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Post Info TOPIC: My dad's toy steam engine (circa 1918 maybe?)


A Poncho Legend!

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My dad's toy steam engine (circa 1918 maybe?)


If anyone knows for sure when these were popular I'd love to hear about it. I plan to look online tonight to see what I can find.

My dad was born in 1906 and this was his toy, so I am guessing likely mid/late 19'teens? It's a Big Giant.

Fill the red tank with methyl hydrate, fill the water tank with water, and wait. You have to use the whistle (tiny lever that is horizontal in the picture on the small stem to one side of the chimney) to release pressure when it builds up too much and starts revving too high!

The crankshaft has a small pulley just outside of the flywheel to hook up a drive belt for attachments.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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Very cool Carl ! I've never seen one that style. I had a neat steam engine kit back in the 60's but this takes the cake!

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Since I posted the pics, I've been on google reading. Found quite about out about it. Ebay had some insight. They have an ad for how to get one for 35 cents if you subscribe to a kids magazine!

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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Had to do it in 2 pieces-

bg1.jpg

bg2.jpg

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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That's really cool Carl! Have you run it lately?

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Not for likely 10-15 years. We should have run it when you were here, never thought of it. You slept just a few feet from it!

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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Yup, Way Cool!

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That is cool Carl and there's nothing like having something that's passed down from generation to generation especially when it still works. My dad still has his steam engine and a train set of his dads.

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Fascinating and a very interesting part of toy history. It is amazing when you look at the junky toys made these days, that are ALL made in other countries. Here is not only a toy but something that is REAL. Thanks for sharing and is there any way of having a video made of the engine running under its own steam. Once you get it running of course. Cheers. George.



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Yes, for sure. I was thinking about it tonight. I may do it on the weekend. I think I will do it outside though. When I think about lighting a fire for a boiler that is almost a hundred years old, I think outdoors, safety glasses and gloves are likely a good idea.

I remember saving my money when I was little so I could buy a bottle of methyl hydrate to run this thing! So much fun... I can hardly wait to try it out again.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars



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Got 2 days to save up for some methyl hydrate.smile Will be cool to see it run.

 



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Love it! The BIG GIANT. biggrinI love old toys.

It doesn't compare to yours, but my older brother had one that would take fuel pellets in the 60s. It was made in Germany. He had a few accessories like a saw mill, conveyor, etc. I wonder what yours ran?



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'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



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1920 ad:



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'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.



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Big Giant vertical engine, engines were given as prizes or premiums for young people to sell subscriptions to the "Youths Companion" magazine from circa 1898 to 1929. This engine had one of the longest production runs, This is the only Weeden steam engine to be heated by using this fuel. "Big Giant" is embossed into the side of the boiler. The engine has a waterglass, weighted safety valve and a whistle.



Picture from: morphyauctions


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Company History

The Youth's Companion, a publication for children approached William Nye Weeden and asked him to design an inexpensive, quality toy that the magazine could use as a premium in an effort to increase subscriptions. Weeden designed an upright steam engine, the design, quality and function of the engine so impressed the publication that they gave Weeden an initial order for ten thousand units at one dollar apiece. This $10,000.00 would be the impetus for the formation of The Weeden Manufacturing Company in 1883.

Weedens Upright Steam Engine No.1, first appeared in the October 1884 issue of Youths Companion. This was a stationary steam engine with an upright boiler, offered for $1.00. In the 1870s and early 80s, the magazine had offered steam engines made by the Buckman Company of New York for these same purposes.

He often made his own tooling for the items he manufactured - presses, dies, molds and other production items. Realizing the value and the uniqueness of these specialty tools, patterns and dies he had them locked away in a fire-proof safe at the close of business each day.

The Weeden Manufacturing Company was in business for a long time and made a large variety of stationary toy steam engines and trains over the years. Mr. Weeden actually only ran the company for 8 years until his death in 1891 when William Richie, a former salesman took over as chief executive. When he passed away in 1939 his son William B. Richie followed him at the helm until 1942 when the company was sold to National Playthings which halted production of the line of steam engines in 1952. The remaining machinery, parts, dies, molds and patents for the steam engines were purchased by Security Signals Inc. for around $800 and kept in storage, until finally destroyed years later.



-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Thursday 26th of March 2015 06:31:58 AM

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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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