The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

redryder · Last edited by redryder on Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

We visited Simone's family on Cape Cod and I took off on Saturday afternoon to find some antique
shops. I actually found something this time. I asked the gent if he had any steam engines and
he said no. I was about to leave when he said wait a minute.... I think I have an old thingamajig
of some sort in the back room. I said OK let's have a look as I have a few thingamajigs already.
He pulled out these 2 pieces and indicated I could make him an offer. $125 bought both of
them. They will both be on ebay soon. The steam engine is a Schoenner missing a wood
base and the little piece is a Paradox flame ignition gas engine. The Paradox will not run on
propane or butane or acetylene. It was designed to run on illuminating gas which was
plentiful around 1900. The fellow who owns the one in the video below had a mix made up
for him of 60% hydrogen, 30% methane, 10% carbon monoxide.

Here are videos of a similar Paradox running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GryagG9Fme0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W4cEwqV62g&feature=related

Gil

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Steam on,
redryder

made-in-england · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

what a couple of crackers!!

Wish they had somthingnin the antique shop where i live!! No such hope and theres more than 5!! Why are they destined for ebay?
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I Like SP2 engines a little too much

redryder · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

They don't quite fit in my collection and I use pieces like this to help pay for my always evolving collection.

Gil
_________________
Steam on,
redryder

Mister Occlusion · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject:

Interesting concept, that Paradox.
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Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.

duncandumpertruck · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Looking forward to the Paradox coming up

Will you be including the can of cola?

Les · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

Some people have all the luck.

Well done.

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Les - Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternatives.

www.freewebs.com/lesmarsh

redryder · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:31 am Post subject:

Thanks guys,

They are both neat pieces and now both listed on ebay. I hope to make a little on these to help support my Jensen habit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130208702635

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130208693658

The Paradox is reserved at 400 and the Schoenner has no reserve.

Gil
_________________
Steam on,
redryder

tmuir · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:01 am Post subject:

Nice buy. I've had a couple of wins at antique shops but never one that good.
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http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/

A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

Stitch · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:07 am Post subject:

Great find. There is nothing as exciting as a great antique shop discovery

Last week I went into one of the local Newcastle antique stores (one of the "better" ones). They had a rather tatty SR1A and were asking $A 695 for it

redryder · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:08 am Post subject:

Stitch · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:23 am Post subject:

johnreid · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:26 am Post subject:

There is an Antique Store in Northern Kentucky, near here, that had a well worn "Pre War" Jensen 60, hobby line with the newer style label. I think he was wanting somewhere between $500 and $600, he did hint that if U made a serious offer he might go down 25 or 30 dollars.
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Your life is an occasion...Rise to it

redryder · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:34 am Post subject:

Nick · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:44 am Post subject:

He would probably just ignore anyone trying to help him.

Great Find! I check shops any time I travel.

Mister Occlusion · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:22 am Post subject:

Is this a question of ignorance on the part of someone who is supposed to have some professional expertise, or is it a case of a person with a loose moral compass who is looking for the next sucker? I mean, it's not like it's difficult to read the label and stick 2 words into google.

Should see if the guy does appraisals for insurance. I wonder how much my pre-war Jensen 85 could be worth..

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Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.