Old photo from Denmark

[David Parfitt]

This nice old photo was taken at St Heddinge in Denmark. It's been suggested that the engine might be of N. American manufacture, as it looks like it has a steam dome, which most European engines did not have. Any ideas as to the manufacturer?

[Eric M.]

Those wiggly cleats look extremely familiar, but I can't remember what they are for.

[workhorse]

Can't remember any domestic engines with the steering wheel on the left. Maybe the negative was reversed.

[Kelly Tytlandsvik]

The pressure gauge looks to be at zero pressure (to the left) I don't think the negative is reversed.

Check out the shoes.

Kelly T

[Eric M.]

Originally Posted by workhorse

Can't remember any domestic engines with the steering wheel on the left. Maybe the negative was reversed.

Some Buffalo Pitts, Frick, and I think Geiser engines had their steering wheels on the left.

[Sawyer-Massey 11-22]

Some castings were much like a fingerprint, this steering wheel should not be any different. I would think that, that would be a good indicator.

R.

[David Parfitt]

Tore Blom in Sweden mentioned that some Birdsall engines were brought into Scandinavia in the 1890s - could it be a Birdsall perhaps?

[Tore Blom]

David in due to a successful bid on a local site I hade this nice postcard of an early Munktells engine. We can clearly see the difference between the one from Denmark as Munktells did have a stub axle arrangement and not the significant steering wheel. However it have the same type of "wiggly cleats"
I did then a check with Jack Norbecks Encyclopaedia (3rd edition) and seems to see the same steering wheel on one of the pictures in there.
However I do not know how to say the axle arrangement the Danish Engine has? What do you call that just three shaft or?

Finely I vote for a Birdsall back from the 1890th

Tore Blom

[Alan Rudd]

Originally Posted by Eric M.

Some Buffalo Pitts, Frick, and I think Geiser engines had their steering wheels on the left.

I thought I heard one time that the steering wheel could be changed from side to side on some of the Frick engines. That way you could belt out through the back side.

Alan

[David Parfitt]

Hi Tore

Yes it seems you could be right about the early Birdsall engine. Perhaps these had an influence on the design of the Munktells traction engines too?

All the best

David

[Harry]

I couldn't resist trying to enhance that old photo.

[Tore Blom]

" influence on the design of the Munktells traction engines"

David, most certainly they had, or what does it looks like if not a Birdsall.
This Munktells is the second version fron 1907 and the next model a year after, in 1908, they changed over to right hand steering.
The Birdsall style of automotive steering arrangement was kept by Munktells untill the end of the era in 1920-21.


Tore Blom

[David Parfitt]

Thanks Tore - the Birdsall influence is very clear from that picture!

All the best

David

[Craig A]

Originally Posted by Tore Blom

The Birdsall style of automotive steering arrangement was kept by Munktells untill the end of the era in 1920-21.


Tore Blom

Not only THAT.........even GEAR COVERS over the final drives.......