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

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: RedRyder on September 18, 2019, 06:23:59 pm

Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on October 04, 2019, 02:32:46 pm: Randy-
I’m sure it was a case of Tom Sr. doing what he had to to get one out the door. Something that makes it stand out among the rest.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Randy Tucker on October 04, 2019, 06:57:21 am: I thought someone had been doing some repainting on it. But after getting it and looking at it close I don't think so. There is no evidence of Robbins egg blue on base any where. I even scratch a spot off to see if there was any under the paint and there was nothing under it. I don't know for sure but I think it is original. As we all know Jensen made do with what ever he had. Don't know if maybe they ran out of paint and he used what he had or what he could get. Not sure what year this engine is but if it was built during the war he probably made do with what he could get.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: txlabman on October 04, 2019, 06:33:20 am: I guess you wanted it a little more than me Randy (but not much more). 🤠

I was the Bridesmaid on this one.

It really cleaned up well.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on October 04, 2019, 05:19:20 am: Nice addition, Randy! I find the difference in paint color between the engine base and the armature quite interesting.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Nick on October 03, 2019, 03:26:50 pm: Very Nice Randy 8)
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Randy Tucker on October 03, 2019, 10:33:24 am: Well no one has ask about the 10 that was put back on Evilbay. Needless to say it brought a lot more $199.00 but I ended up with it. So now I have 13 different model 10s now. Got to get a least one more to get away from the number 13. I've cleaned it up a little and run it. It is really in nice shape.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 22, 2019, 01:24:24 pm: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This is what keeps me on the edge of my seat looking for that next odd variation that came out of that little shop in Jeanette, PA. So fascinating! ;D
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 22, 2019, 12:01:28 pm: I would agree that yours was originally built just the way it is, especially since the newer style hollow screw boilers have different hole locations on top than the earlier designs with solid screws. It was also most likely assembled post war with the firebox having the heater retaining screw holes. I believe it is precisely as it came from the factory. Furthermore the steam line lines up perfectly with the dome location on top of the boiler. If you substitute a newer boiler for pre-war you must bend the steam line or move the firebox, neither of which are done here. Mike, you have a very rare Big Power Plant!

Regarding the commutator.... they appeared like that before the later bases with mounting tabs appeared. One of mine has mounting screws through the base and the screws holding the comutator parts in place.

Gil
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 22, 2019, 10:59:16 am: Interesting. This riveted boiler I have shows no evidence of ever being repaired or converted from solid screws to hollow screws. It was made just like any other hollow screw boiler except for the rivets, soft solder, and the inserted ceramic heater. It doesn’t have and never did have the soldered in bushings that solid screw boilers have. It seems more likely that to me that Tom Sr. was experimenting with the hollow screws before he started silver soldering the boilers and may have had a surplus of ceramic heaters to use up, which would account for the blanket heater designed firebox I have. Given Tom Sr’s track record for mixing early and late parts, this seems the most plausible explanation to me. I find it hard to believe that very many of these engines were sent back for repairs. I’m sure some were, but I think it would have been a pretty big expense to invest in something that was just considered a toy at the time. We will never know for sure.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 22, 2019, 10:23:47 am: Quote from: Junkologist on September 22, 2019, 08:34:49 am
Gil,
Does your boiler have the hollow screws for the sight glass and steam dome?

No, there are solid screws. These came in 2 sizes which are 5-40 and 6-32. Hollow screws are believed to have appeared immediate post war due to the existence of very rare riveted boiler machines with dark blue paint and hollow screws. There are also some also very rare examples with dark blue paint, rivets, and small solid screws (1930's style). This piece with the robins egg blue paint and hollow screws is the first I recall seeing with hollow screws and the 1930's light blue paint. It could be he (Tom Sr.) just didn't want to bother to repaint a left over engine base Mrs. J. had painted pre-war.

Or..... One must ask..... Did he begin experimenting with hollow screws pre-war?
Based on my observations over the last 20 years and info gathered over the last 30-40 years, it is more likely someone brought the engine back for a boiler repair or replacement in the early post war period. I would like to know what other machines, if any, have hollow screws with robins egg blue paint, with the exception of the 2 newer boilers I had converted to riveted that retained the hollow screws.

Gil
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 22, 2019, 08:34:49 am: Gil,
Does your boiler have the hollow screws for the sight glass and steam dome?
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 22, 2019, 12:46:08 am: One of mine has the same rigging.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 20, 2019, 08:19:58 pm: Yep, must be original. Not very likely that two different hacks at home built something identical. Mine has a mixture of earlier and later parts, so these may have been engines that Tom Sr. just threw together to use up parts.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Randy Tucker on September 20, 2019, 07:54:13 pm: Yes it blinks bad. Like you I have a earlier big power plant that is made alot better and doesn't make the light blink. That is why I was thinking this was done by someone at home. But now there is 2 of them just a like I guess it was done by Jensen.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 20, 2019, 07:27:43 pm: Randy,
Your commutator and brushes look exactly like the one I just got, even the way the top brush sits crooked. Does the light blink when you run the engine? Mine does and I believe it’s due to the fairly wide gaps between the commutator segments. My earlier Big Power Plant has a much more refined commutator with very small gaps and no screws, the wires are soldered. The light doesn’t blink at all on it. At least, it’s not perceptible.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 20, 2019, 08:34:26 am: It sure looks like Tom Sr.'s work to me.

Gil
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Randy Tucker on September 20, 2019, 07:05:04 am: Here are pictures of my engine that is made like yours. The other thing that made me think it was homemade is they used coated wire instead of cloth covered wire. All that I have seen from this time period had cloth covered wire. But here we have 2 now the same way. So I don't know. It has been suggested to me that maybe it was sent back to Jensen for repaire and this is what was done to fix it.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Nick on September 19, 2019, 10:49:26 pm: Quote from: Junkologist on September 19, 2019, 07:52:32 pm
Thanks everyone! If I have a spare moment, I check eBay. ;D

I check even when I don't have a spare moment and I still missed them ;)
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Randy Tucker on September 19, 2019, 10:45:48 pm: Hi Mike. The 20 power plant I just bought has the same commentator on it. I will get a picture of it posted. I was thinking it was homemade and was planning to redo it till I seen yours is the same way. So now I guess I will leave it.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 19, 2019, 07:52:32 pm: Thanks everyone! If I have a spare moment, I check eBay. ;D

The four bolt 10 that sold on Monday for $199 is back on eBay tonight for a 10 day run. We’ll find out what it’s actually worth this time around. I have seen this seller snag Jensens in the past and immediately flip them for great profit on eBay.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F362759641767
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: BBToyz on September 19, 2019, 06:13:31 pm: There is a lot of idiot sellers out there; if one doesn't know an item value, post it in auction style & let the free market decides the value.
Congratulations Mike, you probably spend a lot of time on eBay to snipe these deals; well deserved.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: txlabman on September 19, 2019, 03:23:08 pm: Two great buys. I never saw them on eBay. 😢😢😢
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Swift Fox on September 19, 2019, 09:42:42 am: You seem to be on a roll Mike!, another fantastic haul!
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 19, 2019, 08:04:38 am: Quote from: CBWho on September 18, 2019, 10:47:57 pm
I believe the copper brush is a replacement. I suspect the original wore through.

What model numbers are they actually?

Awesome finds btw.

There were no model numbers assigned to any of the 1930's Jensens until long after they were produced.

The numbers designation was added by collectors and a former Jensen sales mgr from the 1990's, based on configuration and cylinder size.

For example.....
The larger one with the #20 sized cylinder was originally miss-labeled later as a #10 or large cylinder #10. It is actually the #20 cylinder produced years before the #20 was assigned to it. This one was simply called the Jensen "Big Power Plant".

Gil
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 19, 2019, 07:57:59 am: Quote from: Junkologist on September 18, 2019, 07:51:12 pm
The Big Power Plant cleaned up pretty good. It was very nasty. Had a very worn connecting rod bushing, so I made a new one and tightened it up. The commutator on the generator appears to be homemade. I can’t believe Tom Jensen would let anything as crude as it is out the door. If you look closely, you’ll notice this riveted boiler has the hollow screws for the sight glass and the steam dome. The fire box also has the screw holes for the blanket heater, but the boiler has the ceramic cartridge heater in the dry cavity at the rear of the boiler.

Mike

CONGRATULATIONS, Mike......!!!!!!

2 awesome buys in less than a week and right after the $425 lot with the 95G and all the nice stirling engines!

Gil
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on September 18, 2019, 11:13:49 pm: I'd reckon you did well here.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Jim on September 18, 2019, 11:11:55 pm: Bloody good buys for someone.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: SeeSteam on September 18, 2019, 10:47:57 pm: I believe the copper brush is a replacement. I suspect the original wore through.

What model numbers are they actually?

Awesome finds btw.
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Nick on September 18, 2019, 09:00:43 pm: Quote from: Stoker on September 18, 2019, 08:42:01 pm
Don't I wish that I'd seen them when they were still on offer!
The window to find them was under 15 mins ;)
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Stoker on September 18, 2019, 08:42:01 pm: Unbelievable prices, but somehow with all I've got going on these days, they both flew in completely under my radar.

Don't I wish that I'd seen them when they were still on offer!
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Junkologist on September 18, 2019, 07:51:12 pm: The Big Power Plant cleaned up pretty good. It was very nasty. Had a very worn connecting rod bushing, so I made a new one and tightened it up. The commutator on the generator appears to be homemade. I can’t believe Tom Jensen would let anything as crude as it is out the door. If you look closely, you’ll notice this riveted boiler has the hollow screws for the sight glass and the steam dome. The fire box also has the screw holes for the blanket heater, but the boiler has the ceramic cartridge heater in the dry cavity at the rear of the boiler.

Mike ;)
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: Nick on September 18, 2019, 06:49:37 pm: I passed, I'll wait for the next one ;) :D
Title: Re: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: St Paul Steam on September 18, 2019, 06:38:25 pm: yes, I saw both of those... Drool-worthy !
Title: Congratulations...!!! to anyone who won these 2 very rare Jensens ?
Post by: RedRyder on September 18, 2019, 06:23:59 pm: These two:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Jensen-Steam-Engine-Electric-Generator-Lamp-Light-Power-Plant-Model-25-/223666490489 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Jensen-Steam-Engine-Electric-Generator-Lamp-Light-Power-Plant-Model-25-/223666490489)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Steam-Engine-w-Piston-amp-Fly-Wheel-Generator-amp-Light-JENSEN-toy-model-/202776886745 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Steam-Engine-w-Piston-amp-Fly-Wheel-Generator-amp-Light-JENSEN-toy-model-/202776886745)