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

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Restorations => Topic started by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 06:21:48 am

Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on May 16, 2025, 02:42:29 pm
better running now with the cylinder up against the steam chest firmly


https://youtu.be/7zycsjZMpnc
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on May 16, 2025, 02:40:03 pm
I had a problem with the oscillating cylinder not seating properly on the steam chest. I had to take er' back apart a bit & mill out the stanchion to make a bit more Clearance for the crank shaft to clear & thus seal the cylinder to the steam chest completely. here's what I did.  I show this only to help diagnose problems for other steam enthusiast.

https://youtu.be/N_ZmrQutXRk
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: RedRyder on May 15, 2025, 05:31:00 am
Awesome restoration, Bruce...!!!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on May 14, 2025, 09:49:00 pm
I don’t know Bruce… I think you ruined the patina on this one… ;) 😂 😂 😂
...lol, well Nick, I can always pitch it back into the lake for awhile to bring back the grunge.😊
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: krypto31337 on May 14, 2025, 08:12:16 pm
Awesome job!  Truly Trash to Treasure.
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: Nick on May 14, 2025, 06:32:44 am
I don’t know Bruce… I think you ruined the patina on this one… ;) 😂 😂 😂
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: Junkologist on May 14, 2025, 04:25:33 am
Great job, Bruce!
Can’t believe it’s the same engine!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: Stoker on May 13, 2025, 11:13:39 pm
Lovely ....... and lovingly restored by a true Master!!!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on May 13, 2025, 09:23:59 pm
Its "finished"
Hi folks, this is my $5.00 Facebook marketplace #5 Jensen steam engine that I saw listed as I did my daily scavenger hunt for steam engines. its very early being placed in the late 1930's to early 1940's. I replaced the cloth cord with another vintage era cord, newer belly heater. this thing was as rusted & frozen up as any engine I've encountered. I resurfaced the flywheel slightly, bead blasted the base & re-shot it Robbins egg blue. the firebox & chimney support got bead blasted & re-shot black lacquer. the original plinth was sympathetically resurfaced. she is now sound & runs very well. I just realized I forgot the Jensen label (which I have)

https://youtu.be/LbaLb-gGLJk
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on May 13, 2025, 09:22:07 pm
Plinth restoration.

https://youtu.be/ix4iD96wwEk
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: 1stimestm on May 11, 2025, 11:49:53 am
Great project Bruce! Keep us updated!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: D E Jones on May 04, 2025, 03:18:07 pm
What a fun project this must be !
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: jkbixby on April 29, 2025, 08:16:04 am
Looks like this will be an excellent tutorial - well done so far.
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: RedRyder on April 29, 2025, 05:43:24 am
Thanks for the update, Bruce...!!!

Looking good!

Gil
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 28, 2025, 08:41:03 pm
https://youtu.be/MK0eM2eH2Bc

https://youtu.be/dshqa_S6sX8

https://youtu.be/yQbABsvdFyY

https://youtu.be/xXuWlXz3zaU

Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: RedRyder on April 27, 2025, 06:31:24 pm
Nice to see this one on the road to being saved by a great Jensen restorer!
I agree, Jim. 

We know it is in good hands.

Gil
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: Jim on April 27, 2025, 05:24:30 pm
Nice to see this one on the road to being saved by a great Jensen restorer!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: Stoker on April 27, 2025, 08:46:17 am
I've seen worse ...... but that will certainly be a real PROJECT!!!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: krypto31337 on April 27, 2025, 08:08:56 am
Love watching will-it-run videos!  Looks like that old Jensen made it through it's greatest peril, making it to your place through the postage system without incurring any more damage.

Time to fire-up the electrolysis tank!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 27, 2025, 07:14:04 am
here are some quick (& short) update videos as I move along on this project.

It's here...

https://youtu.be/vme7OpT8brI

I'm stuck on you...

https://youtu.be/IIA3gQccIDk

flywheel, will it budge?

https://youtu.be/S6S-AB0Dsmo
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 10:32:14 pm
Incredible!
 

Passing good luck on is good karma, for sure.

Wayne

Bruce has long shown himself to be a "sharing" sort of fellow. He has often made unavailable parts available to Forum members by the simple expedient of making them himself, then selling them off at what can only be considered "discount rates" likely not paying himself much over a buck an hour for his time and effort!

Don't be surprised if this latest Jensen SUPER BARGAIN shows up for sale later, in like new condition, here on the Forum, for less than true market value. I've seen it happen before, and while it may not happen with this one, which would be a real keeper in my book, others find their way into his workshop and then into the hands of others pretty often!!!
Thanks Daniel, you know me so well 😊
I do enjoy the hunt, and then the restoration challenge & process, what happens to it when done is of little importance to me & and I'm never quite sure what I'll do with an engine when completed, yes, many get moved on (I can't possibility keep them all) & I still have some I've had from the very beginning.
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: Jim on April 26, 2025, 09:46:11 pm
Top stuff Bruce!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: Stoker on April 26, 2025, 04:46:19 pm
Incredible!
 

Passing good luck on is good karma, for sure.

Wayne

Bruce has long shown himself to be a "sharing" sort of fellow. He has often made unavailable parts available to Forum members by the simple expedient of making them himself, then selling them off at what can only be considered "discount rates" likely not paying himself much over a buck an hour for his time and effort!

Don't be surprised if this latest Jensen SUPER BARGAIN shows up for sale later, in like new condition, here on the Forum, for less than true market value. I've seen it happen before, and while it may not happen with this one, which would be a real keeper in my book, others find their way into his workshop and then into the hands of others pretty often!!!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: komet163b on April 26, 2025, 03:48:33 pm
Incredible!
Best steamer deal I ever heard of.  You should send the seller
a nice present after you receive it.  My parents had an antique
shop in the 1960's and sometimes they would hit a home run.  If
they knew the folks who sold the item to them were locals and
could use the $$$ they would cut them in on the profit. 

Passing good luck on is good karma, for sure.

Wayne
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 09:56:17 am
STUNNING ....... what a DEAL!!!

Congrats on getting the "Score of the Year" with that one Bruce!
Thanks, Daniel
🙂
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 09:55:28 am
Hope you’re able to get your money back on this one…
...lol, we'll see what comes in the mail. It might be a drawer guide.😄
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: Nick on April 26, 2025, 09:08:42 am
Hope you’re able to get your money back on this one…
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: Stoker on April 26, 2025, 08:21:07 am
STUNNING ....... what a DEAL!!!

Congrats on getting the "Score of the Year" with that one Bruce!
Title: Re: My $5.00 (early) Jensen steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 07:44:25 am
Thanks Gil, I just looked up the tracking & it might arrive today 😀
Title: Re: My $5.00 Jensen $5 steam engine
Post by: RedRyder on April 26, 2025, 06:31:54 am
Congrats, Bruce!

What a find! This is a great acquisition!

Gil
Title: My $5.00 (early) Jensen #5 steam engine
Post by: St Paul Steam on April 26, 2025, 06:21:48 am
While perusing Facebook marketplace I came across this listing for some drawer guides, an antenna & a very ratty looking Jensen #5 all spray painted red, everything was $5.00 ea. (including the Jensen) now many of you will notice that it's an early #5 with the riveted boiler, curvature cast base, cloth cord (dangerously frayed) wood base (albeit painted red) cup for chimney mount, partially rounded throttle valve. sure, it's rough, but appears to be mostly intact. When I sent a message saying I wanted it & would he be willing to ship it, this was his reply... "Didn't describe it much, want to make sure you know what you're getting. It was my father's, it hasn't been run in 25 years, I did see it work back then. We just recently got it out of his garage. I believe it is froze up. It's not damaged but the electrical cord is very frayed. If you're still interested" I assured him I was still interested :D, He asked for $13.00 shipping to me & I said, "I know is doesn't look like much now, but it can be made beautiful & to please package it carefully". so now I have $18.00 in it & it's on its way to me currently. I'm hoping he did a good job of packing it & that it arrives in as shown condition. ironically, maybe the red paint will have preserved some of it (I'm hoping) I will let you know what I get when it comes in, probably Monday-Tuesday.its coming from Lima Oh. Junkologists( Mike's) back yard

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Kq8HgyVoh/