Repairing in Steam Days10/29/2017 Service as Given in the Year 1900 (Article Courtesy of the Automobile Trade Journal). By J.W Cottrell The proprietor of one of the first four Locomobile service stations in the United States is still in the Automobile business. His comparison of service as it was known 25 years ago with that of today will only bring a smile to the face of the newcomer in the industry, but the old-timers to whom a 30-mile trip without a stop was an adventure, will remember and understand.
When the first automobiles used in Philadelphia were run down the gravel surfaced road to Atlantic city, known then and now as the White Horse Pike, the owners always stopped halfway on their journey at Hammonton, N.J. There they found service, a man with tools and equipment and knowledge to restore the cars to running condition again. Al Patten, proprietor of a bicycle store in Hammonton on Bellevue Avenue, then a part of the White Horse Pike, started repairing automobiles before there was a single sales agency in Philadelphia. The early cars coming to him were Locomobile and other steamers and he designed and used a plan of standing the car on end while working on the boiler that was a forerunner of later service station equipment. Burned out boilers, due to low water, were common repair jobs in those days. The boilers wee made with steel shells and copper tubes. When the water ran low the copper tubes shrank at the bottom and allowed water and steam to leak out. Sometimes the tubes could be re-caulked, but often new tubes were required. To get at the tubes from underneath the car was a hard job, so Mr Patten rigged up a heavy block and tackle from a second story window of his store. When a boiler was to be repaired the car was backed on the sidewalk near the front of the store, the tackle fastened to the front axle and the front of the car bodily hoisted leaving the rear wheels on the ground.
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Re-birth of a Model R10/25/2017 Jordan Levy writes: "Here are some pics of my R project that I wanted to share - John/ Justin/Grant Goold and Don Bourdon, assembling it at Don's shop. The body was the first R Mark Johnston had made (wish he was here to see it)." Lost Steam Car For Sale10/18/2017 Coming up for sale at Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Auction on 3rd November 2017, is the 1902 Toledo Junior, who's whereabouts has been unknown for some time. It turns out that it had been in a European collection for this time. The Toledo Junior was a smaller version of the Model A Toledo, but had a smaller, open engine rather than the larger, enclosed engine used on other Toledo models. It also had a smaller water tank; a smaller, open (rather than enclosed) differential; and side tiller rather than centre tiller steering. Unused for a number years, the car will more than likely need some work, but we hope to see it returning to the road one day in the future. Also for sale at the same auction is the unique 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart. Check out this, recently found in a photocopy from Horseless age from our archives, dated September the 18th 1901. Electric Water Gauge lights appear to be nothing new!:
" A new appliance for steam carriages has lately been placed upon the market by A.L Dyke, of St. Louis. It consists of an electric miniature lamp and the accompanying battery and push button for lighting up the water gauge at night. The water gauge on a steam carriage always needs close attention, and after dark a good light for lighting it up so as to reflect the water level from the mirror on the dash is absolutely necessary. The incandescent lamp of this outfit is provided with a socket ready for screwing onto the side of the carriage back of the lamp; the push button, which is a small "midget" push with pearl button, is placed in the arm of the seat directly in front of the throttle lever. The batteries, which are very small, are screwed under the seat. The battery, lamp, and push button are connected by a small wire. By pushing the button a full glare is thrown on the water gauge and reflected from the mirror. The light is not intended to remain lighted at all times, but merely as a flash light. The battery is said to last several months without any attention, and is quite inexpensive." Grout Restoration Progressing9/4/2017 Billings Cooke writes:
"The Grout's rebuilt engine is now hanging back in place. Now, on with the plumbing". Light Steam Power at 2017 Great Dorset8/29/2017 8 Steam Cars were exhibited at the 49th Great Dorset Steam Fair, between the 24th-28th August. With superb weather, a great time was had by all. Steam Cars in Stithians8/23/2017 Despite unsettled weather, a good time was had by all those who attended the 2017 Cornish Steam and Country Fair at Stithians Showground. A number of steam cars attended, and attracted much interest from the visiting public. After taking part in the Woodstock tour in Vermont the British team and cars traveled 120 miles to Bennington Vermont to re run the 2008 steam car tour held there. Thank you Don Bourdon, Stephanie Torrijos and Mike and Kathryn May for organising the Vermont tour. We all enjoyed it so much and appreciated it so much. THANKS again. Day two of Vermont Steam Car tour8/9/2017 80 plus miles of steaming in sunshine was the order of the day. Three Stanleys sent from England arrive in Woodstock Vermont . They will be participating in the Steam Car tour and then journey on for two more weeks touring around Vermont. Alan and Clair Barkley will be driving a model 70, Steve Baldock will be driving a model R and Basil Craske will drive a model K. In the photos below you can see the cars being unloaded. 1894 Enrico Trinci Steam Tricycle7/28/2017 Check out this video of the 1894 Enrico Trinci Steam powered Tricycle! 1901 Porter Stanhope Painted7/24/2017 George Hounslow's restoration of his 1901 Porter Stanhope continues. The car has just been superbly painted by George's friend Edward Gray, and is soon to be pinstriped, and is now being reassembled. MIKKEL POSSELT
Looks really good, George! REPLY A Collection of Stanley Steam Powered Cars were on display at the Cartier Style et Luxe concours d'elegance at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed, between 28th June-2nd July. Robin Hamilton won the "Full Steam ahead-120 years of the Stanley Motor Carriage" prize with his 1902 Stanley B. A great time was had by all who attended. The final day of the Steam car Club tour6/24/2017 A great week of touring the English countryside in Steam cars . The National Steam Car Associations Tour6/22/2017 The tour finished on the 18th June. around 5 cars attended. |
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