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: J.Jackson on August 05, 2020, 10:33:31 pm
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Great manual! Says it all! Interesting name, too.
AND AS FOR THIS:
"Hero; Nice pics ! I will post pics of the Dec 1977 Owners Manual of my #61** Thermal Energy Engine in my next post. My Thermal EE has a ferrous metal power piston (attracts magnet) , does yours?"
My thermal EE has a graphite power piston.
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And as promised , here are the remaining page scans from the original circa 1977 Owners Manual.
Note that this is an early Owners Manual for the Model 1 and latter years had several major revisions.
Page 6 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/pLQtyHd4/7-A1-E5-D56-BF8-B-4318-9700-D6-F08-AA7-E3-FF.jpg)
Page 7—>
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zc0gg6L/C7-B00-FD5-BDD2-43-EC-A388-09-EF3633-F6-EB.jpg)
Page 8 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/YqzvKJH2/9992-A246-00-AA-40-AD-9-C21-C38-CFA40-B11-E.jpg)
Page 9—>
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xv3x7MZ2/8962-A403-FB77-4594-90-A2-BA7-CEC59358-D.jpg)
Back Cover —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/QxQfLxCB/8-E0-DB6-C5-D9-BE-4-DD3-93-E3-535022255-B3-D.jpg)
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After sifting through much old literature from Solar Engines Phoenix AZ I found that the company did not call the original engine a “Solar #1, nor was it named a Hot Air engine, nor Thermal Energy Engine. The actual name was staring me in the face after I found an original Owners Manual with a December 1, 1977 letter signed by John I Griffin stuffed inside the Manual. While Solar Engine #1 is what PM Research is currently calling that model, “Stirling Cycle Engine 1817-1977 Model 1” is what the original Solar Engines called it, and they often dropped the 1817-1977 part but retained the Stirling Cycle Engine Model 1 reference. Latter JEMCO Solar Engines 1980’s advertising calls that model their quote — “Original” Stirling Cycle Engine.
Here is the 1st 5 pages of the Dec 1977 referenced Owners Manual. More to follow. There is no copyright, no author listed, and the company on back page is defunct. There is also no page numbers, so I have put them in order.
COVER —>
(https://i.postimg.cc/XqNd0YC8/69-D4-C877-4-CA6-4869-9-BFA-E6-A3-E068-DC31.jpg)
PAGE 1 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/K85Km2mp/6-E601369-3-AE2-42-EF-B772-C5464-D0294-EE.jpg)
Page 2 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0HZNxmz/F25-C3-CB6-9-F70-46-DB-AAFE-1942918-E14-A2.jpg)
Page3 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/gjfMchHp/7-DD42-BB9-50-B5-4-A04-A480-2-DADC718-F801.jpg)
Page 4 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/V65Qdjn0/E2-EB4-F06-1-FBD-4-D80-950-F-449-EF63373-C8.jpg)
Page 5 —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/L5RWjLZV/F3072-C3-D-27-F7-4-B10-885-C-3665-A48315-F6.jpg)
More of the 11 page Owners Manual to follow in next post. :)
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So is this engine marked JEMCO in any way?.............................
If you have other references available, I'd certainly love to see or hear about them!
I do suppose it fair to reference this era of SOLAR ENGINES as the JEMCO Solar #1, in the same way that SOLAR ENGINES is now a division of PM RESEARCH, and we often refer to the engines sold under their banner as the PMR Solar #1. However, in my mind it seems a little awkward, as in calling a 1955 Chevy Bel-Air a GMC Bel-Air just because Chevrolet was a division of GMC.
Stoker: There is no “JEMCO” marked on the engine. I simply used that “JEMCO” term in the context of this forum thread to give some point of difference between my 2 engines. The engine was accompanied with advertising stating “SOLAR ENGINES A DIVISION OF JEMCO IMPORTERS INC”, and it also came with the Andy Ross 2nd edition book that clearly references the same address for JEMCO as Solar Engines in the bibliography pg 120 , and on the back cover.
SO I called the engine a JEMCO purely because it was shorter than the long title with address... and I could verify three associated points of data to do so. I consider the JEMCO moniker simply as a name placeholder until a better name is found by consensus.
As I mentioned prior in this thread, that particular engine did have a REGISTERED TRADEMARK symbol. That trademark symbol denotes a very high level of identity because it would have been officially/legally issued by the United States Patent And Trademark Office. https://www.uspto.gov/trademark
I did try and search the TESS database etal to see who and when the Solar Engines Trademark (or any Patents) were issued to, but that search query proved massive and onerous. Solar Aviation of San Diego and Des Moines (since 1929) had a lot of “engines” but focused on turbines (they became part of International Harvester then Caterpillar). It is to Solar Engines Phoenix credit that Solar Aviations’ name holders did not fight the trademark name given to Solar in Phoenix !
To prove an entity such as a company existed or exist, one of the best ways is to produce a patent or trademark issued by the US Government or other equally reputable source. Note — It appears PM Research does still hold a registered trademark on Solar Engines and the little engine logo.
{Stoker —- regarding a 1955 Chevy Bel-Air ... well it is officially known as a “Chevrolet Division General Motors Corp Series C 2400 wb 115 Passenger Bel Air with codes for Style, Body , Trim , Paint , Top , ACC and Body By Fischer”. The detailed “numbers matching” craze in collectors makes this important because a nice 4 door 1955 Bel Air is worth about $25000, and a nice 1955 Bel Air Nomad is valued at about $100,000. 1955 GMC is another can of worms as it is “General Motors Truck manufactured by GMC Truck and Coach Division etc etc etc “ —— antique car and truck collector’s can be overly obsessive about identity ! :D ]
Ok , so this post is getting long, but wait .... I found that the real name of the 1977 Solar #1 isn’t that at all. It’s called “Stirling Cycle Engine 1817-1977 Model 1 “.
I’ll provide evidence in my next posting.
Back Base Plate On “JEMCO” engine —>
(https://i.postimg.cc/ncGRdtdF/5-DFF37-E9-F940-48-E0-9-E37-58-C4-C431-E2-FF.jpg)
Letterhead accompanying “JEMCO”
(https://i.postimg.cc/wjPGNQfL/7-A63340-A-2-E8-B-4-F1-F-9675-E68-DEDC37-EFD.jpg)
Hero; Nice pics ! I will post pics of the Dec 1977 Owners Manual of my #61** Thermal Energy Engine in my next post. My Thermal EE has a ferrous metal power piston (attracts magnet) , does yours ?
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Here are more pictures of my 8000-series engine. Hope they help.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
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So is this engine marked JEMCO in any way?
Or is it just marked:
PHOENIX ARIZONA
SOLAR ENGINES
?
The only fliers I've seen from JEMCO, just offered some hobby tools and an assortment of Wilesco steam engines and accessories, and also a couple of the little L S Loc engines.
The only other reference I've seen to JEMCO is the small print on the back of some Solar #1 manuals, where its found as:
SOLAR ENGINES (in large bold print)
A DIVISION OF JEMCO IMPORTERS, INC.
If you have other references available, I'd certainly love to see or hear about them!
I do suppose it fair to reference this era of SOLAR ENGINES as the JEMCO Solar #1, in the same way that SOLAR ENGINES is now a division of PM RESEARCH, and we often refer to the engines sold under their banner as the PMR Solar #1. However, in my mind it seems a little awkward, as in calling a 1955 Chevy Bel-Air a GMC Bel-Air just because Chevrolet was a division of GMC.
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I have been cleaning , polishing, and adjusting the “ratty” JEMCO engine so as to get it to run. Both cylinder bores in the heat cap and the power cylinder needed a delicate 0000 steel wool polish. The heat cap had a sticky crust of burned oil inside the base of the tube, I scraped out with a dental pick; wire wheeled the outside of the cap to clean. Moderate work was needed to re-tap the screw holes and cut screws to mount the cooling fin/power piston cyl assembly as some previous owner really messed those holes up. I re-installed the heat cap with a single wrap of teflon plumbers tape on the threads in hopes of giving it a better seal, and perhaps making it easier to remove the cap in the future (like new PMR models) . Finally I did a quicky touch-up on the screwdriver slot in the base that aids removal of the “fuel cell cap”. {trick to a get close color match was to squirt a few drops of 2 different green spray paints I had onto a piece of glass, then mix the greens with a toothpick and apply as tiny paint drops onto the damaged engine area with toothpick}.
Catman had ask a previous question about oiling the “bushing’” in the displacer shaft , it turns out that Solar used 2 kinds of bushings and the ‘Oilite’ one was not recommended to be lubed.
Oh, and as I was searching the internet for an original Owners Manual for these engines I came across another engine I reluctantly added to my collection. I will post about it latter and copies of 1977 owners manual.
Cleaned and run-able JEMCO engine:
(https://i.postimg.cc/kg5Rq9kB/F522-A5-BE-373-E-4606-A8-C4-8-DC8-CA6-BDA3-F.jpg)
Apx. Paint matching for touchup on pry hole (it’s still wet in pic)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXX6QK72/233-DEC73-CC75-46-CE-ABAF-6-DEF4-E59-A9-B3.jpg)
https://vimeo.com/452329924
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There's an article in here on the Sun Motor. Says that the "Steam Age" store is the official UK distributor for it, but don't go looking for the store, because it closed in the 1980's.
[attachimg=1]
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Hero, I changed the cutaway pic title to reflect that it was from early 1978 manual. Earlier John Griffin letters show that Solar Engines must not have had too many Owners Manuals ready to ship with the engines, and thus Griffin was promising to send the Owners Manual latter.
One important point of interest that may contribute to solving the mystery of the Thermal Energy engines is look closely at the above cut-away. It shows a very early engine with a different power piston and a “knuckle” for a wrist pin. These two features were not present on latter 1977 engines , thus maybe cutaway is from early Thermal Energy version closely copied (not exact) from Davies-Charlton.
Also, I found 1977 advertising brochure promising the Sun motor to be introduced in Summer 1978.
Pic Circa 1977-78 “Tomorrow’s Promise”
(https://i.postimg.cc/MGjZYGF9/A5535-D63-CA06-497-A-BEBD-5464-D59695-E8.jpg)
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Nice cutaway view. I don't have the owner's manual for mine.
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I’ve been working on getting the “ratty” JEMCO engine cleaned and running. So far it’s not as bad as it first appeared. The displacer piston was easily cleaned off, as was the graphite power piston , but the inside of the heat cap was filled with old red rust dust and a little burnt oil deposit. The little rubber “o” rings on the power piston pin were deteriorated. Not a big deal, and probably normal for a 25+ year old engine. Easy fix.
[new heat cap parts still available at PM Research https://www.pmmodelengines.com/shop/solar/solar-accessories/replacement-heat-cap/ ]
(https://i.postimg.cc/SKPCtjd3/9-C253-C0-C-BAC8-4-D40-A1-D0-7682-F8275-DE6.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/y6yWDk9K/08825-CD2-86-F9-4-A9-D-A2-AC-60-D932-EB7-DF4.jpg)
Pic from early 1978 Owners Manual Model 1
(https://i.postimg.cc/pVmRHrZk/24745892-69-A2-490-C-B6-A4-6-F245-CCFD2-F8.jpg)
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Stoker: that was a very interesting series of experiments you ran on those Sun motors !
I had the chance years ago to participate (as a low level tech) on two Stirling projects. But I didn’t even get to see the engines , just the proposed heat sources.
One was a NASA project to use metal panels to conduit a gas or liquid to the Stirling engine for heat. The second project was for Sandia National Laboratory involving trying to keep the reflective surface “shiny” on the reflective array (dust was a nemesis ).
I guess those Sun motors could have benefited from a “tracking” type tripod as used in astronomical telescopes to keep the dish aligned with the “moving” sun. But that little device would be kinda expensive over-kill for a toy /demo.
Still those Sun motors are fun to watch in action, and are an excellent engine example of what the 1970’s was hoping would solve an Energy Crisis (or provide power for disco balls)
Today the marketing for those Solar/Sun engines might name them the popular 2020 buzzwords —— Systemic Free Range Diversity Existential Engines (or Little Greta’s how-dare-you motors)
1978 magazine cover
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CToAAOSwigla7yQp/s-l640.jpg)
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As it seems we have now included the actual solar powered engines (Sun Motor & Sun Runner) of Solar Engines of Phoenix Arizona, and by extension, PM Research as well, I'll include here a link to another great Forum where I did a thread on some comparative experiments between the two engine types.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/modelsteam/viewtopic.php?p=1156505#p1156505
Sadly, it seems that the accompanying YouTube videos have been decoupled from that original thread, but I can probably post them back up here if there is interest!?!?
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Hero : excellent provenance on your Sun Motor !
I don’t have the Sun Motor (wish I did) but your boxes’ UPS label is very similar to my Solar #1 box. Your “Indian Tribal Series” origin UPS label clearly says your Sun Motor was shipped Jan 3 , 1979. And the address label has 11412 SM , may be a serial number (my Solar #1 is serial numbered on my label in the same spot).
Your Sun Motor is very likely late 1978 manufacture.
Swift Fox : now may be a good time to get a Solar #1. So many toy engine companies are going out of business lately it may be the twilight of the Solar era. Next year that Solar #1 may be called a Happy Ling Ling Panda Star motor from XIANJIANG
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It'll be easy enough to make the little nipple for the wick.
That PMR dry fuel burner just looks like a bottle cap!
Here's my other Solar Engines toy, a NOS Sun Motor that I found a couple of years back:
https://youtu.be/ScLFx9p5r1o
Nicer than the PMR offering, and pretty scarce, too.
Neat
First I've ever seen
Al
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Jasper, will this help you date the Sun Motor?
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
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Hero ; I have a “John Griffin” era instruction for the Sun Motor. I always wondered about the history of that style Stirling engine and when it first became available to the general public as a toy or educational demonstrator.
Yep! That's the sheet that came with my Sun Motor. But darn! the Allen key was missing! Nothing else, though.😏
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Great to read all the history behind the Solar #1 engine, makes me want to buy one!
Love that Sun Motor too! 8)
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Hero ; I have a “John Griffin” era instruction for the Sun Motor. I always wondered about the history of that style Stirling engine and when it first became available to the general public as a toy or educational demonstrator.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PxmG6cLm/6-EDF73-D8-11-F2-4-AB4-BB02-0075-DC8-B8-D08.jpg)
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It'll be easy enough to make the little nipple for the wick.
That PMR dry fuel burner just looks like a bottle cap!
Here's my other Solar Engines toy, a NOS Sun Motor that I found a couple of years back:
https://youtu.be/ScLFx9p5r1o
Nicer than the PMR offering, and pretty scarce, too.
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Hero : your faucet hole adaptation looks close enough to the original to make me think that’s what they started with ;D
The 1977 version is shown on left side of the following pic , the latter 1980s? JEMCO version is on the right. That little “spout tip” is a way I can roughly spot early from latter engines. The early engines also appear to have “silver colored” connecting rods versus latter “brass colored” con-rods.
From your book and engine pic my amateur opinion is that your #8000 Thermal is looking like ~1978 Griffin type.
{Note,PM Research still sells some parts for these engines, I may try a ‘dry fuel’ burner. https://www.pmmodelengines.com/product-category/solar/solar-accessories/ ]
(https://i.postimg.cc/y6vVyy1G/CB38-E7-F6-199-F-4280-9035-89024-A3-E0020.jpg)
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My book. 121 pages.
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=2]
My engine. Came without a burner. But a faucet hole cover will do the job.
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Hero; here are two pics of the Andy Ross books I have.
1977 1st Edition is 121 numbered pages . Second Edition 1981 has 122 numbered pages.
{I’m so far suspecting your #8000 series engine was made around-about latter 1978 early 1979 or so ... just guessulating ;D )
Back covers —- Top book in pic is 1977 , bottom is JEMCO era 1981 plus
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFpzFWd5/6-CA2-CA1-E-71-E3-48-AC-B156-4-AA948-D8-EE8-B.jpg)
Opening pages —- Left side book in pic is 1977 , right side is JEMCO era 1981 plus
(https://i.postimg.cc/HWzVg3Lp/F9-ED62-E7-DCEB-42-CC-83-BA-E48-D986-C9-F72.jpg)
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My 8xxx engine is also a "Thermal Energy Engines" model, with the Ross book numbered the same.
Jasper, my Ross book reads "Copyright 1977 by Solar Engines."
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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.l2557
Post 1981 JEMCO advertising, like Stoker mentioned, found stuffed in my 2nd Ed Andy Ross book —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMtVWrC4/89-F718-B7-ED4-C-4-B6-C-81-FF-99-FD3-C8-BA5-B0.jpg)
.
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In looking at the 1977 letter from John Griffin, he states never to oil the piston or the dis-placer shaft. I knew never to oil the piston, but had not heard to never oil the dis-placer shaft. The current operating manual from PM Research for the #1 solar engine states that it's ok to oil the shaft. I wonder what has changed, or is oiling the dis-placer shaft wrong?
Mike
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My 8xxx engine is also a "Thermal Energy Engines" model, with the Ross book numbered the same.
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Our good Forum friend Jan (classix) is perhaps the best expert we have on all things related to Solar Engines of Phoenix Arizona, but sadly he is tied down by his work just now, and has no spare time to chime in and provide his wealth of knowledge. Hopefully soon he will be freed up enough to participate in this thread. He is certainly aware of it, and following it as best he can.
To my knowledge, he has the most complete collection of SEoPA material of anyone I know, and seems to have just about everything they ever produced, and most all of the available ephemera as well. He has aided me on several occasions in obtaining SEoPA items that I was looking to add to my collection, and even stood down for me on items he might well have wanted himself.
The man is that helpful, kind and considerate ...... top quality gent that he is!!!
As to the JEMCO reference, I'm still unsure just how that fits into the picture, but I do know that besides a few hobby tools, they also sold several Wilesco steam engines and accessories, seemingly through the SEoPA ads and addresses, with their fliers often accompanying the literature included in engines as shipped.
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Just to add to the confusion, there was a time, early on, when it wasn't "Solar Engines of Phoenix Arizona", but rather "Thermal Energy Engines of Phoenix Arizona" as I have a Solar #1 with that cast into the underside of the base that is numbered in the 5xxx range. I think it more than likely that the Morgans, or possibly the Griffins, actually bought the molds and tooling along with the manufacturing rights from Davies Charlton which was at that time a bit past their prime and starting into a long decline.
I think you are right about the 1977 ad being a "trial balloon" before they had all their ducks in a row and their final product actually in hand. It would be exceedingly interesting if a SEoPA or TEEoPA marked engine were to show up, that was actually configured just like the D-C engines!
I'd still like to see a copy of the Finkelstein book as well, and see if the Ross book is just a rebranded version, or wholly different?!?!
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Stoker : here is pic of John Griffin letter that came in original ca. 1977 engine box. It was folded inside the numbered Andy Ross book, and thus the deterioration along the fold line. It was faded and I enhanced the type to make it more readable, the signature was too faded to enhance.
I’ll try to get copy of other letter posted soon, its topic is the “Sun Motor” as original owner must have purchased that engine also.
Finally, a May/June 1978 Mother Earth News link to when they tried to run a Solar #1 with a fresnel lens. Anything “SOLAR” was a hot media topic in 1976-1979.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/external-combustion-solar-engine-zmaz78mjzhin
Lettter per John Griffin —->
(https://i.postimg.cc/vTHGn8tV/483-FBFB0-A396-46-B7-A47-D-2-B93-B5250-A36.jpg)
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Curiouser and curiouser ..... the Davies-Charlton link Stoker provided shows the exact same engine as the July 1977 Solar Engines Phoenix Arizona Popular Science magazine advertisement ( “It Runs On Heat” ad mentioning Dr. Finklestein) :o
I think that July 1977 ad was a beta-version magazine ad for the newly founded 1977 Solar Engines because maybe their final production engine info hadn't been solidified by the magazine print deadline.
Thus it appears the relationship between the Davies-Charlton and the Solar Engines of W. Indian School Road was “friendly” enough to likely be a permitted/granted copy and subsequent improvement .
The Andy Ross books and the July 1978 magazine ads show the “updated” engine we know today with lineage from Solar Engines thru PM. Research.
My ca. 1977 engine does NOT have the registered trademark seal on the underside , the latter 1980’s engine does. {R inside a circle) . I tried to look at US Government trademark database to see who “Solar Engines” or “Phoenix Arizona Solar Engines” was registered to but that US database is complex.
Wonder now if Clyde and John Griffin had some former association, or working relationship with Davies-Charlton Ltd ?
If Ed Morgan sold the Solar Engine company to PM. Research ... was Ed the person behind 1980’s JEMCO?
Addendum - Tribute History of Davies Charlton link (Note— I suspect the Stirling engine pic is wrong) —> http://modelenginenews.org/people/dc_ltd.html
Pic of Davies-Charlton Ltd sourced from nitrosteamengines.co.uk ——>
(https://i.postimg.cc/2yKpskdn/9-F66710-A-FB02-4-B51-B723-07-CD71-D17203.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sf6RQmF1/D4-D0832-C-0507-4994-916-D-088-A3-CF659-E0.jpg)
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One other point to ponder is that the Solar #1 design is certainly not original to Solar Engines of Phoenix Arizona, as the noted British model airplane engine maker, Davies Charlton Ltd was making a very nearly identical design starting sometime in the mid-1950's.
http://nitrosteamengines.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=454
Likely SEoPA bought the copyright to produce it, or a near copy, sometime in the early 1970's ?
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Stoker; I will try and get a copy of my Solar Engines company letters posted here later.
{both letters from Clyde Griffin and John Griffin state that they haven’t got an “Owners Manual” printed yet, but will send it in “a month or so”.}
My ca. late 1977 engine is #68** and it had the original box and mid Jan 1978 UPS post mark. Thus I assumed about 95% chance it was made in late 1977, arrived at owner couple weeks into Jan 78’.
The Solar Engine company address on the box label is “Indian Tribal Series , 2937 West Indian School Road, Phoenix , AZ, 85017”.
In meantime; here is screen capture I made from a completed ebay auction with FEB-March 1978 date stamps, #7614 engine number. The literature has Griffins’ name in header, West Indian School Road as address, and looks like the Owners manual was finally included.
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdx4pMJs/A31-CE355-D41-B-4-EEA-9-ADA-B82-F53-DF7966.jpg)
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Would you be willing to share scans of your letters please?
To the best of my knowledge Ed started the business in the mid 70's, but admittedly I do not have a whole lot to go on that confirms that.
I suppose it is possible that Ed was actual owner and the Griffin brothers were just the office staff?
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Stoker; The Solar Engineering company letters I have make no mention of “Ed and Jeanette Morgan”. The ca. 1977 letters I have state Clyde I. Griffin as Director. And John I. Griffin as both a major company exec AND the General Editor of Andy Ross’s First Edition book
Associate Editor was Mary A. Hanshew.
Something big must have happened around ca. 1981 in the Company as the company address seems to have changed. Maybe 1980’s were Ed & Jeanette ? Maybe Ed was JEMCO ?
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Ed and Jeanette Morgan were the owners/operators, proprietors if you will, of Solar Engines of Phoenix Arizona, until they sold out to PM Research in the 1990's.
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Stoker; who is Ed ?
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It is very interesting that the May 1977 ad in Popular Science magazine references a 128 page book by Dr. Theodore Finkelstein, rather than the ubiquitous Andy Ross book of 122 pages that was first published in 1977. I have a few copies of the Ross book, but have never seen a copy of the Finkelstein book.
I would love to get my hands on a copy of the earlier offering!
My guess would be that Ed ran into some issue, either with obtaining an adequate supply, or getting authorized use of the Finkelstein book, thus shifted gears to the Ross book when it became available. Perhaps the Ross book was specifically written to supplant the earlier offering, to get around whatever the difficulty may have been?!?!
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The numbered engines were sold with a matching numbered book. My engine has the book; does yours?
Yes, both engines came with books. The “ratty” engine Andy Ross book is NOT numbered and is copyrighted 1977/1981 Second Edition. It had an advertising flyer jammed in it for a “This Little Saw Is Marvelous” hand saw imported by JEMCO. This Second Edition also had a hand placed sticker in the “Additional Information” book section for Ross Experimental, INC. of Columbus Ohio.
The better condition ca. 1977 engine had the Andy Ross 1977 hand numbered 1st Edition book, the original box with numbered label and postmark, original wick tied, original plastic shipping bag, and two separate letters from Solar Engines to the original owner.
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The numbered engines were sold with a matching numbered book. My engine has the book; does yours?
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Nice ... they are classics to be sure!
Is your's numbered?
Both classics and survivors ! Interesting that little red & green Stirling engine is still made today in USA 2020.
The ratty condition Solar #1 I have is not numbered , nor was the Ross book that came with it ; so it’s probably a 1980’s version. But the likely late 1977 version is numbered. The original box label, the engine, and the book for the 1977 engine were all numbered the same. Two separate letters were included in the accompanying numbered book by the CEO of Solar , and the other by the Andy Ross 1977 book editor.
[July 1977 Popular Science advertisement ——>]
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4NX0fqf/179-AF29-A-FD07-46-C2-9-AC9-7-BB3-FDB7-E94-B.jpg)
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Nice ... they are classics to be sure!
Is your's numbered?
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I swapped an old small outboard motor for two Solar #1’s by Solar Engines , Phoenix Arizona.
One engine was pretty worn, rusty, falling apart, and missing screws. The other was dusty , but looked like it had not been run much.
The dusty one cleaned up with light soap and water and I was surprised to see it was likely a late 1977 model.
I remember looking in the back pages of old Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and seeing those Solar Stirling advertisements next to CB radio ads and little box ads for muscle-building programs that would guarantee admiration at the discotec.
Late 1977 Solar #1 ——>
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPWshsdq/FDA13-F28-52-BD-4750-9-FF0-E676-F8-F9476-F.jpg) .
Popular Science magazine July 1978 —>
(https://i.postimg.cc/htHtqXYM/B48-B5024-4-E8-D-4776-A0-AD-4033-B3308-A6-B.jpg)