The Gas/Diesel Engine Show Trailer
The display trailer shown below, contains examples of uses for several types of engines from the golden era of horse power. While constructing the rolling display, my intent was to convey what kind of tasks these engines could be used for, and how this was mechanically accomplished. The trailer has been part of many shows over the last several years and has undergone numerous additions and changes, including a recent complete overhaul. All the engines used are located and described in detail elsewhere on this site, and can be located by clicking on the appropriate links.
Walking around the trailer, we'll start with the 1923 31/2 HP Ottawa throttled gasoline engine. The engine drives a small line shaft which in turn drives the flywheel/pulley of the 1921 Curtis Air Compressor. The compressor is fitted with a pressure valve (brass unit mounted on top of the compressor head) controlling the intake valve of the compressor. This pressure valve samples the air pressure in the tank via a small copper tubing line. When the tank reaches a set pressure, the pressure valve disables the compressor intake valve, thus stopping the pumping action of the compressor without having to stop the flywheel. This allows the engine and drive belts to run continuously. The tank has a manifold plumbed to it, with an air hose connection, gate valve, air whistle (actually an exhaust whistle option for a Ford Model T), a gauge, and a safety pop-off valve.
Behind the Ottawa, sits the big 1750 pound (794 kg) Lister 10/2 12 HP generator set. The generator is actually a new unit modified to fit the electrical panel. The panel, cooling tank and stand, and all finishing items are custom made. The generator is capable of 7500 watts at 115/230 volts and provides all the electrical power used on the trailer, plus outlets for off-trailer uses.
The electrical panel is completely custom made using as many genuine antique components as I could find. Here again, I tried to simulate what might have been used in earlier days.
At the rear of the trailer is the 1941 Lister 3/1 3 HP diesel. It drives a 6" centrifugal water pump which circulates water from and to a 20 gallon barrel. This particular display shows the very common task that many of these stationary engines performed, that of supplying water for irrigation or general farm use. The street light located to the right of the engine is an original "Radial Wave" fixture from the teens and 20's mounted on a mock up "pole" to give the spectator an idea of how it would have looked hanging over a street in the early 20th century. The bulb is a 115 volt, 500 watt and is powered by the Lister gen set.
Continuing around to the left side of the trailer, a 1924 Myers electric recipricating pump is seen. This style and size of pump was a familiar sight in the 20's and 30's for homes that had electricity and were on wells. The pump was used to fill a pressurized storage tank with water from which the house's sinks and fixtures would feed. Though today's pumps are of a different configuration, the general setup is still used today. Here, the pump circulates water from and to the same barrel that the Lister pump set uses. Again, electrical power for the Myers is provided by the Lister gen set.
Back towards the front of the trailer, sits the 1933 31/2 HP Blackstone gasoline engine. This is driving a simple bench top grinder, one probably used in a small machine shop back in the teens or 20's.
Finally, between the Blackstone and Ottawa engines, hangs an original cast bronze and green porcelain street light, one that used to light a piece of roadway in Los Angeles back in the 20's or 30's. This fixture also has a 115 volt 500 watt bulb.
