Results Of The Economy Run Of Steam Traction Engines At National Threshers Assn. Reunion At Montpelier, Ohio June 23, 24, 25, 1960
By LEROY W. BLAKER
Alvordton, Ohio
Owners Name
Make Of Engine
H. P. Raring
HP. Load Brake
Lbs. Of Coal Used
Lbs. Of Water Used
Lbs. Of Coal HP. HR.
Lbs. Of Water HP. HR.
Lbs. Of Water Eva. Lb. Coal
Engineer
John Holp
Advance
20-60
45.2
268
1472
5.93
32.56
5.49
John Holp
Wilford Bunyea
Harrison Jumbo
20-65
47.2
304
1691
6.44
35.8
5.56
A. H. Shear
National Threshers
Port Huron
19-65
50.22
234
1582
4.65
30.5
6.76
Peter Bucher
LeRoy Blaker
Port Huron
24-75
57.65
133
1164
2.32
20.2
8.75
LeRoy Blaker
Percy Sherman
Russell
25-75
61.12
218
1752
3.57
28.66
8.03
Percy Sherman
Raymond Fork
Baker
21-75
65.05
376
2080
5.8
31.94
5.26
Louis Fork
The above data is correct and was witnessed by a special committee and hundreds of visitors. The committee weighed the coal and water and checked the fire and water level at the beginning and end of each run. The engineers agreed to give each engine approximately ¾ its rated belt hp and about 10 minutes time under load for warming up before time for test to start. The brake hp used was James Watt's 33,000 lbs. one foot high in one minute -- not the 18,000 foot lbs. adapted by the automobile industry about 40 years ago.
The testing was done on the original Baker Prony brake and the hp load was at the brake, not at the engine flywheel or the indicated hp.
The A. D. Baker Company claimed the most economical steam traction engine. We challenged that claim for economy and the results show the 24-75 Port Huron "Longfellow" high pressure Woolf compound the winner with a water (or steam) consumption of only 20.2 lbs. per hp.hr. The design and condition of the engine accounts for its economy in lbs. of water (or steam) per hp.hr. The average of all the other engines in this contest used over 50% more water and over 100% more coal per hp.hr.
This engine was equipped with crosshead boiler feed pump, exhaust steam feed water heater and firebox brick arch. This record equalled the economy run made by it Oct. 13, 1956 as described on page 16 of March-April 1957 issue of IRON-MEN ALBUM and it will do it again at Montpelier in June 1961.
LeRoy Blaker's 24-75 Fort Huron engine, winner in the economy runs at Montpelier, Ohio, June 1960. Engine No. 8503 - new September 1920.
Most of the credit for this economical engine is due to the Woolf compound cylinders and "Longfellow" boiler. The Woolf compound cylinders uses the steam twice and has a mild exhaust. They do not waste their power with excessive back pressure "Blasting the sky"
The 19-65 Port Huron "Longfellow" did not show up nearly as economical so after the June 1960 reunion I removed the pistons and found the piston rings and metallic packing between the cylinders in very poor condition. The spring that holds the Woolf valve up to its seat was weak - allowing the valve to not seat properly.
The next most economical engine was the 25-75 Russell. It was equipped with a Baker piston valve that replaced the original double ported ring balanced valve many years ago. The reverse lever was hooked up close to the center notch thus accounting for its economy - "eye wash" according to Hollis Cortelyou - who has not owned an engine for nearly 50 years.
The nice 20 hp Advance was owned and run by John Holp. The Holps-Homer and Sons are the best engineers in the country.
I think all the other entrants in this contest did real well compared with new engines in the Winnipeg Industrial Exhibition from 1909 to 1913. In 1909 a new 36-120 hp double Rumely engine with 7&3/4" by 14" cylinders used 60 lbs. of water (or steam) per hp.hr. The next year (1910) this same size engine used 54.93 lbs. of water per hp.hr. In 1909 a new 30-90 Russell compound with 7¼"/11" by 12" cylinders used 32.5 lbs. of water per hp.hr. and evaporated 9.8 lbs. of water for each lb. of coal.
In 1911 a new Buffalo-Pitts engine (my data does not give size or style) developed 97.72 hp using 46 lbs. of water per hp.hr. with 147.3 lbs. average steam pressure. That same year a new large Gaar-scott engine developed 150.72 hp on the half hour maximum run with the engine running 285 rev. per minute and using 32.5 lbs. of water per hp.hr.
The 110hp Case was the gold medal winner for several years at Winnipeg and in 1913 this engine developed its rated belt hp for two hours on 26.23lbs. of water per hp.hr. That same year the 25-80 Case with 9¼"x 13"/11" Woolf compound cylinders used 26.45 lbs. of water per hp.hr. on the two hour economy run developing 80.1 hp and was the gold medal winner in its class.
At the Ohio State University, a new Baker uniflow engine developed an hp.hr. on 24 lbs. of water. More economy run data will be found on page 10 of the May-June 1956 issue of Iron-Men Album.
So much interest was shown in the economy runs at Montpelier last June, we plan to make it still more interesting with more engines this coming June 22, 23, 24, 1961. We have promise of a good Keck-Gonnerman and a cross-compound Reeves. Quoting Cortelyou again - "It's performance that counts - not theory"