Anyone know of this engine?

A special section just for steam engines and boilers, as without these you may as well fit a sail.
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Maltelec
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Anyone know of this engine?

Post by Maltelec » Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:04 am

A guy called Ralph Mellusi from New York has contacted me asking if any of us know details of the engine which will be pictured below.

It has been in his shed for a long time and was built in 1933.

Its a triple expansion engine, though I recon most people would guess that. To me it looks like a model builder has built it given all the small bolts holding it together, or they were bored one day in a factory.

Given the tiny steam valve control and the mini lever for the valve gear I would imagine it is a scale model of a large factory engine.
I've got the vehicle, just need the boat.
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Maltelec
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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by Maltelec » Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:05 am

Image

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I've got the vehicle, just need the boat.
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Akitene
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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by Akitene » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:38 pm

Hello Maltelec,

That IS a very nice engine! Looks like a very big working model with something like a 3" stroke - only guesstimate. I'm very intrigued by the 3 valve covers: they definitley look like piston valves. I've never heard of triple expansion engines fitted with 3 piston valves.

This engine deserves a general overhaul. Il lacks a decent boiler. But I'm sure it could fit well in a 15 to 20' hull.

Regards.
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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by gondolier88 » Sat Oct 01, 2011 4:49 pm

I would suggest it might be based on the John Bertinat triple, but scaled up by at least twice with a modified cylinder block?

see here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC9ApEl2boI

Greg
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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by SL Ethel » Sun Oct 02, 2011 12:28 am

There are other triples out there with piston valves on all three cylinders. I bought a 27' tug a couple of years ago that has a 2.5+4+6x4 (approximate) triple with conventional single piston valves on each expansion. No builders identification. However, mine is clearly a small working engine and not a scale model of a larger engine.

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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by steamboatjack » Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:32 am

This is obviously a scale model of a large sea going engine, I'm not sure it would be suitable as a launch engine but it certainly would clean up to make a teriffic item and worth a good some. Piston valves on all cylinders was not unusual on large engines.
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Re: Anyone know of this engine?

Post by mtnman » Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:48 pm

What does the brass tag on the frame say?
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