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Author Topic: 150-year-old survivor  (Read 1352 times)

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150-year-old survivor
« on: July 03, 2024, 04:38:32 pm »
Based on a silver coin which was used to make part of the eccentric, this model steam engine was probably built around the mid-1860s-1870s after the Civil War. Nothing is yet known about the maker (signed "H. Heuer") but his craftsmanship is evident. What's amazing is that it ran with minimal servicing after all these years and that the paintwork is still in good condition. The boiler, engine, and much of the base are made of heavy gauge nickel-plated brass. The spring-loaded safety valve (atop the steam dome) still functions even though it cannot be serviced. The flat-bottomed boiler steams quickly; there is also a small tank underneath the boiler to collect exhaust condensate.

https://youtu.be/Wi6fWM5RFuw?si=D84uz-AQz30RqroL


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Re: 150-year-old survivor
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2024, 05:47:15 pm »
Brent:

Awesome early engine!

Thanks for sharing the video.

Charlie

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Re: 150-year-old survivor
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2024, 08:03:43 pm »
While the coin really does nothing to positively date the engine, the engine itself is nothing short of incredible!

I suppose that you could argue that the engine could not have been built before the date on the coin, but that isn't necessarily true either as perhaps the coin represents a repair done to a failed excentric at a later date?!?!

In all likelihood the engine was actually built sometime after 1865, and probably not too long after at that, just by looking at it and its style.

What an incredible find that beauty is, for certain and for sure!!!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
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Re: 150-year-old survivor
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2024, 09:18:28 pm »
Of course I know that the coin does not provide a definite date for the engine, but I think we can safely assume that the builder used a coin readily at hand, and not likely a very old one. So if it was built in say, 1870, that's 154 years old which is why I used 150 years or up to 1874. And absolutely not a later repair--the eccentric rod came unsoldered from the disc while I was testing it and the whole eccentric disc fell apart when I tried to solder the rod back on. I had assumed it was one machined part but the coin was an inner, smaller diameter disc soldered between and keyed to two larger diameter discs, The eccentric strap has an inner ridge which fits into the "groove" created by the smaller diameter coin, thus centering and holding the strap while allowing the disc to rotate freely, a clever design.

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Re: 150-year-old survivor
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2024, 10:02:06 pm »
Very cool engine, Brent!
Mike

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Re: 150-year-old survivor
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2024, 10:02:38 pm »
Clever Indeed!!!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.