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Author Topic: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored  (Read 674 times)

St Paul Steam

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1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« on: June 19, 2019, 08:39:19 pm »
I was very fortunate to decide to look at E-bay 6-13-19 at approx. 5:06 pm, right there on the top of new listings was this 1935'ish unrestored Jensen #15 generator for $99.99 BIN, with fingers trembling a little bit I pushed the buy it now button & then with even more nervousness the "confirm bid" button....OK ,take a breath now....it went through, now to go back & really read the description & make sure I wasn't just buying a box for said generator, OK good...it was the real deal. now to send the seller a message to "please" package carefully....no response from seller, he packaged it & took it down to the post office before closing at 5:56pm,same day (thank you) still no reply . I waited patiently for it to arrive, hopefully intact, I decided to send another message , here is exactly what I said "Regarding the Jensen generator , thank you for the quick shipping , I'm always interested in knowing the history of any steam piece I buy, so anything you could share with me would be greatly appreciated. And if you have anything else like this I would be interested.
Thank you, Bruce"
he replied "estate sale find"....yup , that was it
it arrived with bullet proof packaging & in the condition you now see.











here is the same model in the Jensen museum archives, obviously restored.

here is the attached text from the Jensen archive
"It's rare, it's old and it's the only one we've seen offered as a stand alone. This Model #15 is the oldest known example of a free standing Jensen generator set. We've estimated it to have been built between 1935 and 1937, when this particular shade of blue was used. The horseshoe magnet is a sure sign your engine or generator is both rare and valuable."



in operation


I believe it could do with a magnetic recharge....but that would be it.

Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Nick

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2019, 09:00:39 pm »
You lucky guy Bruce!! I bet you're already receiving offers on this one  :D
Nick

St Paul Steam

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2019, 09:04:48 pm »
You lucky guy Bruce!! I bet you're already receiving offers on this one  :D
   lol....(3) so far...its not for sale. I was just glad someone didn't get to the seller before he mailed it & persuade him to take a higher offer.
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Mi Steam

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2019, 01:27:07 am »

I believe it could do with a magnetic recharge....but that would be it.

What would a magnetic recharge do? Would the light get brighter?
How would you do it?
Carl "There is a better way for everything. Find it."TAE


CBWho

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2019, 02:44:40 am »
The magnetic field in the steel gets deranged by Earth's over time.
I have a 100 year old Bing one and it's power generation specs imply that it hasn't  lost much. But perhaps it was due to being in England most of those years!

classixs

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2019, 06:12:45 am »
WOW !!!

Now there´s an investment that will pay back tenfold...

Definitely going right up as a favourite contender to the "Bargain of the year" title.

Extremely well done Bruce, congratulations !!!
Cheers
Jan
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crazydoug

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2019, 06:44:04 am »
Bruce,
you are one lucky guy! I bought mine for $15. 5 yrs ago, but i have seen them go for $800. I was at coolspring when this was listed or i might have beat you to it! Glad you got it though- a great buy for sure.
crazydoug

St Paul Steam

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2019, 07:12:59 am »
$15, wow Doug, that was just practically free. I was just thinking, this seller had it listed for $99.99 and he made what he thought was a good  profit of that...just think what he would have gotten if he had let it run auction Style 😨
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Roscoe

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2019, 07:29:34 am »
Nice score Bruce, definitely a nice addition to your collection.



        John
John

classixs

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2019, 07:37:32 am »

Not many of these listed, and i doubt the interest has diminished in the last few years:
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Cheers
Jan
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St Paul Steam

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2019, 07:42:54 am »
Jan.. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are the king of finding a lost and hard to find posts.
In speaking to a fellow collector, I believe I know who bought this one 😊
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
"Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind."
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Stoker

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2019, 10:22:43 am »
Fantastic Bruce ... so happy for you!

If the seller listed it at that price, imagine what price he paid at the estate sale .... oh my!!!
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txlabman

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2019, 10:33:28 am »
You better buy a lottery ticket Bruce!

First, the David Auld Boat and now a very early Jensen #15 generator!

Thanks for the great videos and pictures.

Nick

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2019, 11:29:15 am »
Fantastic Bruce ... so happy for you!

If the seller listed it at that price, imagine what price he paid at the estate sale .... oh my!!!

Luckily he bought it so it didn't get passed up at the sale and thrown out.

By the way, was the eBay seller in PA? if not, where was it found?
Nick

Griffin

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Re: 1935-1937 Jensen #15 generator set, unrestored
« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2019, 12:16:01 pm »
An excellent purchase, well done Bruce.
Steven