Out of the shadows

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

Have been lurking here for quite a while but didn’t feel ‘qualified’ to become a member, as only possessed a PM Research, hot-air Stirling engine & a few pop-pop boats at the time. Worse, I’m female & a bit ancient & didn’t really want to intrude on sacred turf!
I initially came for info on repairing model steam engines (& boy have I found it!). I’ve wanted one (or several!) for a long time & reckoned it was about time to get on with it but knew I could probably only afford some clapped-out model. Finally, late night vigils on French ebay paid off & I became the proud owner of an elderly but leaking Fleischmann (Sshh! A dab of superglue has solved that until I feel proficient to remove end caps & silver-solder properly). The virus progressed rapidly & this was soon joined by a dinky, new Wilesco D3 & even more recently by a scratch-built engine, still undergoing cosmetics in brother’s competent hands in UK.
I’m British & have lived in France for 40 years but seemed to be a black hole for anything steam. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a newly formed french steam forum via Bégé, when he turned up here yesterday. The fact there are other female members, plus Bégé apparently needing help conveying a few translated questions to you knowledgeable lot eventually persuaded me to join UnofficialMamod,!
So now you have a venerable ‘steam granny’!
More soon, including pics & vids, once I’ve figured it out!
I really appreciate the friendly atmosphere on this forum.
Alicia - France

James

A huge welcome to the forum.

Let me say, you are never too old, and nobody has a bad collection. One engine, or one pop pop boat, to 1000 engines. Everybody is welcome. We all have to start somewhere. Nobody will think any less of you.

Yep, you have come to the right place.

Please feel welcome here.

All the best.

James

James

Here is a guide to posting up pictures on the forum:

www.postpics.piczo.com

Thanks

James

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

Thanks for the lightning welcome James.
You have me in fits (of laughter!) at times & hope that arm is OK. Also really appreciated pics of your animals (someone has a good eye for a horse in the family!). Another big passion of mine but have noted via off-topic thread that these things often go together. There is a lot of artistic talent on the forum, animals appear frequently & a well-designed steam engine is an art form in it's own right.
Glad to be here.
Alicia (P.S. How do I insert emoticons??)

IndianaRog · Welcome Steam Granny

Hi Alicia,

Well, this is a fine state of affairs...here many of us grandpas thought we had the place to ourselves when lo and behold a steam Granny shows up.

Seriously...welcome, welcome, welcome!!! Is that an Empire you have as your avatar?? You didn't mention it as part of the collection, but since I have a warm spot for Empires I noticed it.

Again, welcome

cheers,
Roger (grandpa to "my little man" of 2.5 years)

James

I do?

You know when you are writing a message? On the left is a load of pictures and "View more emoticons". Click on the picture you want and it shows up.

flywheel61

Hi Alicia

Welcome from another grandpa in OZ, you'll find were a pretty dedicated lot here, but lots of fun. I started out as a collector but am now a converted steamer undertaking my first major repair. The hobby is very infectious but of the right kind. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Cheers

Chris

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

Hi Indianrog & thanks for warm welcome, nevertheless.....it’s one of the reasons I hesitated to tread on sacred turf!!
Not sure about the avatar, although it could well be an Empire & I sadly do not have one or ever likely to. I nicked the avatar from Robert Corsiglia’s excellent site but since putting it through pixel resizing it’s no longer an animated gif

Alicia

James

Yeah, you are never to old for this forum! Nor does ANYBODY not have a good enough collection to join!

seven.mpd

Hi steamgranny
welcome from a steamgranddad

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

Oh dear! If this continues the young’uns will feel outnumbered but comforting to know I’m not the only one

Thanks for the continuing welcomes.
Alicia

James

Naa we are rate as a bobin we are

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

There you go James, making me laugh again

Alicia

James

MooseMan

Hi steamgranny,

Welcome! I assure you, age and gender no object here!

Cheers,

Odilon (MooseMan)

Male, early middle age I guess

Manxman

Another hello and always good to get new members. I feel questions about French firms who made steam toys coming up. Is Gama French? Carette was French but went to Germany before making his steam engines.

You are very welcome.

James

The class clown has been taken to a whole new level...

Mamodman123

Welcome Steamgranny!

We're always happy to have new members here regardless of age or gender! Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride

MM

Sandman

Yup. Welcome from another old un.

Great to see you here.

Bégé

Hello steamgranny,

I am very happy to find you here

I hope that members of this forum came on blooo forum

à bientôt

Cedge

Welcome aboard Granny. It's nice to know the steam bug is equal opportunity when it comes to inflicting its bite. Excuse the mess, we aint used to civilized company dropping in. ( James... clear off a place for the lady to sit..... and douse that ceegar.

Steve

James

MooseMan

steamgranny · Out of the shadows

No need to dust off the seats, make room, clean up or extinguish any cigars! I’ll never get around to the important stuff if we stand on ceremony or I spend the next 6 months thanking everyone for warm welcomes! (Appreciated, nevertheless

)
Actually, I’ve been snooping for so long I already feel at home & you are all old friends!
The Gama question has been answered & hadn’t heard of that one & Carette has been cleared up too. But I know Bégé has a burning question concerning this probably scratch-built machine & possible value. It’s coming up for sale on ebay soon.
any advice appreciated.
Alicia

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JensenSteamMan

wow a steam Granny?? I never knew one existed! Well, my Grandma asks if I'm going to run any of my engines sometimes when shes's over. One time she even got to talk to Steve (Cedge)
on the phone when he was trying to find my phone #

I'm sure you will reallly come to love this forum! Its very active!

Cheers,
Casey

oldstuff

Hi Alicia, glad your here!

That engine is cool but weird. I've never seen anything like it. It looks
scratch built, yet old scratchbuilt.

steamgranny

Hi oldstuff.
Yep, that is a strange engine but looks strong & in good condition. Can't tell whether it's an original 'something' severely modified or totally scratch-built. Not for me but Bégé is interested & coming up shortly on french ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.fr/Machine-a-vape...ategoryZ97170QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Alicia

tmuir

Hi Steamgranny.

I've never seam it before either but at a guess I would say home built from either several steam toys or parts of it are from castings or kits.

The base and the engine mount don't look like something someone would home build.

What ever it is it looks well built

steamgranny

hello tmuir,
yes, I noticed the base that doesn't look homemade. You are probably right about an assembly of parts.
It's 'buy now' at a price of 130 euros/212 AUD/174 USD & Bégé's question is whether it's worth that.
Alicia

tmuir

Its hard to say.
Firstly I don't know how much engines sell for in France and this is an unknown model.

The little vertical in my Signature cost me $150 OZ but they can sell for a lot more but that's more to do with the rarity.

The one on ebay France has a pressure guage too which will add to they value aswell.
I guess it comes down to if you like it, get it but for that price you could get yourself a nice Mamod Se3 and still have some spare change.

I would ask the standard questions though first.
Does the piston and flywheel move freely?
Can you remove the safety valve or is it seized up?
etc

Wallace

Hi Steamygranny, and welcome to the forums. Glad you've jumped on board.

No matter what engines people have, they are more than welcome here.

Hope you have a good time

SPOKESMAN

HI there SG - we look forward to your contributions!

Pictures etc are always welcome.

Steamgirl

Bonjour, good to see you! The female population is growing... I make that four now - you, me, Em and Jilly

Sandman

Steve_S

Welcome to the forum Alicia!

steamgranny

Hi everyone - Wallace, Sandman, Spokesman, Steve etc. etc. Thanks for the continuing warm welcomes. And especially to steamgirl & other females already aboard, blazing the trail & giving me the courage to join too

Lovely day; off to run my pop-pops - more later

Alicia

Griffin

A little late here. Welcome to the Forum Steamgranny.

steamgranny

Graham-Jilly

HI Steamgranny / Alicia
I am the female part of the duo - Graham-Jilly. Graham is a granddad but I don't have any grandchildren as yet so guess I am a step-grandmother---

Welcome to the forum --- I am new to steam engines but am loving the whole adventure -- the buying, restoring, discussions and find people on here very helpful. Great to have you on board. Cheers Jilly

Dauntless

Hi Alicia

A warm welcome to the forum

Paul

steamgranny

Thanks Dauntless, Graham-Jilly & don't think I'd have dared had there not been a couple of other lassies here already

I think the lads have taken invasion of their space very well, considering

SPOKESMAN

yosa

Hi Alicia, welcome to the forum.

Out of the shadows

Out of the shadows

Welcome Steam Granny

Out of the shadows

Out of the shadows

Out of the shadows

Out of the shadows