Help Identify an engine please.

[Ofcalipka]

I know this engine isn't a steam boat engine but it is a steam engine and it was given to me by someone who gave it to me because they knew I had a steam boat. Anyone know what this might be?

I looked it over and it needs a belt to drive the governor and one of the balls needs repair on the governor. also the boiler sight glass needs to be replaced and a few odd screws here and there. But I applied a little compressed air to her and it turned over nicely after a little oiling. So I don't believe it is too much of a basket case.

[Ofcalipka]

Sorry for the upside down photo. Honestly it was right side up when I loaded it.

[Aheadslow]

Hi What you have there is a very nice small shop engine. These small shop engines were used to operate a wide range of equipment, are their any markings anywhere on the engine? What are the length, width and height measurements. perhaps a pic of the valve chest.
I would also be interested in the size of the groove in the flywheel and the diameter . But it is a really great little engine

[Lopez Mike]

You might do a web search under the name Cretors Steam Engine. It looks like one of theirs. They were used in popcorn wagons. There are a bunch of collectors out there who can tell you a great deal.

Mike

[Ofcalipka]

Thanks, The flywheel measure 12 1/2" diameter and as far as I can tell there isn't a single marking anywhere that I've been able to locate yet.

[Bob Cleek]

You might do a web search under the name Cretors Steam Engine. It looks like one of theirs. They were used in popcorn wagons. There are a bunch of collectors out there who can tell you a great deal.

Mike

I'm with Mike... Probably a Cretors... There were several models. I believe there is also another nearly identical "popcorn engine" knocked off by another company called Coles. There are slight variations in the casting sizes between the two, probably because Coles used Cretors parts as patterns. Yours may be in need of restoration, but eminently restorable.

They were used to power popcorn poppers and peanut roasters in carnival wagons back in the day. Boiler heat popped the corn and roasted the peanuts. The engine turned the drums holding the corn and nuts so heating was even and the product didn't burn. The Cretors company remains in business today and is one of the largest popcorn popper and food concession machine manufacturers in the world. https://www.cretors.com/



http://www.cedesign.net/steam/cretors-d.htm



There was at one time a guy named Bob Pearson who had quite a business restoring the engines and the popcorn carts, horse drawn wagons and Ford Model AA trucks that Cretors built and sold back in the day. You still see the restorations operating at fairs and carnivals sometimes. Watching the steam engine work in the window of the wagon and hearing the steam whistle blow was part of the sales attraction of it all. The engines were meant to be watched and were nickel plated. From what I've read, the engines themselves are not exceedingly rare, but finding all the accessories (guages, governors, etc.) can be something of a challenge.

http://www.classicsteamengineering.com/ ... opic=694.0

Check around. Parts seem to be available and one outfit still makes kits for them in half and full scale.

http://www.myersengines.com/engines/popcorn_engine.htm

[Bob Cleek]

Thanks, The flywheel measure 12 1/2" diameter and as far as I can tell there isn't a single marking anywhere that I've been able to locate yet.

I'm no expert, but if you look at the above photos, you'll see that the Cretors trademark was prominently displayed on a metal plate fastened to the front apron of the bedplate with three machine bolts. That name plate is missing on your machine, but it looks like the bolt holes are there.

[Lopez Mike]

The reason I recommended a web search was to save myself all that typing!

Yes, there is more than one size. I have had three of them in the shop over the years. Most things about them are easy to return to good running condition but the governor can be a bit of a fiddle. Anything that small with light forces is tricky to get running right. I have cheated and used some Teflon packings where no one would see them. The ones I've worked on were nickle plated I think.

When I was small the trip to the state fair wasn't complete without a bit of time watching the popcorn wagon engine.

I had no idea they were still in business.

Mike

[Bob Cleek]

The typing is no sweat. I do it for a living... about as fast as I can talk.

Gotta love those popcorn wagons. (Google is your friend: http://www.google.com/search?aq=&rlz=1T ... ygHz44CYCA)



There is still a popcorn wagon much like the above at the Marin Co., CA, fair every year, 4th of July weekend. IIRC, the steam engine has been repowered so it looks like it is running, but doesn't run on steam. I'll have to check that out if I get to the fair this year. When I was a kid growing up in San Francisco, there was a guy who had one and always parked it down on Bay Street by Aquatic Park which was about the only place back then you could go swimming in the Bay. (Now Girardelli Square.) We'd buy popcorn from him all the time. His truck was pretty beat up. The one above was obviously completely restored. They used to park them outside theaters in the evenings and people would buy popcorn for the movies from them before going into the theater. Then Cretors started making electric popcorn machines that could be installed in the theater itself and that pretty much killed the popcorn wagons and trucks.

I found an address, but no phone or website, for the guy who used to restore the engines as well as the carts, truck and wagons that Cretors put them in.

Pearson Creations
1055 Wyckford Rd., Olathe, KS 66061
PO Box 638, Olathe, KS 66051