Many of you know me as reddrryder on eBay and  YouTube. It is with pleasure that I greet you on this new forum.

I collect toy and model steam engines, gas engines, some hot air engines and a bits of other old technology, my main focus being steam. I have some scale model gas engines, a few full sized steam engines, and a collection of toy and model steam engines.  The only toy steam line I collect seriously is Jensen. I have 50 plus of them, including some pretty rare ones but have not recently counted.  The other 60 or so pieces comprise of machinist built models such as Stuart, Clarkson, Reeves, a few one-offs, and some nice smaller 80-150 year old working originals. I try to keep them small enough to lift by myself but that is not written in stone. Some are nasty looking when I get them and I take great joy in restoration and bringing them from the brink of the scrap heap to near museum quality. I always have an eye open for the next acquisition and I occasionally sell a few pieces to make room for the new and help support my hobby. Each and every one of these marvelous little engines is a joy to work on and operate.

Best to all,

    Gil  RedRyder

Here's an Elliott Bay Triple  expansion steam launch engine.

The Elliott Bay Triple.
I got it fixed up enough to run at steam shows but not fit for service in a launch.
It will idle at 50-60 rpm all day on 5-6 psi live steam.
At near 400 lbs it was way beyond my ability to lift rule.
As I said before that rule is not always written in stone.
It is now in it's new home in the UK, hopefully getting brought up to fit for service standards.

Gil

Here is one of my favorite ebay acquisitions.
It is the dry fuel fired Jensen #5.
It arrived with firing instructions for the 65/75 and the red tag was for a 65 with most
of the 6 removed from inside before application, similar to the way Tom Jensen Sr. x'd out
the #20 on the brass tags used for other styles.
The original box is also clearly marked # 5.
This has been a real fun discovery. I gave it a quick wipe down, enough to photograph it.

This one nearly slipped by me on ebay. I did not notice it until the last night before it ended which was 6 days into the auction.
I clicked on it, looked quickly and went on to another page and it hit me that something just wasn't right.
I went back and could not believe what I had found and put in a watching bid and came in as a sniper, 8 seconds to go.
Steve, and Roger have not seen one of these either.
It came out of western PA so I had guessed it was one of the experiments that got out the door.
I guessed wrong. Steve was able to get confirmation that 3 to 5 of this style were manufactured by Tom Sr. to use up some left over engine parts. He wasted nothing. I was indeed fortunate to recognize it as something special. While there should be 2 to 4 more
it's the only one we've seen and
as good fortune would have it....
new in the box!

Gil

a few more...

On rare occasions the ravages of time and scrap heaps leave an engine of some importance
so unscathed that it deserves to be written home about. Every so often ebay will cough up such a gem.
This is such an engine. The photos were not great and it was crud covered and nearly black all over
until I began the task of removing eons of grease impregnated dust that coated nearly all of it.
This one is not restored nor does it need it. A gentle and thorough cleaning with hand polishing of the bright
metal and an eye towards preserving the delicate paint work was in order. I would call this one a keeper. 
Turns out the years of crud protected a pristine and unused 1880's small steam engine. I am told these
were working steam engines sold by Goodnow and Wightman of Boston in the 1880's and it was thought
that this one may have been a company show sample displayed in their front window and that it was
pictured in one of their catalogs. I am still looking for a catalog that shows it without success.
I was planning on disassembling, stripping off paint, etc until I found
this magnificently and ornately decorated piece under the crud.
It shall remain as is!

Gil

A joy to behold & a wonderful collection.

A very nice collection of engines.

wonderful examples all, any one of them would be welcome in St. Paul steam shop.