Archive for The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum The Original Unofficial Toy Steam Forum Established 2006 The biggest, most popular steam forum around! Accept NO imitations! We have a growing community of regular posting members who chat about all aspects of toy and model steam.          The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> General discussion Cedge Something for the Resident History Buffs Some time ago, I received a package from the former sales manager of Jensen. Inside were quite a number of old records dealing with various projects, correspondence with past customers and other assorted bits and pieces he'd found while doing some clean up. In this mass of stuff was a small pocket recorder tape. After listening to it, I took the time to transcribe it, figuring a few of the more avid Jensen collectors would enjoy it. I've noticed that recent posts concerning Jensen history and specifically Tom Sr. have appeared to generate a bit of interest. With that in mind, I've put the transcript on line with plans to add it to the Jensen site during one of the next couple of editing cycles. You are invited to visit with "Uncle Dedlo" as he converses about the old days and the origins of Jensen Steam Engines. Be warned... it's quite a long read, but it is a marvelous peek into the times and conditions under which the company came to be. Quite a few Jensen mysteries were cleared up in this interview. Steve IndianaRog Steve, though I have read it a couple of times...I heartily recommend it to those who have the curiosity and time to read it (about 20 minutes). Rarely does one get to peek behind the curtains to visit with folks close to a company founder...including his wife. thanks for sharing, Rog Cranko Must put that on the things todo today list johnreid IMHO a book should be in the making. Mister Occlusion Cool, thanks for that. I just printed it out since I prefer reading hard copy when there's a lot of text (can't even hear the laser printer under the bench with the old 25 running ). A book would definitely be a grand idea. Even an ebook (other than the problems with piracy and not getting fair compensation for it). Cedge I'm aware of rumors to the effect that there is at least one potential Jensen book being considered, but I have absolutely zero details on the effort. If it's ever completed, I suspect it will be a long running success. Nope... it's not me writing it, so I'm just as much in the dark as anyone else. Steve Mister Occlusion Cedge wrote: I'm aware of rumors to the effect that there is at least one potential Jensen book being considered, but I have absolutely zero details on the effort. If it's ever completed, I suspect it will be a long running success. Nope... it's not me writing it, so I'm just as much in the dark as anyone else. Steve Something to look forward to, then. I'm about half way through this material now, with my old 25 softly ticking over in the background (running for about 3 hours now). Fascinating that what would presumably become the model 10 (or at least its precursor) was the first engine made, that the slide valve engines came first, and also to find out how the riveting was done, right after having a conversation about it a day or so ago. I wonder if any of the original 6 still exist... Cedge Mark I've seen the remnants 2 engines that almost certainly were among the first 50. Neither are totally complete nor repairable, but you'd just about have to commit murder to take them for their owners...LOL. We'll probably never know if one of the first six still exist, since we usually can't pinpoint things as close as that. Steve Mister Occlusion Cedge wrote: Mark I've seen the remnants 2 engines that almost certainly were among the first 50. Neither are totally complete nor repairable, but you'd just about have to commit murder to take them for their owners...LOL. We'll probably never know if one of the first six still exist, since we usually can't pinpoint things as close as that. Steve And yet at the end, the hint that the old postman might have one, and the cagey old sod not giving up any details. It was like reading a mystery novel with the last page torn out. I was just NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Would love to see some photos some day.. I enjoyed reading through the online museum where you get people finding unusual old variants and sending in photos of them. That's a great treat. Griffin An interesting insight into the early days there Steve. It really is quite amazing how the company started, and survived in such a desperate time. Would I be correct in assuming the batch of fifty engines were of a #10 style configuration? johnreid Quote: And yet at the end, the hint that the old postman might have one Oh no! not another Corrupt Postal Worker Cedge Griffin Thats a subject of some debate, but it "appears" that the first 50 were model 25's but the model 10, from what we can glean, was also produced within the first year. The transcript hints at both but we have found some rather convincing physical evidence of the 25's being first, directly based on information the transcript contains. Tis sometimes a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie ...LOL. Quite a bit of information has been rediscovered and documented over the past few years, but much of it had to be deduced from often small and seemingly unrelated bits and pieces. That is what made the tape such an unexpected bonanza. Mark.. Imagine the "NOOOOOO!! that John must have felt. Like you , the old guy struck me as dangling the perfect bait and then snatching it away, knowing exactly what John would try to do. Steve Mister Occlusion John: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So if the 25's came first, and they had the generator from the beginning, this was the Big Power Plant configuration? I assume the stand alone generators came later, as with todays G series. I am curious about the Model 10, Steve, when you gave further info in your picture post last week about the prototype one that you own. Was it ever spelled out exactly what was so complex about producing them that they could not be returned to production? It just seems to me that if the power plants were among the first models made, that should say something about their design and produceability. Granted it's by far simpler to bolt an add-on generator to a base and belt it to a stock engine. Was it down to something like the extra man hours it would have taken to produce, and the resultant price that would need to be charged being too great? (I suppose I could have just said "economics" there..). We all know by now that Jensen never throws anything out, and so the casting moulds for the model 10 bases certainly must exist. It's a shame. I don't know if there's anything in the world of toy steam quite like a model 10, with a direct drive generator. Griffin Cedge wrote: Quote: it "appears" that the first 50 were model 25's Would these have been of "4 bolt" design, like the one Roger has? Cedge Griffin They were of the small boiler variety, but the had a huge honking Chromalox heater in the boiler. If you noticed, when Kaufmans refused to buy alcohol heated engines, the design had to be changed. One of the engines I've seen still had the breather holes for alcohol in the firebox. The other real oddity was the engines were painted a strange green color. For years we've gotten inquiries asking about a "green Jensen". No one could recall them ever being any color but blue and nowhere was such an animal documented. The two examples that we are now aware of proved their really were green Jensen's made and they appear to be the VERY first ones ordered for resale. Both engines showed evidence that the facilities for building the engines was less than ideal, but quality quickly stablized with successive versions. Steve johnreid The depression was such a different time and people had a completely different outlook on life. I think that many great things happened due to people having to use their minds and creating a way to make a living. Yankee ingenuity even if it was Danish, is something that seems to be in short supply anymore. It was not easy for a unemployed person to make a product with his own hands and turn it into something that survives even after 50 years time. Tom Jensen must have been quite a remarkable individual. rangerssteamtoys Could you record it? and put it up on youtube in segments? i woudl reather hear the voices of them than reading it. But I will read it (printing as I type) Cedge Ranger Unfortunately the quality of the recording is really terrible and the Danish accent so thick that it took me some serious time to turn it into a transcription. I looked at the possibility of re-recording the tape, but both sound technicians I've consulted gave it little or no chance of being cleaned up enough to make it usable for on line sharing. Sorry... I just do what I can do... no miracles here...LOL Even more sad is the video that I have of a TV news interview with Tom Sr. It's about 7 minutes or so of the old man describing the process of making his engines, building tools and such, at about age 89 or 90. The TV station will not let me share the piece due to their copyright policies. I've tried several times to get them to let us license the clip and it's been a no go each time. There is a video of Tom Jr. doing basically the same type of interview which can be purchased. It's a pretty good spot as well. It still pops up on ETV and PBS stations around the country from time to time. I only know when and where it has been shown by the email and orders it never fails to generates. Steve Cranko Thats a very interesting read Steve, I 'm glad you shared this with the rest of us. thanks Griffin Steve, another question. In what year did Tom Jensen set up shop at the current 700 Arlington Avenue address? Also is this premises still virtually as it was, when they first set up there? dsteam Cedge wrote: . . . There is a video of Tom Jr. doing basically the same type of interview which can be purchased. It's a pretty good spot as well. It still pops up on ETV and PBS stations around the country from time to time. I only know when and where it has been shown by the email and orders it never fails to generates. Steve The DVD is called "Things We've Made" by Rick Sebak http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6672872 “Episode description: A look at the history of manufacturing in Pittsburgh, celebrating such products past and present as rye whiskey, Wolverine toys, Westinghouse air brakes, All-Clad pots and pans, Jensen steam engines, and Sony televisions. Produced by Rick Sebak (A Hot Dog Show, Great Old Amusement Parks).” This is what got me into Jensen steam engines. It is nice documentary where they take you inside the factory and importantly discuss the rich history of the company. I saw it on TV one weekend and had my 1961 #10 the very next weekend. I had forgotten the name but recently I did couple of searches and found the title and ordered the DVD. The Jensen part is just over 5 minutes. The other manufacturers are just as interesting, especially the people at Sony. Collectors beware, upon watching this video you may find yourself on eBay searching for Wolverine toys. D IndianaRog d, I have never seen this documentary...I must resist or I will be selling the house out beneath us for more Jensens. cheers, Rog JensenSteamMan I really love that "Things We've made" video with Jensen in it. Really great stuff. Dont ask me how many times I've watched it I love Jensen history. The early history is especially fasinating. Gotta love learning more about those green based 4-bolts with Chromalok heaters Thanks so much Steve for putting up that transscript! Very interesting read! Cheers, Casey rangerssteamtoys dsteam wrote: Cedge wrote: . . . There is a video of Tom Jr. doing basically the same type of interview which can be purchased. It's a pretty good spot as well. It still pops up on ETV and PBS stations around the country from time to time. I only know when and where it has been shown by the email and orders it never fails to generates. Steve The DVD is called "Things We've Made" by Rick Sebak http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6672872 “Episode description: A look at the history of manufacturing in Pittsburgh, celebrating such products past and present as rye whiskey, Wolverine toys, Westinghouse air brakes, All-Clad pots and pans, Jensen steam engines, and Sony televisions. Produced by Rick Sebak (A Hot Dog Show, Great Old Amusement Parks).” This is what got me into Jensen steam engines. It is nice documentary where they take you inside the factory and importantly discuss the rich history of the company. I saw it on TV one weekend and had my 1961 #10 the very next weekend. I had forgotten the name but recently I did couple of searches and found the title and ordered the DVD. The Jensen part is just over 5 minutes. The other manufacturers are just as interesting, especially the people at Sony. Collectors beware, upon watching this video you may find yourself on eBay searching for Wolverine toys. D hey thanks for putting that up, since you ordered the dvd, can you get a video of the jensen part and put it up on youtube? Just be sure to site where you got the info otherwise copyright laws will come after you IndianaRog Ranger...run for cover...CEDGE could be right around the corner!!! I might be putting words in his mouth, but me thinks he will advise to NOT be making a YouTube video of that Jensen DVD segment...as much as many of us would like to see it. Something about copyrights on steroids I think are involved...you know that bit about a bazillion dollar fine, FBI agents on your case etc. etc....watch the front end of a rented DVD sometime...it's the first thing they hit you with to supposedly prevent copying. ooooo, I think I hear him coming... Rog Cedge Listen to Roger... tis very sound advice he's giving. Copyright is an issue with the guys who own the video and they do take it pretty seriously. Best not go there. The fact that it is not used on the Jensen site should speak volumes. As I recall, you can buy it for about $19.00 usd. Steve rangerssteamtoys I might buy it, Yeah on youtube they have taken alot of family guy clips off. Something abotu Fox copyright laws, but every video that is still up there has the first little part about Fox entertainment and I think they say its ok. So sounds like to me as long as you state your sources you can get away with it. dsteam Just read through the transcript. Good stuff. It is interesting how a series of seemingly 'bad' events can change the course of a person's life from possibly being just another excellent engineer, to being a legend in the steam engine world. Iron sharpens iron I suppose. I wonder what those original drawings would fetch on eBay? LOL tmuir rangerssteamtoys wrote: I might buy it, Yeah on youtube they have taken alot of family guy clips off. Something abotu Fox copyright laws, but every video that is still up there has the first little part about Fox entertainment and I think they say its ok. So sounds like to me as long as you state your sources you can get away with it. I think its only OK if the company that owns the copyright thinks its ok but even if you did state your sources if they wanted to I'm sure they could get you. On my website I have several models with text descriptions only of even though I have pictures of them in a great book I bought which I recommend on my website and even give a link to the site that sells it but if I used any of the photos from their book (without their permsiion) I'm pretty sure they would be within their right to kick my butt. IndianaRog Another article on Jensen history...good read Stumbled on this website with an article about Jensen from 1992...good read for those interested in knowing more about the Jensen company. http://www.allbusiness.com/profes...esearch-development/320585-1.html cheers, Rog Griffin Thanks for finding that Rog. A right good read. Cedge Great find Roger. I'd read the print version of the article, but was not aware that they'd put it online. Most excellent!!. That one written before the Jensen web site ever went on the internet. Steve Mister Occlusion That's nifty. an order for 30k units? That would have soaked up production for a good few years JensenSteamMan Great article! I had heard Steve speak of it before but had never read it for myself. Really cool to read an article written up about Jensen! -Casey johnreid Very interesting company, I am afraid that it is one of those things that is so rapidly becoming a thing of the past, a way that life used to be. And in fact I wish things were more like the Jensen way. rangerssteamtoys Back in the good ole' days, Every toy was made to last like jensens. Now they make enough toys to replace the broken ones you make in one second. If everything is made like jensen does sure there would be less quantity but alot more quality. People insepct everything there and not lasers that miss a bit here and find a bit here. johnreid I am really amazed that there are no Lead Painted Chinese Steam Toys, I could see some with Aluminum foil boilers LOL Mister Occlusion johnreid wrote: I am really amazed that there are no Lead Painted Chinese Steam Toys, I could see some with Aluminum foil boilers LOL How about those old Linemar engines with the boilers that make me think of two containers crimped together that used to hold some form of Spam... In this age where we are supposed to be green, more and more things come with built in expiry dates and are made from materials that are dirty to produce, and dirty to dispose of.. Bit of a mixed message, that        The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> General discussion Page 1 of 1