Antique model steam engine kids toy

[Bentwings]

Does anyone remember in the 50’so or so a model steam engine and boiler mounted on a wood board probable from Sears Roebuck or Montgomery wards.?
I had one I got for Christmas years ago it was my favorite toy for years then it disappeared in a move I’ve searched collectors snd visited many antique shows some devoted to mis toys it was a simple single cylinder reciprocating engine with an electric boiler . Hade a loud whistle and simple safety valve. Had a flywheel and throttle valve the flywheel had a v groove that fit spring belt drives from erector sets . I had a huge erector set collection. It had a model lift bridge that I ran with the steam engine I think it was a rather expensive toy in its day the boiler was highly polished chrome plated or maybe even stainless steel as it never rusted in the years I had it Montgomery wards had a similar one that ran model machine shop machines . I think a hammer mill and a saw I didn’t have this one my friend did but mine was better fore erector set things it blew off enough moisture to act as humidifier in the winter my mom used to yell at me when I blew the whistle too much of course the engine exhaust was pretty wet so I had to have a towel on the floor when running it .
Anyway does any one remember these? I’d like to have one or something similar just to have as a home fun thing to run occasionally I remember the cats not liking it

byron

 

[rickhann]

Empire made small toy engines with
shiny boilers as did Jensen. I suggest you do a google search on ebay for either Empire or Jensen steam engines. Good luck. Rick

 

[Bentwings]

Thanks for the information I’ll do the searching. I have found a couple of interesting twin cylinder model steam engines from the UK I have not found suitable boiler. I would much prefer an electric one rather than kerosene or other fuel but maybe a propane would be ok . Apparently these engines can run on compressed air so I suppose I could live with one of the super quiet ones if necessary . My late son had one that you could hardly hear running standing right next to it quieter than home vacuum cleaner by far . But real steam would not fit the nostalgia scheme of things. They don’t give these engines away that’s for sure they do offer an in machined kit so I could actually finish one in our shop . I don’t see well at all so you will occasionally see misspelled words that I miss. I tried TIG welding which I really liked doing but looking at two seams as I see with this double vision is near impossible I have to use a magnifying glass to read micrometer or “ vary near” as we cal calipers I’m not even supposed to be in the shop I actually can set the lathe and mill up but I have to be extra careful we have digital readouts but they don’t work taking a micro cut I have several bi focal safety glasses that help but I have to be super careful in the shop. I’ve tried eye patch but that’s not realy very good

but thanks again I’m going to do some more searching
Byron

 

[kuhncw]

I still have the Jensen I got for Christmas when I was a kid. Was my favorite toy.

Check out ministeam.com. They have some machined kits and finished models.

Regards,

Chuck

 

[Rustkolector]

Hey Chuck, I got my Jensen for Christmas also when I was about 11. A model 35. Had a lot of fun with it and I still have it, and a couple more. Hard to believe Jensen Steam Engine Manufacturing Co. is still in business after 88 years....and still building steam engines.
Jeff
Jensen Steam Engine's only concession to high technology!!!!

 

[a41capt]

I lusted after a Jensen steam engine set as a child, but when your old man is a cop, and you have 5 siblings, there’s never enough money to go for these types of gifts. Maybe I’ll buy one for my grandson instead!

http://jensensteamengines.com/hobby/h25.htm

 

[Bentwings]

I looked these up and there are some really cool steam engines. I like the two cyl one best the boiler is alcohol fired. I may be able to get alcohol at my sons race at shop a good deal cheaper than at the home stores. I don’t really like this type. I’d rather have a propane burner. I could possibly build my own boiler electrically heated or propane. Stainless steel tubing I available from many race car part suppliers not cheap of course I have a suitable lathe so it would be possible to spin form a dome end cap then polish it I’m vision impaired enough now that tig welding it would be near impossible however I’ve been teaching my grandson and he could do a nice job welding the end caps I have double regulators so back purging would not be hard thus giving a near perfect weld. Certainly enough for the pressures these little engines run at .
so thanks for the leads . Those little engines aren’t cheap LOL I’ll follow up if I decid to purchase one . I’ve even given thought to connecting two of them since my favorite locomotives are double chested. We even have a Marley that I saw as skid pulling iron ore trains out of the mines here in minn.

Yron

 

[a41capt]

I agree regarding TIG welding up my own boiler. I’m still capable enough and I have stainless tubing as well. Besides, I’m certainly able to machine my own 3/4X3/4 double acting engine. That’d probably mean more to my grandsons than buying one for them. Source a couple valves and buy the generator kit, and voilà!

John W

 

[Bentwings]

The one I had was like the d 24 but it didn’t have the fake brick fire box. As I recall it was plane flat black with chrome or polished stainless boiler otherwise pretty close I don’t remember the price but about $15.00 or do I know it was quite expensive in the day. I don’t think credit cards were available yet but I think wards and Sears had something like charge accounts
Byton

 

[kuhncw]

I was wrong. My toy steam engine is a Weeden, not a Jensen.

Chuck

 

[Bentwings]

Thanks for the leads I’ve explored these for a whole day now and I’m like the big musky fish nibbling on the minnow. I think I’m hooked LOL
SO FAR MY INTEREST IS IN SOMETHING ALONG THE OPERATION OF THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TYPE ENGING PISTON VALVE OR PROBABLY CALED SLIDE VALVE TO STEAMERS . I like the twin cylinders so far a recip is tooo simple I’m not German (overly complex things) but I like motion things

I saw one twin that was running at really high speed . While cool I don’t realy need that . Also I’ve been looking at various boilers . Not real interested in pellet fueled ones. I’m not sure how much electric heat would be required I’d like to stay at house hold 120 volt ant not excessive current . Many of these run on compressed air I found some really quiet air compressors that I could live with they don’t take a lot of electric power to run either. Push comes to shove a boiler could add to the humidity in the house .lol it can get really dry here in the winter probably not the most energy but to have something like this running part of the day would be fun . I tan my original model steam engine all the time and it never wore out . I did oil it regularly so I suppose that helped I’ve noticed a number oil systems even greasers so it would be a small maintenance issue . But a fun thing rather than something like a chore cutting the dam grass in the summer or shoveling the dam snow in winter. So far the sterling ones seem nice. There is one from the IK that I really like.They done exactly give these away but since I sold my boat and closed the storage locker I could justify a fancy toy . You never out grow the need for toys. I likegiant scale Rc warbirds but my vision issues have crossed out even building them now . Can only follow forums and add occasional comments. I’m trying to learn more about steamers of late I’m finding it very interesting I did find a machine able kit that had some interest but again I’m limited as to what I can do in reality . I’m going to keep looking around .
Thanks all for the comments and leadd

 

[Bentwings]

I’m quickly finding out that I’m a real neophyte on these steam engines . I’m trying to catch up on boiler basics I’m feeling like a blank page. I’m thing it would be safest to shy away from fuel heated boilers and look more toward electric even though it might cost more. The closest thing to a boiler in my house is my ever present coffee maker. I had a percolator my mom gave me years ago it was probably from early post war years I had it got many years snd it made the best coffee. I even had her old pressure cooker . After reading about kitchen explosions of these things I’m glad it disappeared in a move . A simple boiler would be ok but I can see that some kind of higher heated steam will be more efficient . I just don’t have the technology yet. I saw a stainless steel one made by metal spinning the domed end caps and nice welding . This I can do or supervise training my grand son. My lathe can easily handle the spinning I may have to make a roller tool but that’s just an easy thing . Material is readily available a plain standard air tank would be ok up to 125 psi maybe a little more with a good safety valve. I’ve seen one air vessel explosion in the R&D lab I worked in and I realy don’t want to be around another . A house we lived in in my early years had an old octopus furnace . My job was to take linkers out and fill the coal stoker. I was scared to death of the thing LOL

 

[mrehmus]

I've got a Jensen 68-16503 boiler and engine and and the 68-16504 power tools workshop. Never fired it up.

 

[Steamchick]

Hi Byron. Sorry to hear about your double vision. I see 2 overlapping moons with one eye without glasses, but your affliction sounds much worse. Can the opticians do nothing to help?
In the UK there are a couple of different brands that are common - others less so.
Mamod ( or later Mechano) made thousands of engines with boilers. Just little oscillators, but there are loads on 3&@y and fairly cheap, but not sure how much for export cost to USA. The smallest here can be bought for $50 or thereabouts. (but just whizzes fast and can't power anything). I make ceramic gas burners for some so I can send you a simple design. But making your own piston valve engine and boiler is straightforward - so you can teach your son how to make His engine and Boiler. Because there are so many collectors the "extras" are plentiful. safety valves, whistles, washers, etc. Boilers are brass.
Next Willesco. (German I think?) possibly considered a "better job" than Mamod by some as they use a piston valve engine. But still cheap tinplate anyway. Brass boilers are chrome plated, with a glass end window so you can watch the water disappear! I have a "traction engine" styled model I bought, to find out about them. Drop one and you get a lot of bent metal! Mine had bent bits not visible until I ran it. And with meths the paint burns off.
Try searching 3&@y anyway and see what you find.
K2

 

[Bentwings]

I’ve been to the eye clinic twice 3 different docs tested me trying every thing but there is no mechanical thing or glasses that will work . I had a virtual visit with the neurologist too. She said the stroke damaged the brain in just a very small but critical spot for not hearing and sight. There is nothing that can be done all suggested an eye patch but I’ve already tried that and that doesent work either . I’ve tried drawing a straight line with a ruler and practiced tig welding moves but that precision is gone too . So it’s frustrating. I use a magnifying glass just to read micrometer and tape measure. Operating the lathe or mill is probably dangerous so I have my son or grand son stand by. I’m instructing grand son in tig welding. He is doing quite well. It’s hard to praise when you really can’t see the quality . I have a number of bi focal safety glasses that help but it’s still frustrating. Just typing here is a challenge.

ive really interested in these model steam engines. I found a twin cylinder slide valve from the UK that I like I don’t know how much pressure or volume it needs.
So my next question after looking at a number of boiler builds on YouTube . Is how much pressure do these need . The boiler builds simply scare me I wouldn’t put a fire in any I’ve seen so far. I have a California super quiet air compressor. You can stand next to it and barely hear it run yet it will produce 120 psi I forget the cam but my grand son uses it on the shop got air tools it had a dryer do the sir is pretty good from it. They realy are not that expensive in the smaller sizes.
Bak yo boilers, do they really need the super heated steam and higher pressures to run thes engines. Since they are really just assembly kits cleaning and inspection should be pretty easy, I doubt I’d clime up with anything that would require super power or very high rpm as expensive as they are I’d get get more enjoyment just watching it run doing some simple thing like maybe an automatic paper punch. I think I could dream up this or maybe a staple remover . Automation was a big part of my engineering career and I try to keep up with it today . Maybe I could make a generator to power a reading light or charger for this iPhone something to give it a purpose in life . I’ve had to give up most of my hobbies, dog training streetrods, Rc airplanes sports so this will just be something yo keep my mind going it’s hard getting old LOL I have a wonderful cat but cats are much more difficult to train but she does walk on a leash and plays in the home.
I baggy remember a popular mechanics magazine article that had a steam engine build with a boiler. The boiler had a duper heating system similar to Er steam engines even at the time it looked scary if I recal correctly it had over 200 psi . Not realy something I was interested in building even then . My Lionel smoker was plenty for me then . My street tod guys visited s scale railroader that had a large scale locomotive that tan at the local park pulling kids around the playground. He had a trailer with tracks on it as he went to events with the machine. It had a very high pressure boiler on it . Kitty I looking for lunch so time to go for now I appreciate the comments
Byron

 

[Steamchick]

Hi Byron,
Sorry to hear of your health issues. I've just finished cancer radiotherapy (minor) and off to dentist today. - just routine servicing. I can't imagine your difficulties, so well done for "keeping on".
I suggest you consider for your ideas of a simple low powered demo model a twin - say a V-twin double acting oscillator, with simple 2-directional in/exhaust valve for forward and reverse. These run at 5 ~30psi.
My smallest demo shown below:
Recently I fitted a generator and lamp to a boiler + engine combination. The engine idles at 5psi without generator, but needs >20 ~25psi to happily run the generator and light the lamp, which is just a fraction of a watt of LED. Maybe that will give you some idea of why pressures go up dramatically when the engine is doing more than just idling? = see attached.
First picture shows a pressure test. - Just so you can see how safe we make boilers in the workshop. This one is a very simple 2" diameter outer tube, inner tube (flue) and 2 end plates. But the superheater is the steam feed pipe taken down the flue to the firebox and out - very simple and effective.

Next is the engine and burner (partly hidden by test gauge connection):

The burner is a very simple ceramic (no 5 jet: butane, or no 3 jet Propane).
Next is an old refrigerator compressor: A Tiny volume of air at up to 90 psi. I got it in the 1970s off a scrap fridge! - I use it for air pressure tests, safety valve tests - and idling anything up to 1" bore x 1" stroke and 20psi running (depends on demand). It idles the little engine quite fast without load. A bit of pressure in the tank and it powers the generator for short bursts over 20psi. A useful test air source...

The lamp-post I made - based on the first electric lamps in Sunderland High Street. (NOT Victorian gas lamps!).

I shall take full pictures if you want... (Lost the last set!). But it may give you some idea how small you can make a full set-up. The 2 1/2" diameter test gauge gives you an idea of overall size.
I'll do more pictures of a possible engine, and this model (steaming) when I have time to get back into the garage...
Cheers!
K2

 

[Bentwings]

I’ve been to the eye clinic twice 3 different docs tested me trying every thing but there is no mechanical thing or glasses that will work . I had a virtual visit with the neurologist too. She said the stroke damaged the brain in just a very small but critical spot for not hearing and sight. There is nothing that can be done all suggested an eye patch but I’ve already tried that and that doesent work either . I’ve tried drawing a straight line with a ruler and practiced tig welding moves but that precision is gone too . So it’s frustrating. I use a magnifying glass just to read micrometer and tape measure. Operating the lathe or mill is probably dangerous so I have my son or grand son stand by. I’m instructing grand son in tig welding. He is doing quite well. It’s hard to praise when you really can’t see the quality . I have a number of bi focal safety glasses that help but it’s still frustrating. Just typing here is a challenge.

ive really interested in these model steam engines. I found a twin cylinder slide valve from the UK that I like I don’t know how much pressure or volume it needs.
So my next question after looking at a number of boiler builds on YouTube . Is how much pressure do these need . The boiler builds simply scare me I wouldn’t put a fire in any I’ve seen so far. I have a California super quiet air compressor. You can stand next to it and barely hear it run yet it will produce 120 psi I forget the cam but my grand son uses it on the shop got air tools it had a dryer do the sir is pretty good from it. They realy are not that expensive in the smaller sizes.
Bak yo boilers, do they really need the super heated steam and higher pressures to run thes engines. Since they are really just assembly kits cleaning and inspection should be pretty easy, I doubt I’d clime up with anything that would require super power or very high rpm as expensive as they are I’d get get more enjoyment just watching it run doing some simple thing like maybe an automatic paper punch. I think I could dream up this or maybe a staple remover . Automation was a big part of my engineering career and I try to keep up with it today . Maybe I could make a generator to power a reading light or charger for this iPhone something to give it a purpose in life . I’ve had to give up most of my hobbies, dog training streetrods, Rc airplanes sports so this will just be something yo keep my mind going it’s hard getting old LOL I have a wonderful cat but cats are much more difficult to train but she does walk on a leash and plays in the home.
I baggy remember a popular mechanics magazine article that had a steam engine build with a boiler. The boiler had a duper heating system similar to Er steam engines even at the time it looked scary if I recal correctly it had over 200 psi . Not realy something I was interested in building even then . My Lionel smoker was plenty for me then . My street tod guys visited s scale railroader that had a large scale locomotive that tan at the local park pulling kids around the playground. He had a trailer with tracks on it as he went to events with the machine. It had a very high pressure boiler on it . Kitty I looking for lunch so time to go for now I appreciate the comments
Byron

That is a cool idea I had a similar idea of an overhead light like a antique street light. I recently found a dynamo or model generator kit as an accessory for a steam engine it produces 12 vdc and could drive a number of LED lights it doesn’t say how many rpm it needs but I’d guess any smal steamer could develope enough speed to run it at least for a while. It would be possible to connect this up to charge a lithium battery thanks for your kind words I learned in the hospital that there are no small strokes or minor cancers. So anything requiring a hospital is serious business. There have been a number of my car guys with cancers and not long ago one of the guys I played senior baseball with for year succumbed to cancer . Please take it easy . Live long and prosper as Spock says.

I have found a twin cyl mill steamer kit that I really like . It’s not cheap but does look very nice and reviews are good. Since I can’t play baseball , bowling football and eve night dangerous toddler winks ( potential eye injury) and I’ve sold my big boat and one of my streetrods I can probably afford this machine . Since these apparently don’t take nearly as much pressure to run I think the quiet air compressor would be a good alternate untill I could come up with a suitable boiler. I’ll try and add a link for this if I can’t I’ll make a new post. They also offer a number of neat accessories.
I can’t access the file so I’ll add it in a short time

byron

 

[Bentwings]

Hi Byron,
Sorry to hear of your health issues. I've just finished cancer radiotherapy (minor) and off to dentist today. - just routine servicing. I can't imagine your difficulties, so well done for "keeping on".
I suggest you consider for your ideas of a simple low powered demo model a twin - say a V-twin double acting oscillator, with simple 2-directional in/exhaust valve for forward and reverse. These run at 5 ~30psi.
My smallest demo shown below:
Recently I fitted a generator and lamp to a boiler + engine combination. The engine idles at 5psi without generator, but needs >20 ~25psi to happily run the generator and light the lamp, which is just a fraction of a watt of LED. Maybe that will give you some idea of why pressures go up dramatically when the engine is doing more than just idling? = see attached.
First picture shows a pressure test. - Just so you can see how safe we make boilers in the workshop. This one is a very simple 2" diameter outer tube, inner tube (flue) and 2 end plates. But the superheater is the steam feed pipe taken down the flue to the firebox and out - very simple and effective.View attachment 131676
Next is the engine and burner (partly hidden by test gauge connection):View attachment 131677
The burner is a very simple ceramic (no 5 jet: butane, or no 3 jet Propane).
Next is an old refrigerator compressor: A Tiny volume of air at up to 90 psi. I got it in the 1970s off a scrap fridge! - I use it for air pressure tests, safety valve tests - and idling anything up to 1" bore x 1" stroke and 20psi running (depends on demand). It idles the little engine quite fast without load. A bit of pressure in the tank and it powers the generator for short bursts over 20psi. A useful test air source...
View attachment 131678
The lamp-post I made - based on the first electric lamps in Sunderland High Street. (NOT Victorian gas lamps!).
View attachment 131680
I shall take full pictures if you want... (Lost the last set!). But it may give you some idea how small you can make a full set-up. The 2 1/2" diameter test gauge gives you an idea of overall size.
I'll do more pictures of a possible engine, and this model (steaming) when I have time to get back into the garage...
Cheers!
K2

Here is the place.

modelsteamco.uk

it may not wok directly so you might have to enter it separately

 

[Bentwings]

Here is the place.

modelsteamco.uk

it may not wok directly so you might have to enter it separately

I’m sorry I gave the incorrect website.

here is the correct one

chilternmodelsteamco.uk

 

[awake]

I wonder if the heating element from a "warm mist humidifier" (like this: Vicks Warm Moisture Humidifier - White/Blue) would generate enough steam?

Disclaimer: no affiliation with Target or with Vicks - just a product I have used for its intended purpose.