Serial numbers on a 10 Hp Russell

Hi, my family owns a 10hp Russell steam engine. It was restored about 10 years ago and the people that restored it told us it was made in 1886. I was wondering where the serial number on our engine would be located? Is there a web site that has a list of the serial numbers and the years they were made out there anywhere? If not a web site are there any books with this information in them? If the serial number is long gone is there any other way to find the year, by a casting number off one of the parts? Thanks for your help, Nick

My 1883 10hp Russell has number 2212 stamped on the crosshead, not the guide but the moving part. Also is stamped "T R &Co" on the crosshead. With or Without a number you might have to go by meachanical features to estimate a date. Around mid 80's, the design was changing every year. So, if you work at it you should be able to make a good estimate of the year. I am not aware of a serial number vs year listing. there maybe one out there.

The Henry Ford Museum has copies of the 1886 and 1889 Catalogs. These can be seen by apointment. That museum is well worth a visit (dearborn mich). Used to be able to request copies, not cheep but worht it if you have a desire to study Russell history. In 1883, the engines were horse steered. In 1886 they still show the old style cross head, but the curve spokes were now straight. In 1889 the engine has the more modern cylinder cast with the guide, as they were from then on. Russell had a some steering variations around mid 80's. The early Russells are interesting because they were significant contributors to the development of the traction engine. You might post an image and get more responce.

Catalog pictures are not very reliable for exact dating, but a careful read of consecutive year catalogs will often reveal introduction of new mechanical features that maybe pretty reliable indicators.

You might also purchase a copy of "Encyclopedia Of American Steam Traction Engines" by Jack Norbeck. He has a full chapter on Russell with illustrations of the 1887 engines. That has the new style crosshead, but primitive steering. You really have to read the text in these catalogs, because the engravings often show an older model. One thing you can count on, if your engine looks newer than the 1887 engraving, then it is probably newer and then some.

hope this helps, peter

My error, if your engine looks newer than the 1887 engravings it might infact be an 1887, because the catalog engravings will often lag the engine design. I do believe the text is usually right up to date on braggin' about the latest new introduced mechanical features. Or sometimes saying introduce on our xxx hp last year and used on all engines this year. &etc...

[Beth V]

Hey Nick aka Boss1886,

Did you ever find your serial number?

I seem to recall you or Andy telling me a story of the engine being parked on the former owner's front porch?

Here is the CUTE little Russell tail to tail with the New's 25 hp Kitten at Wauseon last year. What's the story? Did you have to tighten the belt for him on the Kitten separator?

Beth

[Jeff W B]

If you find the number go to the Russell Collectors web site they have a number list with date of manufacture.
Jeff

[30-90 Russell]

Most of the time on a Russell engine that does not have the bar type cross head the serial number should be stamped on the flywheel side, on the face of the crank shaft. There should be a stamping of the engine number some where on the engine bed to. Hope this helps.

Zach

[BannerBoy]

That's hitting a little below the "belt" there Beth Our Kitten will pull itself out of just about anything. Since the original owner had the skid rings ground off at the factory when he bought it steering it out of what it gets into is another matter entirely....

[Beth V]

Hi Andy!

Hey, I wasn't out to offend.....just making an observation

After all, I did call that Russell "CUTE" again! ..which it is!

I bought your Kitten Meow Mix at Greenville...

Beth

[TheBoss16806]

WOW Beth you must have been doin some digging to find this one.

Yes, I did find the serial number not long after I posted this thread in 2002; it’s on the crosshead #4845. One of steams’ greatest legends Keith M.. stopped by one day to let us know he had found some more parts to The Boss and showed us where the almost rusted away serial number was hiding.

According to the Russell Collectors web site it shows The Boss to be manufactured in 1889. That’s a good year our 10hp Advance is also an 1889. So our barn has two 10hp steam engines from 1889 how often do you see that. Our family as decided to only acquire 10hp engines from 1889. So, let me know if there are any out there available.

Now our story starts out in Greensburg, Indiana in the mid to late 60’s when Grandpa went to an auction to look at a steam engine. Now Grandpa wasn’t the only one, also at this action were many well known steam guys my uncle Tracy Porter, his father Laurence Porter, Al and Alan New, Keith M and many others. Grandpa had always enjoyed old tractors and desired to have a steam engine one day. The Russell wasn’t the only engine at this auction Alan could fill you in on what else was there. The Russell was missing many parts and that may be one of the reasons that Grandpa got it instead of someone else. Little did Grandpa or others know that these missing parts where in boxes in one of the barns and luckily Keith purchased a few of these. Grandpa ended up with the Russell for $310 the exact amount of cash in his wallet. The Boss had been parked atop a hill for many of years. In its stay on the hill overlooking the farm it had sunk deep into the dirt. Grandpa had to dig his newly acquired steam engine out of the dirt which was no easy task. After this task The Boss was brought home on a lowboy. Now where to put this so everyone can see and enjoy it was the question in Grandfathers head. Next to Grandpa’s newly built home which he built himself was a dilapidated 1880’s two story farm house with a huge front porch which just happened to be the same level as the lowboy. So that’s where The Boss spent the next few decades watching over our family. Then in 1993 Grandpa’s engine was moved and taken to the Rushville show where it stayed on the trailer for all to see the before. Over the next year Grandpa and B&B brought The Boss back to its glory. Grandpa had two years of worth of shows where he enjoyed running and watching his grandchildren run The Boss and the Advance before he passed on….

Beth I was just wanting a better view of the Kitten and the separator. So I used The Boss’s platform to stand on so I could see.

Here are two links to articles that Brian Vaughn from B&B wrote and posted in IMA in 94 & 95 about the restoration.
Otto’s Russell part1
http://www.steamtraction.com/archive/4826/
Otto’s Russell part2
http://www.steamtraction.com/archive/4874/

Here’s a few videos of the Russell that I have posted on Youtube. They are of The Boss belted to our family’s Frick sawmill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHNujqF7K60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo5rlf7cZVE
That’s my Dad at the controls of the Frick.

Beth you are the only one I give permission to call The Boss Cute, he still prefers Bullish.