The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

tmuir · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: Is this an Italian Engine?

Via my website I was contacted by a person who wanted his engine identified.

This one is a completely new one on me, but it has Italian writing on it. (I think)

Lets see if anyone can ID it.
I actually really like it, its something a bit different.

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A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

IndianaRog · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:17 am Post subject:

No idea what that is Tony, but I have to agree it's a likeable look to it!

At first blush I thought of a dairy milk can!!

Rog
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Lozza1 · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

Yes the writting does apear to be Italian.

Looks to be a nice engine too. A rather distinctive styling.

I am wondering if the base doubles as the burner- it looks like it might have a fuel port on one side.
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tmuir · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:57 am Post subject:

Roly Williams · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

Perhaps STEAMPROPULSION can recognise it.

It does look like the burner is built into the base. I assume that bulge sticking out of the side is a filler / SV? The boiler itself obviously doesn't extend right to the top (as can be seen through the chimney).
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STEAMPROPULSION · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:42 am Post subject:

THE OVAL TAG BEARS THE BUILDER'S NAME: FINOTTI UMBERTO. ABOVE THIS TAG THERE IS ANOTHER ONE STAMPED IN BUT I CANNOT READ IT. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS A COMMERCIALLY MADE IN ITALY ENGINE.
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tmuir · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

The other tage read CAP ADRIA 1964. What ever that means
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A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

Roly Williams · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

dorsey · Forum Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 13

Hello all,

I'm the person who sent tmuir the photos that he graciously posted, and have now joined the forum. I only own two and one half steam engines (included is a partially-completed Stuart 10V). I still found lots of great information here.

The wide, flat bottom is indeed a fuel tank with a central burner. In my opinion, a clever design that serves also as a solid base. That is a tapered spout for liquid fuel. Maybe there was a cork or rubber stopper at one time, because it is non-threaded. The circular cotton wick is still in place in the burner.

One other thing I can add is that when I removed the three bolts that keep the boiler cap in place, I found that it's more of a smoke box than boiler cap because it doesn't seal anything; it just funnels the smoke and heat from the flues out the central chimney.

My guess on the weight is about two or three pounds. It's significantly heavier than my Fleishmann veritical and slightly heavier than the Stuart. It feels like most of the weight is the boiler.

I can't figure out where the water filler is. If you notice the rounded cap protruding from the side opposite the cylinder, it's held in place by a spring-loaded bayonet connection (push in and turn to remove). There's a very small hole in the end, as if this were a pressure relief value. When removed, the spring is held in place at the tank end. Is it possible that there was a check ball there that is now missing? Would this be where I'd fill the boiler? I can post detailed photos if that would help anyone help me.

Thanks to all for commenting on this. I'm going to a local engine show in a few weeks and will bring this along to show the modelers there. I'll continue to add whatever I learn from other sources.

johnreid · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject:

It sure is an interesting piece, and welcome to the forum.
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Dauntless · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

a very nice looking engine!

I'm watching this topic with interest too see what information comes along!

Paul.
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Lozza1 · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

to the Forum Dorsey.

Your Italian verticle engine is very interesting. I haven't seen anything like it before.

Thank's for making it available for our perusal

I'd love to see more photo's of, what could be, the filler-safety valve-overflow-?

If it is the filler port for the boiler, then it does raise a few questions.

1) would you have to avoid filling the fuel tank base until after filling the boiler so you don't spill fuel when filling the boiler

Seems rather awkward

2) If you have to tip the engine on it's side to fill the boiler - then what is to stop water running out of the steam pipe while you do it? Also seems awkward

3) If it is a safety valve, with a check ball, the ball should be trapped on the engine side of the spring (otherwise the ball would be pushed the wrong way) The ball would then interfere with filling the boiler

HMMMM You have my curiosity going now
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dorsey · Forum Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 13

I couldn't get as close as I'd liked to, but here's a photo of the item in question:

[url]http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00001.JPG
[/url]

This is fuzzy photo with the cap removed:

[url]http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00003.JPG
[/url]

Here's the inside of the cap showing the bayonet pins and vent hole:

[url]http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00004.JPG
[/url]

Finally, a side view showing the bayonet hooks:

[url]http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00005.JPG
[/url]

If I have to tilt the engine on its side to fill, the fuel filler is also on the "high side", but that would still allow water to run out of the steam pipe.

dorsey · Forum Newbie Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 13

I can't get the hang of adding photos. If you want to see the images, try these links:

http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00001.JPG

http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00003.JPG

http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00004.JPG

http://www.regnavigator.com/images/DSC00005.JPG

Lozza1 · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:33 am Post subject:

Is that rust on the spring? If so I wonder where the rust is comming from

Can you get the spring out and see behind it?
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