Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Such an impressive collection on its own!    Really glad you got that recent one with the reverser and fun to watch it self-reverse in slow motion 

We may like all the little variations, but our wives probably think differently 

  Wow.  Nice group well displayed.  Enjoyable video
with good info.

  So, I have a particular interest in the #43
with the pump.  I have one, with the pump,
and it all looks good but the pump will not
go up or down.  It twists in the tube and the
knob and threads are in good shape.  It does
not appear anyone ever went gorilla trying to
fix it.

  In your video you mention that you had one
apart to replace the bearing and spring.  How
easily did it come apart and did you need a new
bearing and spring?  If it is a straightforward fix
I'm up for the try.  Your video already put me
closer.

  Otherwise, I had to replace the heater as the
original was a burnout.  It was caused, no doubt,
by water dribbling down the sides of the boiler
when filling (bad engineering).  I didn't do it!!!!
I replaced it with a 200 watt cartridge heater.  The
engine runs at a leisurely pace because 200 watts
is not much, but it is never likely to burn the boiler.
I'm thinking of upping it to at least 300 watts.  That
would give it some giddyap.

Happy EMPIRE owner, looking for a water-pump accessory,
Wayne   

Thanks again to Nick for the tip on the reversing engine in the video.

Here are a few photos from my shoot.

Family Portrait:

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My earliest B-43 with Oscillating Engine and Chrome Boiler Bands:

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B-43 with Pressure Valve (only produced in 1933):

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No. 43:

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