Introduction
This all started after a visit to the
Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway on
5th September 2010.
I saw the row of stationary engines,
which I had seen several times before, and engaged into conversation with
the owner of the kindling wood chopping machine powered by a stationary
engine.
He recommended that I should have a look
at the magazine called "Stationary Engine Magazine". So I searched the web
and found the web site and ordered a copy of the magazine.
The magazine soon arrived. On nearly
the last page I saw the advert shown adjacent for "The Economy" stationary
engine which is a half full sized engine and based upon a "Sparta" Economy
1½ HP Model "E" so the model should produce about 0.2HP. My research
has shown that the Economy engines were built by Hercules and sold by Sears
& Roebuck. They were originally built by the Holms Machine Works in Sparta,
Michigan. They were built in Sparta, USA from 1910 until late 1913.
I made enquiries and had very rapid responses
to my emails. I decided to sell one of my G Scale steam locomotives to fund
the new engine. With the loco sold I ordered, on 22nd September 2010,
the castings, the finished piston rings, gears and a spark plug. On Wednesday
29th September 2010 it all arrived - excellent service from the
supplier.
However it is sad that the plans
do not include any building/assembly instructions so the assembly sections
on the web site will be as full as I can make them to help other
builders. I understand that the supplier is proposing to do a
book but its still on the "to-do" list (as at 6th December 2010)!
24th November 2010 The engine
ran properly ( well nearly fully properly hit and miss and a few minor items
still to sort out) for the first time on
11th December 2010
This time the engine started
much more easily and the Hit & Miss action operated but the crank is
showing fatigue and the big end has a knock !!!! Still is it more interesting
than it running perfectly and nothing to do !!!
14th December 2010
With the flywheels balanced the engine
ran much more smoothly, the speed control operated well infact a very good
run. |
