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Author Topic: Buckman -- Help needed  (Read 9562 times)

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #45 on: March 24, 2024, 01:35:46 pm »
Here's another one for your suspected Buckman list--the only Buckman-like engine I have left other than a fire pumper. Known to me only from this page in an 1886 FAO Schwarz catalog (description but no illustration, same page as the better known "Ajax" engine). "Empire" of course is only the model name which is also cast into the cylinder. The burner is borrowed from a Russell Frisbee engine from the same period. 

Forget about the Smithsonian engines. I viewed them over 20 years ago in storage when none were labelled or photographed. I offered to identify them at the time but there was no interest. It's even worse now as the curator in charge of mechanical engineering is a marine archaeologist! Identifications and photos being posted now are probably the work of volunteers.
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #46 on: March 24, 2024, 01:56:48 pm »
I sure hope I can find one of those someday!! 😍
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Nick

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #47 on: March 24, 2024, 02:01:47 pm »
You're young Nick and have plenty of time; just be patient.
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #48 on: March 24, 2024, 03:16:52 pm »
Thanks, @parallelmotion.  Can I use the picture in my article?

The only evidence I currently have as to who made these three engines is circumstantial.  Can you judge an engine by the company it keeps?

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The Hero engine, which is also in the Smithsonian, is likely the engine in the front, just to the right in this picture.



The designer/manufacture of Maxwell's engine also produced a fire engine.  It has the same flywheel and boiler shown in the horizontal above.  I haven't found a picture of that engine yet.
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #49 on: March 24, 2024, 03:27:07 pm »
I think you can judge an engine by the company it keeps--the "Empire" beam engine and Ajax have the same flywheels and nearly the same burner, so likely the same maker. Of course you can use my photo. Is the Ives catalog available online? There were several models of Union/Buckman fire pumpers including one patented by Buckman. 
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #50 on: March 24, 2024, 03:51:38 pm »
Yes, that catalog and a few more of interest are avalable here: https://atca-club.org/atca-toy-catalogs/

@Nick, see any of your Day 1 engine in this picture?  I have a positive ID on this one.

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #51 on: March 24, 2024, 04:32:24 pm »
@TEC & @Nick,
Please see attached photos of some of my Buckman engines. The other 4 are in storage. Nick, the plank hot air that you sold me 12 years ago is in the picture.

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #52 on: March 24, 2024, 04:52:12 pm »
Quote from: TEC on March 24, 2024, 03:51:38 pm
Yes, that catalog and a few more of interest are avalable here: https://atca-club.org/atca-toy-catalogs/

@Nick, seen any of your Day 1 engine in this picture?  I have a positive ID on this one.

(Attachment Link)



That’s great! Sure looks like a match to me!!
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Nick

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #53 on: March 24, 2024, 04:52:59 pm »
Quote from: Maxwell on March 24, 2024, 04:32:24 pm
@TEC & @Nick,
Please see attached photos of some of my Buckman engines. The other 4 are in storage. Nick, the plank hot air that you sold me 12 years ago is in the picture.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Thank you Mike, I think this may be the first time I have seen your Buckmans  8)  Great to know there is another 3-legged engine out there too  8)
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Nick

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #54 on: March 25, 2024, 09:30:29 am »
Thanks @Maxwell.  The engine base is much larger than I would have expected.  I'll provide more details about the man and company in my article, but the engine was made by Dewey. 

I haven't yet found any pictures of the verticals.  The twin would have been quite powerful -- if there had been some way to transfer that power.  No pulley!

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #55 on: March 25, 2024, 02:27:48 pm »
@TEC,

Thanks for the valuable information. I am still confused with the steam supply pipe attached to the mid height of the boiler, and the other pipe that is sticking out of the boiler top. Any clue please?
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #56 on: March 25, 2024, 02:40:10 pm »
Quote from: Maxwell on March 25, 2024, 02:27:48 pm
@TEC,

Thanks for the valuable information. I am still confused with the steam supply pipe attached to the mid height of the boiler, and the other pipe that is sticking out of the boiler top. Any clue please?

The steam pipe goes inside and bends towards the top to pick up steam. This allows less pipe to be exposed to cold air. The pipe on the top is likely a safety valve.  I think this was added by Dewey when he decided to use the boiler for verticals. As you can see on the verticals, the frame screws in where the safety valve was originally located  There's a traditional safety valve in the smokestack shown Dewey's fire engine patents.  I'll be sending you a PM.

What is the overall length of the engine?

I've updated this posting to include a picture.  I suspect the drawing is accurate enough to use for plans.

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #57 on: March 26, 2024, 01:26:50 pm »
@Maxwell, I take back what I said about the pipe on top being a safety valve.  The engine was described as having a throttle valve, and I don't see any traditional valves on the engines, so perhaps Dewey put the valve inside of the boiler. Looking at this engine again, that might be a lever, not a pipe.  Perhaps it controls a sleeve over the end of the steam pipe with holes drilled in both.  Turning the valve would control the alignment of the two holes.

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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #58 on: March 26, 2024, 01:48:40 pm »
The drawing in your previous post appears to show an oscillating cylinder so in that case there would be no valve. The "pipe" on top of the boiler may just be a solid rod handle for the filler plug, although it looks like you would need to remove the chimney to unscrew it.
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Re: Buckman -- Help needed
« Reply #59 on: March 26, 2024, 01:59:26 pm »
Quote from: parallelmotion on March 26, 2024, 01:48:40 pm
The drawing in your previous post appears to show an oscillating cylinder so in that case there would be no valve. The "pipe" on top of the boiler may just be a solid rod handle for the filler plug, although it looks like you would need to remove the chimney to unscrew it.

That drawing was from a fire engine patent. Dewey didn't patent Maxwell's horizontal, so its boier internals are a mystery.  However, the horizontal was supposed to have a throttle valve, and the pipe on top of the boiler doesn't look like it could function as a safety valve.
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