K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration

• K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
  Posted by Gregowen on 12 May, 2024 23:34
•    Here are some photos of my restoration of a KJ Miller SE 100. Since these were already made to be taken apart, I focus more on the aspects that were more problematic, particularly the wiring to the boiler. A lot of these have damaged cords. If the wiring is still firmly attached (soldered) to the connections then it makes the job easier, but the big problem is to re-connect the wires to a new cord in such a way that there is still enough room in the small available space below the boiler (which has to all be stuffed into that space so that the boiler can be re-attached to the base). I ended up using silicone tubing and so far it works fine.
  
     The original gray paint on the base is always in bad shape on these (they used the wrong paint). I used some black BBQ grill paint that I already had. Despite plenty of sanding of the base, since it is zinc the paint does not adhere well at all (requires multiple coats, and then touch-up in spots with a brush). I painted the flywheel in burgundy to closely match the boiler. Other engine parts were sprayed battleship gray - which then had to be shaved off in some areas where the paint interfered with the joints of moving parts.
  
     Despite the shortcomings of these engines, I have always admired their clever design, one of the best of the 1940s-50s "toy" models in my opinion, with educational value.
  
     Be sure to take photos before taking these apart (even if you have the "blueprint" diagrams) and note the location of each brass screw and fastener, as it is not quite as simple to reassemble as it might seem.
  
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• #1 Reply
  Posted by Gregowen on 12 May, 2024 23:39
• Well, the rest of my photos did not go. Try again here for the rest! [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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• #2 Reply
  Posted by Stoker on 13 May, 2024 11:27
• Say Now ..... That's nicely done and looks very SHARP!!!
  
  I actually really like these steam plants and all their unique features. Even though they are really not good steamers, nor anything like efficient and they tend to run rather wet, they are still in a class by themselves in many if not most respects!
  
  Seeing that the Zamak/Mazak base seems nearly impossible to paint and have it stick for any length of time, I've often thought about just leaving it as bare grey metal, as it also doesn't seem to corrode much at all, and so should probably remain in better shape than any paint job over the long haul?!?!
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• #3 Reply
  Posted by Gregowen on 13 May, 2024 22:36
•    Thanks very much, glad that you like it, and I believe that the idea of just leaving the base as bare metal is excellent. I never thought of that, but it would no doubt be great, especially if the right polishing compound was used to get just the right finish. It would also open up more options for painting the engine parts some other color than gray, as the standard gray probably would not be the most attractive with a bare-metal base.
  
     Here are some more photos that I should add to complete my account of this engine re-furb, including an original set of the accessory parts needed to make the other two engines, and the fragile little paper that lists those parts. I am guessing that slip of paper is pretty hard to come by. All the parts are there, but there are two "machine screws" as opposed to only one on the list, I assume that one of them is correct but I don't know which one.
  
     Also some photos of both sides of the three pages that cover each of the three engine versions. Not the greatest but they should help anyone who might need illustrations of all versions (as far as I know, all of these engines were originally sold assembled as the beam engine version, with the additional parts provided separately).
  
  
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• #4 Reply
  Posted by Stoker on 14 May, 2024 14:56
• I'm still unsure whether Miller sold the SE-100 as a complete set to make all three engines, or as a single configuration set-up, and then sold the parts to make the other two configurations separately?
  
  Possibly they sold them both ways, but to my mind, the relatively small bundle of parts needed to make the other two engines couldn't have been very expensive or it wouldn't sell, so by the same token couldn't have been a significant profit maker as an after-sale add on. It does make more sense to me from this distance, to charge a bit more up front for the total package of the three-engine steam plant, with all parts included. Even if done this way, there would likely have been a packet of parts inside the box, and a tag like that one shown, would likely be there with those parts!
  
  That being said, it does amaze me that so many of these engines are found in just one configuration, and not always the Beam Engine either, without any of the other parts to produce the other engine configurations. I actually have one that I received as just the horizontal mill engine, but it did have all three sets of plans with it. So, perhaps it was available in any one of the three configurations, and then you could buy the parts for either or both of the other two later. Also possible, that they might include the blueprints for all three configurations just to tempt the purchaser into buying the other needed parts.
  
  Most likely of all, or so I think, is just that owners of these engines tended to build them into a single configuration and leave them that way, eventually losing/misplacing the other parts?!?!
  
  Yet another steam mystery lost from the ages!!!
  
  Meanwhile, here's my most recent acquisition along these lines, with an interesting Red repainted base:
  
  https://www.officeofsteamforum.com/general-discussion/and-then-there-were-four!/
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• #5 Reply
  Posted by Woe is me on 14 May, 2024 19:57
• Hey Gregowen, that black base looks pretty good. Adds a nice contrast.
  I don't know Daniel, as far as I can tell mine is, was complete and unfired.
  
  
  
  
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  and a good price too.
  
  
  
  
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• #6 Reply
  Posted by Stoker on 14 May, 2024 20:07
• Ooooh NICE, I don't believe I've ever seen a pristine one before .... that looks mighty fine, mighty fine Indeed!!!
  
  Now you ain't tryin' ta tell me that you paid $4.88 for that now ..... are you?!?!
  
  I'm still of the opinion that bag came in the box with the rest of the engine at time of purchase. But I most certainly could be wrong about that.
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• #7 Reply
  Posted by Gregowen on 14 May, 2024 22:18
•    Wow, that is certainly the only example I have ever seen that is obviously in mint condition, and I can't recall seeing any that did not have al least some wear and paint loss on the base (and almost all of them, had a lot!). And none with that additional instruction sheet in red there. Nice to see what my tattered little parts list looked like when new.
  
     For a while I had one of these in the horizontal configuration, but it did not have any additional parts or papers.
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• #8 Reply
  Posted by Weedensteam on 15 May, 2024 15:15
• Perhaps all the missing parts are keeping company with the burners and smokestacks of so many other engines particularly if the were like my son and most of his cousins with Lego. There was only one of them that insisted that all the parts belonging to a model stayed with it and was not used elsewhere.
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• #9 Reply
  Posted by Woe is me on 15 May, 2024 21:48
• Quote from: Stoker on 14 May, 2024 20:07

  Ooooh NICE, I don't believe I've ever seen a pristine one before .... that looks mighty fine, mighty fine Indeed!!!
  
  Now you ain't tryin' ta tell me that you paid $4.88 for that now ..... are you?!?!
  
  I'm still of the opinion that bag came in the box with the rest of the engine at time of purchase. But I most certainly could be wrong about that.
  

  
  
  
  Yeah guys, that little bag with the parts list stapled to it is the original one and all the parts
  on the list came in it. There's a funnel that came with it also. It's marked 1oz, a K, and SHEL-GLO
  PLASTIC, MADE IN U.S.A. The copy rights on the blue prints is 1946.The cord is still bundled up from
  the factory and I never plugged it in.  The steam line is hard and brittle but I have put air through
  a silicone hose to watch it run.
  No Daniel I didn't get it for $4.88, somebody did way back. I paid $110.00 to my door.
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• #10 Reply
  Posted by Stoker on 15 May, 2024 22:44
• Quote from: Woe is me on 15 May, 2024 21:48

  Quote from: Stoker on 14 May, 2024 20:07

  Ooooh NICE, I don't believe I've ever seen a pristine one before .... that looks mighty fine, mighty fine Indeed!!!
  
  Now you ain't tryin' ta tell me that you paid $4.88 for that now ..... are you?!?!
  
  I'm still of the opinion that bag came in the box with the rest of the engine at time of purchase. But I most certainly could be wrong about that.
  

  
  
  
  Yeah guys, that little bag with the parts list stapled to it is the original one and all the parts
  on the list came in it. There's a funnel that came with it also. It's marked 1oz, a K, and SHEL-GLO
  PLASTIC, MADE IN U.S.A. The copy rights on the blue prints is 1946.The cord is still bundled up from
  the factory and I never plugged it in.  The steam line is hard and brittle but I have put air through
  a silicone hose to watch it run.
  No Daniel I didn't get it for $4.88, somebody did way back. I paid $110.00 to my door.
  

  
  One heck of a fine deal that!!!
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• #11 Reply
  Posted by txlabman on 04 Jun, 2024 07:00
• Two great KJM Jr. Engineer Model SE 100s for sure.
  
  Nice work on the restoration.
  
  I have had one of these on my list for a long time, but I haven’t found a complete one yet.
  
  Still on the hunt!
  
  Thanks for a great thread.
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