Why?

JensenSteamMan · Why?

This is not a post about whos right or whos wrong.

As most people know (and some people dont
come to this fourm at all for this reason)things can
get slightly heated most of the time, but right now
we are at like butane burner heat lol

If everybody would just keep things to FACTS
there would be no quarreling like their has been.
You cant argue with a fact. You cant argue with the
opinion that somebody likes the way one brand looks
(to them it is a fact). So if we would try to just stick to
the facts and be nice it would be much more pleasent.

About brand loyalty... that always seems to
be what has created friction. One way to
eliminate this is people that dont have a
certain brand, dont speek a word about that
brand unless its a question!!! If you dont have
one of their engines to have studied,
as well as operated, ya dont know enough to
be judgemental of whatever that brand may be,
unless you have FACTS, not just opinions you
have formed looking at an online picture.

This is why when I discuss engines, its always
about a brand I have had an experience with,
as well as why I have models of other
brands than Jensen. I pick the model from
that company that is most appealing to me,
and then once I get it and once I have operated
it and owned it for a while facts begin to form.
I always always try to have posts that are
100% factual when commenting on another brand.

So maybe some of the above will be helpful at
least a little at quenching the heat that is
sometimes created. Please think before posting everybody!

Happy steaming to all!
Best,
Casey

SPOKESMAN

Hi Casey, can you be a little more specific? Are we talking about engine brands here or the forum 'branding'!

JensenSteamMan

Sandman

SPOKESMAN

We all have our favourite brand/manufacturers!

My avatar give s a small clue to mine!

JensenSteamMan

Sandman,

I agree with this as well. The personal comments have no place at all on this board.

I belive the discussion is good as well, helps other people learn more about other brands they may not have even heard of or considered before.

Bowmans are very fine engines. I continue the search for my own.
I would rate them 2nd to a Jensen

Mainly being they didnt have silver soldered boilers and didnt have a side valve engine that I'm aware of are the main things. But still they are very fine engines, and well build to last for years and years of fun!

Cheers,
Casey

Griffin

SPOKESMAN

Griffin

Mamodman123

I personally don't see a problem with the whole one brand is better than the other. In many cases some brands of engine are crap and others are better!

My favourite is obviously Mamod, and next to that Bowman.I don't like Wilesco I have reasons for not liking them but won't go into that right now

If anyone wants a mamod V Wilesco disscusion then walk this way

JensenSteamMan

Mamodman123

JensenSteamMan

I belive it! In their factory video the metal in the die cast furnace the metal that is put into it to be melted looks to be old defective ladles and spoons that didnt get sent out from the factory that they made. (They also make ladles and spoon, as well as hooks and pans i think?)

Cheers,
Casey

Mamodman123

Steve_S

As the owner of engines from five different manufacturers, plus a couple of unknowns, I would say that the diversity is part of the interest of this hobby. Having said that, well lets just say that some manufacturers clearly had better quality control than others! Bowmans are at the top of the heap for me... but then I haven't got a Mersey or a Jensen, and I'd very much like one or more of both!

flywheel61

Variety is the spice of life and debate keeps the mind active. I have no problem with this kind of ethos so long as, every one has said, the debate does not degenerate into a personal slinging match. I admit to being slightly one eyed like others, my avatar shows my allegience, but always keep an open mind.

Cheers

Chris

IndianaRog · Spirited brand loyalty

I think the love one has for their first toy steam engine might be akin to that first love of a gal (or guy as the case may be). You might go on to brand X, Y or Z...but always have a warm spot for that first engine. My first and still close at hand engine is a 1961 Fleischmann 122/3...Esbit fired, pressed metal base and goes as you English would say...like the clappers (whatever the heck a clapper is).

Fast forward to the present and like a few other posters, I have found a warm spot for Jensens. From a factual standpoint, I do believe Jensen boilers are the thickest nickel plated brass out there and they are silver soldered. Their boilers are tough as nails and though not advertised as such, I do believe a Jensen boiler will survive a boiler running dry without puddles of solder dripping out. Of my other engines, only the Bowman E101 would seem to rival the Jensens for robust construction all the way around, and as I found out, my Wormars Trojan (made by Bowman) was silver soldered too...so no question there is very stout stuff out there. I'm looking forward to a few more forum members trying a Jensen on for size...heck, I'm a Yank and I own a few Bowmans, an SE3,
a Mersey and a couple of Wilesco's too, so I'm doing all I can for steam diversity!!
cheers,
Roger

James

Rog, that's very true, in both ways. About the engine, and the lass

Mamodman123

Manxman

I've just had an add up and I think of got models from about 12 different makers and another few totally unknown engines. I love em all and enjoy collecting mobile steam toys. All of the models have a place in my collection from my earliest Bing (German) to my most modern Gakken (Japanese). It's all part of the hobby.

Sandman

I may have given the wrong impression in my earlier post.

I too collect more than simply Bowmans.

I have several Mamods both stationary and mobile including a loco and a roadster.

I also have a nice SEL and my wifes favourite , a Wilesco traction engine.

I still rate my top engine as a Bowman. Though I wouldn't part with any of the rest.

TE1A_man

Ya, i think that brandonb went a little overboard, and that some of the things he told me were a lie. As for brands, i like a good engine, any engine, if i was offtered a mamod i would take it, but if i was offered a mamod or a wilesco, i would knock the guy out and take them both. With some of the things people have told me about wilesco engines, my opinion is starting to change, and in a mamod and jensen sort of way, i think wilescos are a little expensive too. Well lads, being around all these mamod men must have had effect on me, a mamod is looking better and better to me everyday, who knows, maybe i will be the next MM?!?!

Mamodman123

TE1A_man

Ya, i mean like rog said, my D6 is my first engine, so it will have a warm spot, but my TE1A is staying, and my 85. I am looking to get a mamod wagon (like i have for the past couple months.)
Maybe, you mm, could be my mentor!!!!

Mamodman123

tmuir

I large part of my collection is Mamod as I managed to pick up most of them when I was in the UK cheaply last year but I think as time goes on my Mamods will get less and I will add more Bowman, Luton Bowman,Australian Renowns and Scorpions as well as any loco I can get to my collection.

Cedge

Casey
It's too easy to forget that a hobby is for entertainment and personal edification, especially when one is rabidly defending the honor of one's favorite engine. Truth be told, there is no right or wrong way to collect, be it buttons, bobbins or bowling balls.

Were I cut from different cloth, I could probably expound endlessly upon the higher virtues of hand made steam engines over toy engines or perhaps play the superior collector simply based on the money spent on such machines. Neither approach is likely to endear me much to other collectors and both would soon render me lonely and ignored among my peers..... assuming I actually had any...LOL. Fortunately, I do not find either route appealing nor would I consider either course to be worthy of arguing.

Each collector enjoys his own way of collecting and has his own ideas of what is desirable. You'll never see me denegrate another man's engine, even if its not one I'd want to own. To him it is a pearl beyond compare and I have no right to take that feeing from him. I've enjoyed collections ranging from a couple of small but cherished engines, to collections where literally hundreds of full sized engines were present. I can honestly say that I've never envied another man's collection. However, I have entered into friendly negotiations for one or two of his pieces. Heck... I am only human after all...LOL

Among fellow collectors, a bit of good natured ribaldry and ribbing is a good thing as long as all parties understand no harm is meant. Taking it too far is where feelings get bruised and good friendships sadly come to ends. There are quite a number of "younger" steam enthusiasts on this board who will grow old together. It's probably a good idea to try to maintain the friendships you've made here. Failing to do so is a sure way to have regrets and hard feelings to last a lifetime. Try being friendly to an old nemesis after 20 years of distrust and you'll see what I mean.

Bottom line... it's a just hobby, it's supposed to be fun for everyone who does it. Taking things too personally only kills the fun for everyone.

Steve

TE1A_man

Jeez, where do you get all these life lessons, like a walking book!!!

Well, he is right, couldn't of said it better, or anything like that!!!

Cedge

Logan
It's natural after you've dashed headlong into enough rock walls. LOL. The resulting mushy spot this action creates in your skull just seems to allow life to feed its lessons to you a little more easily.

The problem with this method is that by the time you've absorbed enough life experiences to be considered even sorta semi wise, there just aint a heck of a lot of time left for you to use them....(grin).

Higher education is always expensive, but nothing comes so dear as an advanced degree from the school of hard knocks.

Steve

SPOKESMAN

Some good stuff here!

In my house were very much BMW fans . . .

Bowman Mamod Wilesco

flywheel61

Cedge wrote

Knowsnothin

Meccano steam engines where always my first love
Especially the 1929 model (The one below)

But since I got myself this one,
Its Mamod all the way for me .......

Mamodman123

How is the SE4 these days Mike? managed to run it since the video?

Knowsnothin

Its fine MM,
I havent fired it for a while, Im running low on fuel tablets
So have to make do with the video ........

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

Mamodman123

SPOKESMAN

Knowsnothin

Mamodman123

tmuir

Have you fired the dribbler?

JensenSteamMan

Steve,

All very true and wise as usual! I agree with it all, and I feel like
a little matchup is fun. But I would hate to see a single new steamer turn away from the hobby because he sees us in a real
quarrel, and doesnt see the folks in the hobby for what they truely are (great folks of course!)

I like just throwing the facts out and leaving them there for others to see, and then seeing their reaction as well. I guess I enjoy seeing other people find out about Jensen's, and be happy just like I was when I first discovered Jensen steam engines(and toy steam engines) all at one time.

I remember thinking when I had first learned about toysteam engines......
"This is impossible, how can you have an engine that you can run in your house, it is cheap, you can power other items with it, simple to take care of, its a TOY, its collectible, and its built in the USA!?!?"
I was estatic when I first found the Jensen website! I really did have an increased heart rate, sweaty palms, eye strain, and the uncontrollable urge to have one!!!

Although I am involved in everything mechanical from a Briggs and Stratton racing engine on my go-kart I modded myself, to a Caterpillar 933 crawler, I will still always collect Jensen's ardently!

Happy Steaming to all!
-Casey

SPOKESMAN

Steady on now you'll have a seizure!!

Sandman

Now now Casey.

I'm sure I detected a hint of passion there.

Good on yer mate.

Knowsnothin

sparky

ill definatley have a look for that one didnt relise it was on here already

JensenSteamMan

Why?

Spirited brand loyalty