Bail Engines

To Whom it May concern:

I am writing a history of the "Russian Cossack" trick riders who rode in American Wild West shows from 1892 through 1926. I have found a description of the engine Buffalo Bill used in his wild west show, but I can not find any details or confirmation information about these steam engines. Here is the information I copied from a newspaper article: "Around the arena on three sides are suspended on high poles 2000-candle-oower electric arc lights. these are placed about forty feet apart. The power is generated from two Bail engines, mounted on wheels, with boilers and steam connections. Each engine is connected with every alternate light in the arena, so that in the case of a breakdown of one engine, the show could continue. The engines make 550 revolutions a minute and the dynamos run at 1,350 revolutions. They generate a direct current. The conductors are fine twisted wire cables, and are flexible and as easily handled as rope, and weight not much more. The cables are 66 foot lengths. The current is thirteen ampers with only sixty volts." My question is, were these made by the Edison company? Do you have any information about them, or do you know a source I could research to read more about them. I live close to Washington DC and use the Library of Congress a lot for my research. Any hints on where to look would be appreciated.

Regards, Richard Georgian 2808 Ridge Road Waldorf, MD 20603 Tel: 301 645 8779

Richard;

Is it possible that the engines were "Ball" engines, not "Bail"? Ball manufactured small high speed engines specifically for generating electric power, most of these were direct connected, that is to say the generator rotor was mounted on the engine crankshaft rather than belted to it. The time period would have been right, too. The Ball Engines were made in Erie, PA. and had a balanced valve and shaft type governor. -JM