Old Engines in the Present

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What's an Old Engine all About?

Old engines are nastalgic, they are memories, most of all they are history. Most every country has a history of being run by old engines to pump water, grind grain, run sawmills, or fight fires. To me an old engine is anything but simple, but to people who work with them it is so much simplier than the mass produced, new, computerized engines that operate with great precession.

That old engine might have been used to run a pump, a washing machine, or a sawmill and was just thrown aside when a new, easier machine came along. To me it amazing that all of these old engines that can be dug out of some old cow lot, a ditch by a road, in the weeds of an orchard and still carry serial numbers that identify where and when it was made. The history of that machine can be traced.

Paul Waugh's private engine show 

When you get then all running at once it is a special day!

Portland @ home

My 3 old gas engines

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curated content from YouTube

September 11 is a great day for a birthday!
Happy Birthday, Paul

Engine Collectors are a special kind of person. 

They learn what they can about their engines and are very happy to share it.

Nothing is more joyous as the minute that old engines takes off. Then you can tweck it and fiddle with it for years to come. But the joy is in having overcome the years it possibly didn't run - because it was stashed in a corner, under the weeds, or just covered with dust.

There is a difference of opinion on whether engines should be painted to look like new or kept in their rustic state. This is a debate that goes on from show to show.

Feel free to join in the debate- 

What do you think.

Should an old engine be repainted to look like new or should it be kept in its natural state.

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Paint it - make it pretty.

Leave off the paint - Display its years of use.

blue22d says:

Keep it in its original state. My not always be possible as you may need to protect from rust. Maybe a clear coating is needed, but I am not a professional.

Goinggreenmom says:

Leave off the paint unless there is a good reason that it needs to be done... more character that way.

Jane says:

Keep it natural. After all we don't repaint ourselves. Sometimes I wish we could. But time ages all and that is the way it should be. Happy Birthday Paul
Cousin, Jane

BG Waugh says:

Don't paint an old engine. Appreciate it for what it is and let it show its years of use/history. True appreciation doesn't need a coat of shiny paint any more than a beloved spouse needs a shave and a suit & tie.

Jerry B Samuelson says:

Happy Birthday Paul,
So can Andrew use the Engines to power a compressor for a nail gun to build the garage at his new place? Good to see them all running at the same time in the video.
Love
Jerry & Arlene

 

Learning about old engines is best done at the knee of a mentor--- 

when that fails you go to a book, a manual, something written.

Engines come in all sizes - and that doesn't necessarily give their value. 

Each engine was designed for a specific job.

Some engines are small like the Maytag that was used on washers. Some engines were build big enough to power locks on a river. Steam engines could pull huge loads.

Surprisingly enough they are all collectibles! A very hot selling item on eBay are old engines. There are not many but the sell well.

Even now people talk about old engines 

What do they have to say?

J.D Stratton Electric, Inc. Wind Turbine Projects: Buckley Old ...
We are at the Buckley Old Engine Show all the rest of the week. We have a tent up at the flea market area. Just look for the small wind turbine and the red tent. Stop in and say HI!. We will be have a drawing for $50 Walmart gift card. ...
Q & A with Greg Biffle
Simply for the fact that our old engine has a lot of power, has a lot of reliability, and five or eight horsepower really isn't going to win or lose a race in, I don't think, that first third of the season. But after that I'm looking ...
Toy Tractors and Farm Equipment will add Kid Appeal to Antique ...
MONCKS CORNER, SC September 4, 2004 -- Kids will get to enjoy an added attraction of toys and collectible items at the Berkeley Museum's annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show Sept 11-12 at Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner, ...
Need a Plumber on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
A detail of the controls of a steam engine at the Buckley Old Engine Show.

Lots of Old Engines and Old Engine Shows 

Some near and some are far


old gas powered hit and miss engines

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Volcano Days- Antique Gas Engine Show

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Rice County Steam & Gas Engine Show 2007

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Portland Gas Engine & Tractor Show 2007 #4

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Portland Gas Engine & Tractor Show 2007 #5

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Plowing Demonstration At The Buckley Old Engine Show (Steam)

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Steam traction engine race

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Assorted Gas Engines At Boonville, Indiana

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My Show...6-10-07

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curated content from YouTube

Share your old engines stories - good and bad 

serious and humorus.

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  • Reply
    WritingforYourWealth WritingforYourWealth Sep 18, 2008 @ 1:55 am
    Awesome! I'm not a machine person, even remotely, but I've always found steam engines to be cool. It's amazing how many different constructs and contraptions they put them on that most people don't know anything about today. I'd love to go to a show and see a bunch in person.
  • Reply
    Sis Sis Sep 11, 2008 @ 10:49 am
    Happy Birthday Paul!

    I vote for no paint. Age gives the character it has earned!
  • Reply
    A Waugh A Waugh Sep 10, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
    Happy Birthday. Hope you enjoy it.
  • Reply
    Goinggreenmom Goinggreenmom Sep 10, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
    Happy Birthday Dad!!! Hope you have a great day! Is pretty cool seeing your engines on the youtube vids. Love ya!
  • Reply
    BG Waugh BG Waugh Sep 9, 2008 @ 7:35 am
    Happy Birthday, Paul. This is a really neat thing Pam has done for you...even got me to write a note. Also, opinion on paint or not: A nicely restored and painted engine is an eye-catcher for the uninformed observer. However, I would guess that the dedicated old engine people prefer to rehab engines, leaving them as is - a testament to their years of use - rust, muck and all.

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