I'm the new guy.

redryder · I'm the new guy.

Good morning, afternoon, evening or good night,

You are properly greeted in all time zones in the world of steam.
My name is Gil Garceau. Many of you know me as redryder_98 on the toy_steam group and no doubt as reddrryder on ebay, youtube, and Google video. It is with pleasure that I join your membership.

I collect steam engines, gas engines and a bits of other old technology, my main focus being steam. I have 4 model gas engines, 3 full sized gas engines, and usually in the area of 100 steam engines. I do own a lone Mamod that Steve (cedge) was kind enough to sell me a few years ago. I also have a lone Weeden 647. The only toy steam line I collect seriously is Jensen. I think I have 40 plus of them, including some pretty rare ones but have not recently counted. There is also a single Marklin in the collection, the redo they put out a couple years back of the compound 16047 I think. The other 60 or so pieces comprise of machinist built models such as Stuart, Clarkson, Reeves, a few one-offs, and some nice smaller 80-150 year old working originals. I try to keep 'em small enough to lift by myself but that is not written in stone. Some are nasty looking when I get them and I take great joy in restoration and bringing them from the brink of the scrap heap to near museum quality. I always have an eye open for the next acquisition and I occasionally sell a few pieces to make room for the new and help support my hobby. Each and every one of these marvelous little engines is a joy to work on and operate.

Best to all,

Gil Garceau redryder[/b]

Sandman

Hi Gil, and a great big Scottish welcome to the forum.

It's great to see you here and I'm sure you've come to the right place.

You obviously have a serious collection and your expertise and knowledge will be much appreciated here.

We're a friendly and informal group, and we are fortunate to have some of the most respected names in toy steam right here. Looks like you'll feel right at home.

You say that your main interest is Jensens, but I'm sure that along with Jensen collectors, you'll find much more of interest.

With the membership becoming more and more international, we are all finding that our hobby is indeed a world wide one, and we keep learning of other makers and engines that are just beautiful.

So to sum up, I look forward to talking steam with you and hope you enjoy your stay.

Sandman.

johnreid

Welcome to the forum I am sure that your knowledge will be a true asset to us. You are not alone in the love of Jensens.
Also congrats on the 51, I saw your YouTube video and am so impressed.

Mister Occlusion

G'day

Andy

hi, welcome to the forum

MooseMan

Hi Gil, great to see you here - welcome!

MTA

Welcome to the forum Gil.

Can we expect some pictures of your vast and interesting collection? I do hope so!

All the best,
Si

Manxman

Welcome Gil from the Isle of Man. I hope you enjoy posting on the forum.

Jakebob

Hi Gil! a very warm welcome from yet another jensen lover. thanks again for the number 5, it worked out great.

TRAPPERKEEPER

Welcome to the forum, look forward to seeing some of those engines

James

Huge welcome to the forum, Sir!

Griffin

Welcome to the Foum Gil. I look forward to reading your posts, and hopefully, viewing pictures of your impressive collection.

Cranko

Hi Gil,Big welcome from New zealand . I'm sure you will enjoy it here . Is bowman also one of your areas of expertise

Mamodman123

Great to have you aboard!

A mamod you say? Pictures

Enjoy the forums!

MM

toxx

... welcome, willkommen, céad mile fáilte from Vienna!

Great to have you in the show!

John Chapman

Welcome aboard Gil

barry1946

Hi Gil,

from Bonnie Scotland - where it is very wet and windy of late! (time to hide away and get into some serious steam related actiities!)

Graham-Jilly

Hi Gil a big

from the great land down under were sure you will fit in nicely here

redryder · Q & A

Hello again to all,

I certainly feel welcome here as evidenced by all the replies. I need to step out for a bit right now but will be back later and try to answer some of the questions. Quickly: Don't have any Bowmans and I do love all the brass on them especially when the patina is completely removed!

Will post pictures soon but need a little instruction for the following:

how and where to put them?

How do I get rid of the [/b] that shows up after I sign my name and what is it?

Am I supposed to receive these postings in my email ? --- I am not as of now.

More answers and questions later.

Best,
Gil

johnreid

flywheel61

redryder wrote

Steve_S

Welcome to the forum Gil!

Kritika

A big welcome from the south of England Gil! Any Mobiles in that massive collection mate?

Wallace

Welcome to the forums Gil.

Sounds like a wonderful collection you have

redryder · Starting Gil's pictures... late 1930's Jensen #10

johnreid

Sadly I cant reply much, the drool shorted out my keyboard.

Bo Derek wasnt the only "10"

James

Wow!! That's stunning!!

Wallace

Very very nice

IndianaRog

Gil, you worked magic on that Jensen 10...it is a prime example of one of Jensen's best designs from their early days.

Looks like you have figured out Photobucket already

Rog

redryder · More from Gil

Here are a bunch of them in one picture. If you want more detailed pictures of any of them, let me know and I will try to accomodate.

Inside the barrister shelves from the top left: Jensen 20 Big power Plant mid 1950's, Jensen 20 Big power Plant mid 1940's.

2nd row 2 vertical engine models, the smaller direct drives a miniature gear pump, the taller is a modern interpretation of a James Coombes table engine, another mod 1940's Jensen Big power Plant, Stuart simplex boiler feed pump, vertical Bahoboy, and small half beam modeled after Easton & Anderson Beam.

3rd row: mid 1950's jensen #10, 1960's Jensen 20G Big power plant.

bottom row: 1950's Jensen #25 , and the other is a Jensen Turbine which deserves it's own photo at some time.

The desk: a couple hand feed water pumps a horizontal oscillating Cretors popcorn wagon engine with original whistle and guage and 2 Stuart 504 boilers. Encased are a Stuart #9 built by Swiss engineer and maker Holzapfel (from his personal collection) and a German tool maker built Stuart twin Victoria. In front of the Twin Vic are a collection of Langes Legetoy mini machine tools to be driven by toy steam or electric power. It is these that Jensen based there own Model #100 workshop on. The bule engine in the middle of the toll shop is an orphaned very early Jensen #5 and there are 2 more Stuart 504 boilers to the left of the Twin Vic.

Enjoy

Gil

[/img]

redryder · figured photobucket yes

Thanks to you Rog for instructions and to you JohnReid for the suggestion.

James

There are not many times when I am speechless, but this is one of them

That is just amazing

johnreid

I think I am on sensory overload.

redryder · Any Mobiles in that massive collection mate?

A big welcome from the south of England Gil! Any Mobiles in that massive collection mate?

If you mean cars, traction engines and rail stock, not at this time. I have all stationary steam but would some day like a nice scale traction engine. My son has a Mamod steam lorrie. I really like what IndianaRog has done with his Old Smoky.

Best,
Gil

johnreid

This time of year and a name like redryder, all I can think of is
"Youll put your eyes out!" great movie quote.

redryder · Elliott Bay Triple

Here is an Elliott Bay Triple.
I got it fixed up enough to run at steam shows but not fit for service in a launch.
It will idle at 50-60 rpm all day on 5-6 psi live steam.
At near 400 lbs it was way beyond my ability to lift rule.
As I said before the rule is not always written in stone.
It is now in it's new home in the UK, hopefully getting brought up to service standards.

Gil

flywheel61

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, sigh, that's truley magnificent.

Cheers

Chris

Cedge

Hey Roger... look what the cat dragged in....LOL.

Hi Gil,
Glad to see you join the board. I think you'll find the place to be a rather nice fit. You'll soon find one learns as much or more here than you'll ever be able to share.

Guys...
Welcome one of THE premier Jensen collectors and owner of some of the nicest handmade engines to be seen anywhere. Gil's someone I'm quite pleased to call a personal friend.

Steve

Cranko

Excellent collection Gil , look forward to seeing more

redryder · Start Beam

Here is my Stuart Beam.
The pictures of it in red and brown are as I received it, after cleaning.
Built 60 years ago in Germany and modified by chopping the
Stuart base and bearing pedestal and adding the steel platform base.
An early ebay purchase from about 6 years ago.
The builder used a fair amount of chrome plating so I ground what was left of the Stuart base casting smooth did it over all in black.

Gil

johnreid

Wow, I cant get over the degree of finish on that one.

redryder

My only Mamod.
This is the one that qualified me to join this truly nice group of steam enthusiasts.

Gil

Cranko

I can see a few candidates for engine of the month there gil. Very nice

Wallace

Gil, some very amazing engines there. Thanks for posting.

I really love the display on the shelves/table you have too

redryder · late 1940's red horseshoe generator

Here is a pretty rare late 1940's Jensen Big Power Plant with a free standing red horseshoe generator.
I have only seen one other such generator. This is not restored but the result of a few
long hours of intense and careful cleaning and polishing.

Gil

redryder · this one almost slipped by

Here is one of my favorite recent acquisitions.
It is the dry fuel fired Jensen #5.
It arrived with firing instructions for the 65/75 and the red tag was for a 65 with most
of the 6 removed from inside before application, similar to the way Tom Jensen Sr. x'd out
the #20 on the brass tags used for other styles.
The original box is also clearly marked # 5.
This has been a real fun discovery. I gave it a quick cleaning, enough to photograph it.

This one nearly slipped by me on ebay. I did not notice it until the last night before it ended which was 6 days into the auction.
I clicked on it, looked quickly and went on to another page and it hit me that something just wasn't right.
I went back and could not believe what I had found and put in a watching bid and came in as a sniper, 8 seconds to go.
Steve, and Roger have not seen one of these either.
It came out of western PA so I had guessed it was one of the experiments that got out the door.
I guessed wrong. Steve was able to get confirmation that 3 to 5 of this style were manufactured by Tom Sr. to use up some left over engine parts. He wasted nothing. I was indeed fortunate to recognize it as something special. While there should be 2 to 4 more
it's the only one we've seen and as good fortune would have it,
new in the box!

Gil

redryder · A Crown Jewel in the collection

Here is my most recent acquisition and a crown Jewel in my collection. This is the legendary Jensen #51.
I KNOW I DID NOT NEED TO SAY THAT ON THIS FORUM !!!!!!
Thanks to your friends Steve and Rog, you all know more
than most people alive about this piece.
A #51 has been in my cross hairs for a number of years and I was very
fortunate to make the acquisition.
Now you know the difference between the original and the awesome improved version that Rog has created.
It only had 2/10 of an hour on it when I picked it up. Just enough time
to test it after final assembly in 1984.
It has been sitting in a glass cabinet ever since. I am very very
fortunate to have this piece of Jensen history in my collection.

Gil

TRAPPERKEEPER

We heard about you getting that one a little bit before you joined the forums, such a nice piece the # 51, Always nice to see more pictures of one =)

redryder

Thanks Trapperkeeper.
I will send one more group of photos tonight.
My fingers are getting tired and the rest of me is not far behind.
Gil

redryder

Atticman

Wow what an amazing collection, thanks for the pics

TRAPPERKEEPER

Very nice, I like that one that appears to have a brick base, and the one with a very large red flywheel that is sort of in the center of the sixth picture, what make/where do those engines come from?

tmuir

...........................................................

I'm speechless.....................
I don't think I've ever seen such a collection of magnificent engines before in one place.

I'll look forward to more posts from you and another welcome from Australia.

xlchainsaw

a very nice collection and a warm wellcome from liz and glenn queensland australia

Wallace

The words "absolutely impressive" come to mind when looking at that room full of engines. And at the #51.

steamyman

'ello.

Stilldrillin

A big welcome Gil, from Derbyshire, UK.

Oh MY.....

Oh My.....

I think I`m going to cry........

Sandman

Jeez Gil.

What an amazing group of pics.

I've never seen a collection to rival yours.

I'm going to have to take more time to really study these excellent pics, just to take in the sheer enormity of the collection.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with your fellow members.

Wilescoman_123

hello mate welcome to the forum !

Griffin

Gil, I too am speechless at the sheer enormity and quality of your collection

You have some beautiful engines there, thanks for taking the time to photograph them.

Like Sandy, I too will have to look back over the photos, as there was too much to take in, in one go

Wilescoman_123

.wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nice one

MooseMan

(......................................................................................)

Speechless

Gil, next time you post pictures like that, can you precede them with a health warning? I had to bite down on a mains cable to get my heart started again!

Back for another browse!

Steve_S

I don't know whether 'Gobsmacked' is an expression which translates easily for our American friends... meaning awestruck, stunned, amazed, reduced to gibbering wreck, etc. Anyway, that's exactly what I am! That must be one of the very best collections anywhere!

James

Holy crap!

I think that is THE best collection of toy & model steam engines I have EVER seen and will ever see in me life!

Tremendous

johnreid

Rare for me, speechless

redryder · Trapperkeeper, Lane and Bodley Corliss Twin or Double

Trapperkeeper, I think you asked about this one and the brick base one from a different photo.
This is another Crown Jewel piece along with the large Clarkson twin vertical marine engine model.
They were built by John McDivitt, a retired metallurgist who spent his working life in and around
the steel industry. He never claimed to be a machinist, yet I find his work rivals the very finest on earth.
He has been building engines since 1952. I consider him among my friends. I am blessed that he has
chosen to sell me a few of his prized pieces over the last 5 years. John also has an exceptionally keen
aesthetic sense and has proven time and again that he knows which surfaces to paint and which to
leave exposed as nicely finished iron. There is no plating of any kind on any of his models. This twin
cylinder Corliss took most of the last 3 1/2 years to complete. A daunting task for a man who is now
90 years old. There is one other similar piece in existence and John built it about 12-15 years ago so
this is his second Corliss twin and likely his last major project. The patterns and castings were made
special for him by Gordon Gore and hence were not available as a twin kit.

Gil

[/img]

tmuir

I'm in the process of building a workshop so I can get a lathe and 'start making stuff' My metalworking skills are fairly limited and looking at these fantastic engines makes me want to jump in and hone my skills until I can reach a level where I can make something that moves from 'toy' to model.

Thanks for the photos they have been an inspiration to me today, so much so that I've just placed an order for some more materials to build my first 'toy' steam engine and have now narrowed my choice of lathe down to two models.

Dave B

Hello, and welcome from western Canada! I certainly can't add to list of adjectives describing your amazing collection. All I can say is thanks for sharing, and I look foreward to seeing more.

Jakebob

Dear lord! what a collection. i do beleive that you may just well have the most established collection of anyone here.

redryder · trapperkeeper.... brick base photos

On rare occasions the ravages of time and scrap heaps leave an engine of some importance
so unscathed that it deserves to be written home about. Every so often ebay will cough up such a gem.
This is such an engine. The photos were not great and it was crud covered and nearly black all over
until I began the task of removing eons of grease impregnated dust that coated nearly all of it.
This one is not restored nor does it need it. A gentle and thorough cleaning with polishing of the bright
metal and an eye towards preserving the delicate paint work was in order. I would call this one a keeper.
Turns out the years of crud protected a pristine and unused 1880's small steam engine. I am told these
were working steam engines sold by Goodnow and Wightman of Boston in the 1880's and it was thought
that this one may have been a company show sample and that it was pictured in one of their catalogs.
I am still looking for their catalogs. I was planning on disassembling, stripping off paint, etc until I found
this magnificently and ornately decorated piece under the crud. It shall remain as is.

Gil

redryder · Jake's Jensen

Jake,
I am happy to hear your Jensen arrived in good order.
Steam on !
Gil

redryder · in need of a website....

Hi again,

After this exercise in locating, taking, and posting pictures and descriptions,
it has become quite clear that I will need to develop a website to showcase my
collection and a little knowledge. I am still learning more all the time and knowledge not shared is wasted.
Steve and Roger have been prodding me for a couple years to create such a space on the web.
It is in the cards but not sure just when time will allow.

Thank you for all the your comments and questions.

Gil

James

Gil, would you ever consider selling one of them beautiful engines to me?

It's seriously me life long dream to own one!

Cedge

Guys..
I warned you...LOL. I've had the nearly unique opportunity to display my collection with Gil at the annual Cabin Fever Expo. It's a darned good thing he can only bring a limited number of his engines to such an event or he'd steal the show and easily become a one man exhibition. Displaying my engines right next to his was almost a little bit daunting. I've not seen his whole collection, at once, but I always suspected it would be just the kind of sensory overload you see in his photos.

I once mentioned here that I had a visitor who came to see the two model 51's that I owned for a brief period of time. Gil is that guy and is one of a very few people to ever run two of them at the same time. Let's just say a kid on Christmas morning had nothing on him that day. From that moment on....I knew it was never a question of "IFf" but "WHEN" he'd add the #51 to his spectacular collection.

Gil... you just might have found a home...LOL.

Steve

John Chapman

Gil, that collection is truly stunning, thanks for sharing it with us.

Jakebob

Hmm, my email must not have gotten through to you Gil- so here are some pictures of the engine nearing completion, all i need to do is get my feedwater pump and it will be done. im going to dress the boiler up a bit though, and i plan to repaint the firebox maybe in black, or possibly brighter color to go with the polished appearance of it.

Also there are pictures here of those brass tubes i hade mentioned prior, they would make a heck of a boiler if you had something to solder on the end. if someone wants some of these ill see what i can do.

Here is the filler that i made for cold filling, the other nipple on the water tank that is currently plugged with that peice of hose will connect to the feedwater pump

Roly Williams

Hi Gil.

I've seen odd bits of your collection before and have always been impressed. This is the first time I've seen it all (is it all?) and I'm now many times impressed.

A big wolcome to the forum. You've already found a few old friends here and I'm sure youll make more than a few new ones - especially with pictures like those!

redryder · Steve knew all along

Thank you Steve.
Steve knew all along that I would one day add a #51 to my collection. I knew it too but never mentioned it to anyone in terms of certainty other than to myself and my wife. Steve read me very accurately a couple years back on that warm South Carolina morning. Ever since there hasn't been more than a couple days that went by that I did not remind myself that my 51 was out there and that I would bring it home one day. There is great power in believing something as a certainty, a truth not to be altered, an undeniable fact. Evidently Steve saw this #51 in my eyes and could feel it even before I recognized it.

Steve was also big hit at Cabin fever and he displyed what may be the ONLY Jensen #51 ever to be shown at an exhibition. If any of you want a healthy overdose of sensory overload, go to one of the Model engineering exhibitions. I'm sure you have some big ones in the UK. Sinscheim in Germany has a huge one in January as do we over here with Cabin Fever (January- York,PA) and the NAMES show in April (Toledo, Ohio).

Gil

redryder · Jake

Jake,

Thanks for adding the photos so everyone could see them and thank you for sending them to me. After looking back in my email, I did receive it and I am sorry I missed it. That machine is coming out just fine!

Gil

redryder · Thanks Roly

Thanks Roly,

There is a fair amount more. More larger engines and a lot more Jensen, many of which are still packed neatly in boxes from our move to a new home in April. You have seen much of the museum quality part of the machinist built and antique originals. The rest is every bit as fun as the best so I will, over time, share more of it. Yup..... a website is becoming more and more of a must do project.

Gil

Kritika

Gil, I bet you really don't get out much owning a collection like that do you! Ha Ha

Absolutely b#*@y awesome pictures Gil, well done.

mc_mc

Wow!!!!! Some stunning photos of an even more overwhelming assembly of engines.

What a beautiful collection (especially that mamod!)

Many of your engines are verging on mechanical art rather than anything else.

Please accept a warm welcome from me also.

johnreid

Ah Jakebobs pictures, Yuengling is one good thing about Pa

toxx

.... great engines, wow!

bessytractor

welcome

Reid

Great stuff! Inspiring craftsmanship all around.

Aside to Jake: what do you use to lag your steam line? It's a good looking cord whatever it is.

Reid · Re: trapperkeeper.... brick base photos

Of them all this one most catches my abject admiration ofr your work, Gil.

I appreciate your saving of the original finishes as you do.

Q: what's your preferred, basic cleaner for old paint and metal?
I've used GoJo white creme hand cleaner for decades. I wonder if that's in your arsenal too?

Do you employ ultrasonic cleaning? Ammonia water for brightening nickel plate?

Just curious, very curious, and in great awe of your powers to preserve.

Reid

Mister Occlusion

Amazing stuff.

How long ago did that esbit fired #5 come up on ebay? I'd kick myself sharply if it was since this summer, especially if it was sitting there unnoticed for a week (I thought I had a pretty sharp eye by now).

Interesting model 50 with the brick firebox done up in the angular style of the old black ones too.

Ach, it's ALL interesting

redryder · dry fueled Jensen #5

It was in the summer. July 25, 2007 would end the auction happily for me. I am glad no one else recognized it as such an oddity as I had bid a lot higher and could have been forced to pay a lot more or get outbid. It was item # 280135550206 ... The pictures are gone but you can still pull up the rest of the auction. There were a couple other familiar bidders on it.

I truly enjoyed your video of the dual boiler Model #20. It looks great.

Gil

redryder · my oldest Jensen

My oldest Jensen is also the rattiest looking one I own. It was frozen stuck solid when it arrived. It is still the rattiest piece I own but now freed up and runs great. It is likely 1934-35 era.

Gil

Mister Occlusion

Ah good. It was only the end of July when I got my first Jensen as it is. I feel better now

Thanks. I'm really happy with how the 20 turned out, considering I'm not really all that good with my hands. (lots of good tips in this place, though).

I still would like to go with black fireboxes and maybe install a regulator between the boilers, so that I could run on one without losing steam to condensation in the cold slave boiler.

But, then, why would I want to run on one?

I still need to build a second juice reducer, or perhaps find a dimmer rated for more than 1000watts.

Might be a good time to invest in a Variac after all!

redryder · A fair amount of my Jensen

A fair amount of my Jensen collection still looks like this.

Gil

mc_mc

STOP! I can't take any more!

Griffin

Wow

, thats an awful lot of boxed up Jensens

Being nosey, and reading the labels of the box contents, I see there are some interesting engines inside them.

redryder · Mr Occ

Mark,

A pair of dimmers will do the job nicely.

I have a friend using a pair on a model #50.

Gil

Mamodman123

Ok just read through this thread....saw the pictures...

Permission to swear???

Truely great collection

johnreid

More sensory overload

Mister Occlusion

redryder · Mamodman

I was looking through your website. Nice work!
Your SE4 1937-40 is my favorite.

Gil

Mamodman123 · Re: Mamodman

I'm the new guy.

Q & A

Starting Gil's pictures... late 1930's Jensen #10

More from Gil

figured photobucket yes

Any Mobiles in that massive collection mate?

Elliott Bay Triple

Start Beam

late 1940's red horseshoe generator

this one almost slipped by

A Crown Jewel in the collection

Trapperkeeper, Lane and Bodley Corliss Twin or Double

trapperkeeper.... brick base photos

Jake's Jensen

in need of a website....

Steve knew all along

Jake

Thanks Roly

Re: trapperkeeper.... brick base photos

dry fueled Jensen #5

my oldest Jensen

A fair amount of my Jensen

Mr Occ

Mamodman

Re: Mamodman