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

So much to tell that my hands won't be able to hold up to typing it all.

Essentially what you have there is a rather uncommon Jensen engine labeled as a #75, but different from the current model #75 which is now actually a flame fired #25.

The #75 that you have there was an early entry by Jensen into the flame fired engine field and it originally had a "Banjo" style alcohol burner with a long neck (poker) that inserted under the boiler while the cork plugged large round bodied (reservoir) remained out in front of the firebox. The flame fired #75 was not long in production, and soon morphed into what we now know as the #70, an electric fired engine of the same basic configuration. Many of the early electric #70s still had the vent holes along the sides of the firebox left over from abandoned production of the early #75, which is often referred to as a proto #70/75.

The first of these #75s produced had open vent holes all along the sides of the firebox, but very soon it was realized that the flywheel was throwing exhaust condensate through the center hole and stifling the fire, so that hole was plugged to prevent that issue, as seen on your model.

Perhaps I'll get back to describing this engine a bit more after my hands take a break.

But for now I'll simply say .... nice engine, and what a wonderful gesture from our friend Charlie!!!

Left that photo out… it does have the original banjo burner. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Thanks for the info!