Junkyard Yields Gems for Gas Engine Collector

(Page 3 of 3)

July 2009
Leslie C. McManus 
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Bill’s 1-1/2 hp Rawleigh-Schryer is reminiscent of a Stover engine, and with good reason. Rawleigh-Schryer designers got their start at the Stover Engine Co. Company founder W.T. Rawleigh was famous not only for gas engines, but also a thriving business in home remedies, salves and lotions. His engine business ended after a devastating fire destroyed the plant in 1916.

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Starting young

Tinkering with engines comes naturally for Bill, who began collecting engines in 1975. “I’ve worked with mechanical things all my life,” he says. “When I was a kid on the farm, my dad had a machine shop and I was always in there bothering him.” Bill’s dad bought the youth a Rock Island engine, and Bill tore into it. “I couldn’t get it to run, but he did.”

Later, the two joined forces on a beat-up Maytag they bought at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. “We went back to the campground where we were staying during the show and worked on that engine on the tailgate of a station wagon,” he recalls. “We finally got it running at midnight. I’ll bet the other people camping there had a fit.”

Bill’s show display is just the tip of the iceberg. He admits to a collection of about 70 engines, and he expects to hold it at that. “I have more now than I’ll ever get running,” he says with a smile. “My wife says the engines have to go before I do.”

After nearly 35 years in the hobby, he remains fascinated by early engine design. “The way it started out, it was all hand work,” Bill says, “but they still came up with a way to build an engine.” FC

For more information: Bill Briney, 1603 S. Market, Oskaloosa, IA 52577; (641) 673-7165.
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