Last Thursday I got a phone call I’ve been waiting 10 years to receive. It was a good friend of mine who called to inform me it was time to part with his Jensen 50. Yesterday, I closed the deal.
This is, by far, the filthiest engine I’ve ever brought home. It has also had some very poor restoration work done on it. The slip ring on the generator has cracked and come off, so I will have to repair or replace the armature. The cast iron bases will need paint, along with the red magnet on the generator. Smoke stack is missing also. I’m not sure yet how I feel about it, but it also has a late style Jensen ID tag nailed to the wood base where the Jensen decal should be. I’m leaning towards removing it.
More pics to come when I get it finished.
This should clean up amazingly well Mike, looking forward to your "nuclear" restoration. She's a "riveted" boiler plant as well. nice catch 😊
I'm with Bruce on this one.
It might look a "little" down and dirty at the moment, but I have full faith that its true beauty will shine through once again in your hands!!!
Mike, it's a thing of beauty despite a little dirt. You probably know this already, but a couple of options for chimney replacement... 1) undersink drain plumbing available from most hardware stores
2) extension tube from old Electrolux type vacuum
Cool project sir!
Roger
A big Congrats, Mike...!!!
Your patience has prevailed.
I believe you will be very pleasantly surprised at the condition of the original wood finish and paint once you give it a careful cleaning.
Very well done!
Gil
Unfortunately, no amount of careful cleaning will bring out the original finish on this engine. The engine base has been repainted the wrong color blue. The generator is untouched, but very rusty. The firebox and smokebox have been painted flat black and will have to be redone. The nickel plating on this engine has also suffered pretty bad over the years. I will do my best to make it presentable again.
Mike, if it were mine I would get the boiler and other nickel replated and repaint the rest in proper color scheme for the era. Given the rust, it is such a shame prior owner(s) didn't take better care of it
Rog
Yep .... that one is going to need a bit more "help" than I originally thought!
But you're the right man to get her done up well and proper, I've no doubt!!!
Ouch.... I see the wrong paint color has added a challenge.
You might find an auto restoration shop that has a ground walnut or bead blaster. These are very good for removing 1 layer of paint at a time.
Or..... Just strip and paint.
The firebox and chimney stand want to be painted with black lacquer.
I am highly confident you will get this right!
Gil
Congratulations on your latest acquisition, Mike! I am jealous...
It's a perfect project: dilapidated enough to make it a challenge, but not so much to be discouraging.
Good luck, and I will be watching with interest.
Paula
PS - Love that beautiful Tabby!
Congratulations on your latest acquisition, Mike! I am jealous...
It's a perfect project: dilapidated enough to make it a challenge, but not so much to be discouraging.
Good luck, and I will be watching with interest.
Paula
PS - Love that beautiful Tabby!
We have two of them around here. Daisy and Tulip. They are always on my heels when I’m outside or at the barn. Lol
Here it is after a lot of cleaning, some polishing, some paint stripping, a little repainting, some repairs and a replacement smoke stack.
I may repaint the engine base and the generator in the future, if I can get the blue color matched correctly.
Wow, what a difference! Looks great!
Paula
Wow, what a difference! Looks great!
Paula
Thanks! The patina is really growing on me.
This engine has an interesting back story. I was told it was at the top of a large tiered display at a large department store in Cleveland, Ohio, which was probably The May Co. It was never sold and got put into storage. A long time security guard who remembered the display then finds the engine in storage and takes it home. Fifteen or so years ago, an estate auction was held for the contents of the security guard’s home and the engine was found in the attic. A fiend of mine’s father buys the engine at the auction and cleans it up some and does some minor restoration work to get it running. Ten years ago I laid eyes on it and told him to let me know when he decides to part with it, and here we are today.
That is certainly a fulsome backstory with a lot of twists and turns to get to your place.
Major congratulations on getting it to your place ......... eventually!