Steam Car Blog

The Hood Steam Car, produced in Massachusetts by the Simplex Motor Vehicle Company between 1900 and 1901. It featured a single-acting, four cylinder engine with a magnetic admission valve, with the exhaust ports being opened by the pistons. The intake valves were operated by three small electric batteries, and superheated steam was produced in a flash boiler. 

Little more is known of this make of Steam Car, if you have any further information please contact us. Anthony Theriault is looking for more information on the marque, and provided the photos of a survivor below. 

With the smoke Bonnet and flu now fit I thought I would fit the rear body cover. The flue opens to the left and right with a centrally
located steam jet , a "T" fitting , to help with drawing a good draft for the burner.
Here's what the rear end looks like minus the fenders.
Billings Cooke

Here are some photos of the cars Bill Barnes has recently been working on.  A Stanley 740 tourer, 731 Roadster, SV Sedan, 1914 Stanley 606, and a 1923 Stanley 740 Roadster. 

I've gotten to the point I needed the seat in place so that I could get the throttle linkage finished as well as the linkage for engine hook-up and reverse.
Billings Cooke

I have just had the squabs and arms of the front seats recovered on Lucy because these original parts were beyond repair for use. Garry Stephens of Hayle did the job and it has toned in very well. Well done Garry! All they need now is a bit of use and a little steam oil discolouration.

Bob Dyke
Today Lucy came out for a steam up to see if work needs to be done. Really she behaved very well but just had pilot light problems which I will need to sort. I could of course only drive her about 40 yards up my yard which is an old farmyard. She is a 1908 White Model “L” steam powered 20hp car equivalent to a 40hp petrol car.

Another day on the tour in Roanoke ,Va this is a 1916 Stanley. Daryl Kendall

We've switched from work on the '03 Grout to a more modern '12 Stanley. On last year's tour in Ohio "Stan's"water tank started to leak. It is now with Chuck Niles of American Honey Comb Radiator in Maine for some solder repair work.
He was also suffering with a nasty noise from the rear axle. With help from Bill Barnes that's been repaired and we're now working to get it refit under the car.
Don't know when it will be, but when life returns to normal we'll have both cars ready to steam.
Billings Cooke

With the National Steam Car Association now closing here is the heading photo the organisation used.

Steam car photos to enjoy .

Grout Steam car restoration update

Billings Cooke
It was really a good day in the Cooke garage today. After sitting dormant for almost 25 years Tilly is now showing the first signs of life. With the new pilot tank mounted in place and the feed lines to the pilot all run and pressure checked , I thought it would be nice and light the pilot.
The pilot is burning Coleman fuel and running currently at 20 pounds PSI pressure. After a short preheating. I open the valve allowing the fuel into the pilot. It lit with absolutely no difficulty. It's settled down nicely after getting thoroughly hot. I know that adjustments will need to be made. They will be made at a later date when I'm able to get the car outside.
I've included in this post a photo of
the new pilot tank in position and the burner when viewed from the left side and the right side. Sarah came out and took this short video of what for Tilly is a rebirth. Now if this damn snow would disappear I'd really be happy.

Steam Dreams writes:
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I’m rebuilding a 20 HP Stanley engine. The block was apparently operated with too
little steam oil and the valve seats were damaged as well as a bronze repair was attempted with poor results.
This repair of the worn valve seats uses a machined steel plate and high temperature silver solder - very pleased with the results. Gilbert Hall and Rempco did the work. My crank gear also had a broken tooth, I had a NOS gear that was pressed on.

Mark Herman writes:

Amelia Island 2020, 1st in class, 1902 Grout Brothers Steam Car Model K Prototype. Bill and Barbara Parfet, Hickory Corners, Michigan.

Congratulations to the Parfets, Mark Iles, and the M S Herman & Co crew:
Peter Kruger
Fran Gozzi
Al Romano
Scot Sanford
Tom Kokenchak
The best team ever.

Billings Cooke continues to work on his Grout Steam Car Tilly:
"From what we can gather from photos of other Grouts, Tilly originally had 1 brake on the differential hub. Dad put a cable pulley system on Tilly when he added the second shoe. It's a tight fit, because the brake linkage has to pass through the engine. Took me a bit, but we're upgraded to rods."

We regret to report that the British Steam Car Movement has recently lost two of it's members.

Richard Marriott passed away on the 21st February, after his long battle with cancer. He had restored the 1922 Stanley 740 Valentines Massacre Car, and was well along with restoring a 1906 White Model F.

And Brian McMorran, who was progressing well with his wood pellet fired BMC Mini.

We send our condolences to their families. 

Burt Hermey
Email
cbhermey@pacbell.net
Car Information
Parts quest
I recently re-cored the condenser of my 1922 Stanley 740. When I got the car last July some parts were missing, among them the condenser inlet elbow. Posting some "wanteds" on another site I found Allen Blazick, in Fremont, California. He has more than a dozen Stanleys in various states of repair, from Museum/Concours quality to "diamond in the rough". I inquired if he might entertain a visit where I might take pictures of interiors and interior construction, and also possibly purchase some parts. He has a large collection of parts, and proved to be quite helpful! My sedan has no interior. I wanted to take photos of similar cars to see how the rear floor, with jump seats was constructed, as well as interior panels and upholstery materials. I was invited to explore to my heart's content.

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Tom Attwood writes:
This weekend just past, saw the first steaming of the year for my Stanley 726 that I was lucky enough to acquire just a few months ago. Greatly encouraged in the purchase by George Hounslow having spent the New Forest Tour navigating for him on his Porter Steam Car. I am incredibly grateful to George and his parents for then leading the recommission of the car, sorting out a number of jobs associated with wear and tear, as well as preparation and arranging a hydraulic and steam boiler test. A number of safety improvements/replacement parts, not to mention extremely good tuition in maintenance, management and driving! After many weekends work from myself but 10x more from George, we had a very successful 3 days cruising around Wiltshire in some pretty challenging terrain at times. The Stanley performed faultlessly and I really couldn't be happier with it! Here's to a busy 2020!
Unfortunately the weather has been rotten and the roads are filthy so the car got quite dirty, the photo below was taken Sunday morning. However, Sunday afternoon was spent in the garage cleaning for a few hours!

Billings Cooke is fitting a new burner to the Grout steam car he has been restoring.

Stanley 1923 ,740 Stanley
Almost done
Piston Valve engine
Looking good
Billy Barnes

GMA engineering have produced these replacement burners for White Steam Cars built from 1906 onwards.

Billings Cooke has now fitted the Don Bourdon Burner to his Grout Steam Car, replacing the original burner, seen in the photos.