Red Machine? Does anyone know what this old machine is? It has a hopper at the far end that looks like it was meant to grind something. The two flywheels on either side looks like they...

Kenny Loc: Oregon

Does anyone know what this old machine is? It has a hopper at the far end that looks like it was meant to grind something. The two flywheels on either side looks like they could be use as power take-offs for belts.

Any ideas?

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

It's an antique farm engine. They were multipurpose gasoline engines that could be made to power much of the farm equipment used at the time by the use of wide leather belts. Not sure why they had those hoppers but a lot of them did. My understanding is that you put water in there to cool the engine but don't take my word for it because I really don't know for sure.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

These little engines were like our electricity of today. They ran everything around the house and the farm. Just hook a belt to it and it would run the washing machine, Corn shucker and best of all, an ice cream maker.:):) It would fire a spark plug about every 10 times the fly wheel goes around. So it was very easy on gas. I think even some of them made it into cars.:) Very fun to watch them run at our steam shows we have every fall here.
Erv

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

It resembles that of a "red wheeled thingamabob wagon" used as a farming aid. Most often used to scare off coyotes seeking chickens

BlokeOzz Loc: Morphett Vale South Australia

Hi,
That is definitely the cooling system for the engine, that hopper or tank was filled with water for cooling the motor.Used to see a lot of these in the Shearing sheds here in australia, And as Erv said, They fired once about every ten revolutions of the fly wheel, the weight of the flywheel kept it going between each firing. By the way, some one has done a damned good job of Restoration.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Erv wrote:

These little engines were like our electricity of today. They ran everything around the house and the farm. Just hook a belt to it and it would run the washing machine, Corn shucker and best of all, an ice cream maker.:):) It would fire a spark plug about every 10 times the fly wheel goes around. So it was very easy on gas. I think even some of them made it into cars.:) Very fun to watch them run at our steam shows we have every fall here.
Erv

I'd like to visit one of those shows to see stuff!
Pat

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

It is a fun thing to go to Pat. We have one of the bigs shows just 8 miles from the house. I missed it this year. We went down to see little Harrison this year.:)
Erv

Jay Pat wrote:

quote=Erv These little engines were like our elec... (show quote)

TruLaw Loc: Missouri

Also know as a Hit-and-Miss engine

Vic. Loc: Ohio

It is hit and miss engine the hopper you are talking about is where you put water to cool it. some people will pay quite a bit for them like Erv says you will see them around steam shows.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Erv wrote:

It is a fun thing to go to Pat. We have one of the bigs shows just 8 miles from the house. I missed it this year. We went down to see little Harrison this year.:)
Erv Erv

I'd like to visit one of those shows to see stuff!
Pat[/quote][/quote]

Erv, I just viewed a video of an engine. Others were running in the background!
If you think about it, I'd be interested in a schedule of shows for next May & June!
Thanks!
Pat

tg-adrian Loc: Jacksonville, FL

TruLaw wrote:

Also know as a Hit-and-Miss engine

:thumbup:

Kenny Loc: Oregon

My thanks to you all for filling me in on the background and purpose of the "little red machine". You have been most kind and generous to share your time and knowledge.

I have made arrangements to visit this hardware store again in the very near future. I am sure there will many more more machines I do not recognize and will share them with you. For, example, I saw a chain saw that is at least 15-feet long. I cannot imagine anyone big and strong enough to handle this monster.