Hard to get into!

I have had an interest in engines for many years I even made my living at it maintaining landscape equipment. However I will always love those from antiquity yet being young as I am 25 at the present and trying to live a decent life I have found it hard to afford the preservation of said engines on a personal and enjoyable level. I had a good resource at one time but like everything life I came up short and he already got rid of his collection. I am not whining about my problems I have made a good life for myself 2 paid for vehicles and my own house but I crave the sounds of old iron puttering on my workbench. I only wanted to say this to get to it what is going to happen to these antique parts of history because nobody my age that I know cares!? I see auctions all the time by people who dont care and even worse heard many stories recemtly about engines being sent out for scrap! I want to do my part and am a capable mechanic who appreciates them thats why I find myself so frustrated. Anyone know any good finds in Tn just post here I'll see it.

Thanks for reading.

I understand your frustration. You're right, it's not an easy hobby to get into on a shoestring budget. You're in Tennessee? My suggestion would be to go to the Eagleville, Tennessee show on Sept. 6-7 and talk to some of the exhibitors. Should be folks in the Southland Flywheelers there who can point you in the right direction. Hope this helps.

-Mike

Huntsville, Alabama

Marvin, there are an encouaging number of younger men and women who are becoming interested in this hobby. Usually what it takes is to go to a show, and even better yet, to start an old engine for the first time. Another thing that is happening is the interest in "newer" old engines and the machinery that they drive, such as walk-behind tractors, mowers, etc. Also internet forums such as SmokStak are doing a great deal to bring new people into the hobby. I grew up with this old stuff and figured that most of it had been scrapped, until I discovered Tony Leonard's page a couple of years ago and found the link to Harry's site. Wow, what an eye opener!!

Marvin, Your thinking is where the problem is. There are bunches of young people interested in rusty stuff. I meet several a week on this site alone. Most are not patient and want $4000 engines for $200 and often don't want one that needs repair. They too will learn in time that this hobby requires bunches of patience. It can also be a costly hobby. Partly due to "supply & demand and partly due to what gets scrapped. On general principals, the less there are, the more their worth. It's sad to see this stuff at the wrecking yards but what might the value be on a Briggs model "FI" if every household in America owned one? Since this hobby can sometimes seem almost "helter skelter", there has to be some kind of "guideline" or "basis", most often that is based on "value" of an engine or equipment. You didn't mention anything about going to shows but that and hitting the salvage yards weekly is a good starting point. As you find/repair/restore more & more, you begin to meet the great bunch of guys/gals that are into this stuff, increasing your connections with buying, trading and selling. There are like anything else, scammers in this hobby but overall, their few & far between. Mainly use common sense. If something doesn't seem right, odds are it isn't. I would encourage you to get involved with this posting board and find buy a few little engines like off of lawnmowers or whatever. They don't have to be 1903 or 1904 engines. You can pick up engines say from the 1970's for a dime a dozen. To some of the "old timers", they can remember when some of these $3000 & $4000 engines were a "dime a dozen". Think what the folks are worth that hung on to those engines are worth now! Most of the collectors started with one single engine worth very little but they were proud of that engine because "it belonged to them"! Your gonna get started just like all the rest of us... a little at a time. Look forward to meeting some great folks and having alot of fun. P.S. Change your thinking!

Hi Marvin-

I am 19 and I collect old iron. Where are you located? I am in MI. Please feel free to email me sometime at joeputt@juno.com if you would like to talk old iron. You should also stop by the Engineshack chat room sometime. It is located at http://www.orwell.net/~hitnmiss/chat.html There are a bunch of fine folks there that I think you would enjoy talking to. The best time to go into the chat room is around 9PM eastern time. I thope to see you there and I hope to hear from you soon.

Joe A.

joeputt@juno.com

Marvin makes some good points regarding patience & personal value. I grew up with this stuff so it was just natural to want to tinker. The first engine that was purely mine is a 5HP Economy. It's not particularly rare & not particularly valuable. However it's very valuable to me & is not & will never be for sale.

As for the 1970's engines, one project we had to do in FFA was each student was given a junked two cycle engine & you had to get it running. Mine took a long time but gosh darnit I got it running. Talk about elation. The hobby should bring happiness not stress. If it's stressful then it's not making you happy, ergo, defeats the purpose.

Will reiterate: go to Eagleville, TN & talk to the Southland Flywheelers or any of the exhibitors.

Warmest regards.

-Mike

Huntsville, Alabama

Marvin, After reading the posts below I wonder how it would sound to you to start as mentioned below, small and trade up until you get into the class of engine you like.. ? Or you might find the small ones just what the Dr. ordered and problem solved ! A Briggs WI picked up at a good price and restored will give you bench time and will get you out looking in the places that might yield something a little bigger.. I felt as good as my 9 yr old when his little Briggs fired for the first time in years and ran.. Just a thought.. Randy Hart Ohio

I still have the first engine I ever bought. it is a L,A,on its original wood cart, I paid 175.00 for it , 30 plus years ago. a lot of folks snikkered at me for being such a fool, little did I know at the time that was way to much,at that time I thought all old gas engines were rare, but I still like it and have a bunch of engines now, but I still like the little L.A. it is worth way more than I paid for it to me.I think I will take that one with me, d.j.

marvin i dont know what part of tenn ypu are from adams has agood show in july/ i went toit 6 years ago on way home stopped at an antique store just north of nashville asked owner if he knew of any one that had an engine for sale he said yes that his buddy had just made on offer on an engine in nashville engine was in an old dairy barn the antique store owner told me that his friend would buy the engine he only offered 190 bucks for it i got the owners phone no and called and went by to see the engine made a counter offer not execpted. got the owners phone no and called him a few days latter i bought the engine for 450 dollars was a 5hp jaeger complete width mag. ive spent app 150 dollars on engine am running it on spark plug and coil now. last year an engine sold at the 450 mile yard sale just east of south pittsburgh tenn. i think it brought 350 dollars . just ask questions around at antique stors and engine shows something might show up sor you

Randy, I had thought about doing what you have suggested. The only problem is, I can't bring myself to part with the engines that I have had for any amount of time. The real sad part is, I'm starting to run out of room in the garage.

Time to add shelves . Doug

What part of TN are you from? East or west?

Oh don't worry, that thought has crossed my mind.

Not much more I can due until I get some $$ I have 10ft high pallet shelves in the 24x48 pole barn as it is and room is still hard to come by. Randy Hart Ohio

Marvin -

I took the plunge about 6mo ago, and have never been happier. At 36, I'm not sure I can still be considered "young", but everyone I've met, regardless of age, has been completely welcoming and extremely helpful. Ask around...network. Or do what I did...post a "Looking for my first engine" message on the Enginads board. You'll probably have more offers than you'll know what to do with. Get into it...it's a great hobby!

Good luck...

Chris

I live about 40 miles east of Nashville in DeKalb County. Where you from? Maybe we can meet sometime at a nearby show or something.


Kevin's Old Iron

I appreciate all the responses and input. Having been to Adams Tn show for many years is what sparked my latest concern for the contuing presence of "old iron" for us to enjoy. I live in Sumner county just north of Nashville. I dont have the attitude of certain things being not worth my time nor do I expect to jump in at the 4-star rank. I make my living working on small engines and maintaining fleet trucks so I see engines from the 70's,60's,and 50's regularly. To be quite frank that is too much like work and doesnt have the same mystique or wonder. I have surfed around the net and found some good finds they were just in Canada of all places. I found one IH and one Fairbanks Morse light restore for 1400 buyer arranges pickup too far for me. Hopefully I can get lucky and someone nearby will not know what they have. I am glad to hear of people with similiar interests and appreciate input always. Thanks , Marv