KG1851 Auction in Farmer City IL

[KG1584]

A KG engine went on the auction block today in Farmer City Illinois. The estate was of an Ellis Spence.

The engine# is 1851. I am pretty sure this is a duplicate number as I saw 1851 in Boonville last year - I think owned by Rick Apple

The engine appears to be a very early model which was sent back and given a new number. It has the sliding eccentric which I beleive was the Gentry type. It has the early pedestal with the square axle and brackets

The engine brought $8100 which included a Russell water wagon. Why the auctioneer sold them together I have no idea. The boiler IMHO was no good. Hope someone has deep pockets

I did not get a chance to talk to the buyer

I have three pic links and will include more later

Tom - I will leave this in your able hands to tell us more on this engine

http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...02-R1-20-5.jpg
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...-R1-08-16A.jpg
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...2-R1-00-25.jpg

Thanks

Doug

[KG1584]

More pics

http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...2-R1-12-13.jpg
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...2-R1-09-16.jpg
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...02-R1-16-9.jpg

[KGC1615]

Doug:
I wanted very much to attend this auction, but, once again, work responsibilities got in the way.
Keck Gonnerman engine # 1851 was indeed a rebuild. It went back to the shop in 1927 and was rebuilt. According to the Register, it has the old style reverse (Gentry) like you said. It also had new 3" gearing put on. That is probably why the rear wheels are cleatless but the gearing is very good. It had a KGC lubricator on it after it was rebuilt. Looks like someone put a Manzel one on later. Also it has the "rigid, old style" axle, #121D. It also had round tanks on the rear platform. Were there any "Keck pieces parts" on this auction? Another note in the Register says, "Most of the old parts mounted on new boiler."
It's too bad a very old example of a Keck Gonnerman engine has a bad boiler. I can't seem to locate anything about the original number on this engine. I do know the three inch gearing was phased out before 1910.
I wonder if this was one of those 16 to an 18 conversion?
Tom

[KG1584]

Tom

No other parts were around. No signs of tanks being on it. Just three large wood planks for the platform. It did have a Powell throttle valve and the Manzel oiler. John Haley told me the valve chest would have had a plate and a set of springs to hold the d valve down. Is this common for Gentry reverses?

I had never seen a Gentry reverse before. It is a neat mechanism. It would be a neat one to model. Were they good reverses overall or was the Miller better in the long run

If you like, send me a PM with your address and i will send you a CD of the 2 rolls of pics I took of the engine. My regular email is smithtwenty@cebridge.net

Doug

[Casemaker]

I passed this engine everyday on my way to work...I spoke to the owner about it last summer. He said he purchased it many years ago in southern Indiana. I do not know if he fired it very much since he owned it. At best it looked like it had a hard life...rear wheels were worn smooth and the right rear wheel had a crack in the cast rim which was repaired most likely several years ago. Do you have any closeup pictures of the repair on the rear wheel..so that we can see an example of a old time repair ? It also looked like someone had cut a part of a front wheel with a cutting torch. I looked at it and thought that this engine had an advance pedestal and front wheels off of another engine that had been scrapped. I am of the opinion that it was going to need a lot of money to get if running and looking right.

[KG1584]

Casemaker

I do not have aclose up of the repair in the right rear wheel. They used some flat stock and bolted it across the crack. Even the repair was starting to come apart!!. I have links to a couple pics of the rigth rear. One you can see in the lower left the flat straps on the inside of the wheel. the other shows the face of it and you cans ee how chipped and beat up the wheel is

As you said it is going to take a lot of $$$$ to get this one going.

http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...2-R1-13-12.jpg
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/file...2-R1-10-15.jpg

Doug

[Casemaker]

I would be interested in seeing another early K&G with that front axle setup -if it was factory - then I have never seen another like that. But I dont profess to be an expert either. I just consulted my TSC steam engine calendar and the feature engine for this month is a 16hp N&S and looks to me like its pedestal and axle are real similar with the exception of a few bolts. I passed this engine for 3 years coming and going to work and did not know it was there until someone from Indiana asked about it. It was hard to see unless you were looking for it.

[olderthebetter]

I remeber seeing this engine every time I headed up that way. As you could see it if the crops were out. The owner had the engine for at least 50 years and the engine has been sitting there for around 30 years.

[Casemaker]

yesterday afternoon the engine was still there, the water wagon was gone.