I always enjoy reading Farm Collector. With the variety
of subjects covered, there is always something new and interesting.
When looking through the April 2005 issue, I got real excited when
I saw an article on a Waterloo pump jack. I found one a number of
years ago in a neighbor’s pasture while looking in a brush patch
for a missing calf. After some begging from me, the neighbor said I
Within a half hour, it had a new home.
It came with a set of channel iron mounting brackets that
fastened under both the pump jack and a gasoline engine. The pump
jack would be mounted off the side of the engine, and hooked
directly to the end of the crankshaft and flywheel of the engine
with a special coupler so it didn’t need a flat belt to be driven.
When it was mounted to an engine on a cart, it would make the whole
unit portable and easily moved from well to well. I could not find
any old paint on it and not being able to come up with any
information from anyone on what color it should be, I painted it
red like a Waterloo Boy gas engine.
After talking to several people at shows and auctions, I have
been told there were four different pump jacks made that looked
exactly alike but with different brand names on the castings of the
two side flywheels. I have in my collection three of those four.
They are Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., Waterloo, Iowa; John Deere
Tractor Co., Waterloo, Iowa; and Dain Manufacturing Co., Ottumwa,
Iowa (Dain was also bought out by Deere & Co.). The one I do
not have is said to have no name or markings on the flywheels.
After a number of years of looking, I have seen a few Dain and
John Deere pump jacks, but I have not seen or heard of any of the
unmarked ones, or any other Waterloos. I would be interested to
know if anyone has or knows of an unmarked one (I need one to fill
my collection), or if there are any other Waterloos around.
– Tim Maves
E. 3558 County Road P
Menomonie, WI 54751
