Leader Iron Works Pump

[linckeil]

Not sure if this is the right section to post this...

I picked up a bunch of old metal to scrap from a neighbor. Buried in the pile was an old water pump made by Leader Iron Works. It has "401" stamped on it. It has large pulley on it designed to be run off a motor. It spins freely. I really have no idea of it's age. My neighbor said he last ran it over 20 years ago to pump water from his pond. He had it hooked up to a 1hp electric motor at the time, but believes it was originally designed to be used with a hit/miss motor.

I haven't been able to find any information on it. I'm gonna try to get pictures of it up here today or tomorrow and hope maybe someone can help me identify it.

[linckeil]

here's some pics. anyone have any information? guess on year?

[linckeil]

and a few more....

[Doug Kimball]

Nice pump, I have not seen one like it before. I'd guess from the teens. Hard to tell from your photos just how big it is. Leader made their own engines and also used Stover & Rawleigh engines. If run by an engine the pump would normally have a tight & a loose flat belt pulley. Of course, someone may have later changed to the v-belt pulley.

[linckeil]

thanks for the reply. it is indeed a V-belt pulley as you observed. when where v-belts first put into use? that may help date it, but like you said, someone may have put on this pulley somewhere along the way.

so i got some more information. the pulley is 17" in diameter and the pump's overall length is 33". the only markings on the pulley read "15.4 P.D. B T"

other markings on the pump read "401", "100-2", and either "122" or "722".

It also says "LEADER IRON WORKS" "DECATUR ILLINOIS".

Lastly, "PAT. JULY 16 79". now is really looks like 16, but it could be 18 which would certainly make a lot more sense.

does any of this information help? someone out there must own a similar pump. is it odd to see a stand-alone pump like this? all other leader pumps i've seen are integral to a hit miss motor.

if anyone has any suggestions as to other websites that i should perhaps post this information on please let me know. thanks.

[pulsechoes]

V belts as we know them came into existence in 1917, developed by John Gates of the Gates Rubber Company. V pulleys started in 1916, but the "belts" were leather.