Ervin Miller’s fascination with stationary gas engines sparked early in his life. Ervin grew up with five siblings in Holmes County, Ohio. His family’s small acreage provided a garden for the family and a few acres for their horses and other livestock. But it was time spent in the shop that ignited his love for small engines.
“The best part of my folks’ farm was the shop,” he says. “That little building provided great learning experiences. We loved to work on tractors and hit-and-miss engines in our spare time. Maintaining these forms of old farm power provided an enjoyable sideline. It also created a desire for Dad to preserve history. Working alongside Dad while growing up inspired my fascination with hit-and-miss engines.”
As a young man, Ervin worked in construction and fabrication for six years. That lead to the opportunity to acquire a business restoring hit-and-miss engines. “We specialized in restoring and configuring engines to power ice cream freezers,” he says. “That allowed me to work from home on small engines, which I enjoy.”
When he bought the business, fabrication equipment came with it. By using that equipment – and with the help of two sons, Alton and Nathan – the machining business grew substantially. Today, about 60 percent of the operation is fabrication. “Our business has evolved as Scenic View Engine,” Ervin says. “We’re best known for the hit-and-miss engines and ice cream freezer units.”
Collecting antique engines – and their history
Ervin’s engine collection began early with a focus on the Galloway line. His six Galloways range from 2-1/4hp to 7hp. “I truly enjoy mechanical things,” he says. “And the engines are cheaper and require less room than tractors.” When he buys an unfamiliar engine brand, he enjoys learning about the company and the engine. “I cherish the knowledge about the history of early small engines,” he says.
Established in 1905 in Waterloo, Iowa, William Galloway Co. manufactured a vast array of agricultural products. The company’s 1913 mail order catalog featured 146 pages with almost anything the farmer could imagine.
In 1908, Galloway’s product line expanded to include a vehicle. It was promoted as a conveyance to carry the family to church on Sunday and haul loads during the week. The primitive high-wheeler was powered by a 2-cylinder, 14hp engine.
The company acquired substantial interests in other firms to bolster automobile manufacturing but shut down the operation in 1917.
During the company’s automotive manufacturing era, Galloway continued to expand its agriculture line and mail order business. The portable gas engine was Galloway’s primary product. The small engine was touted for both barn and home use. It could power equipment to cut and elevate ensilage, grind feed or run the fanning mill. At the dairy barn, it might operate the cream separator or churn. When backed up to the kitchen porch, it was suitable for running the clothes washer.
During a period of financial difficulties, the Galloway company faced bankruptcy. Galloway’s sons resurrected the company in late 1926. The company survived into the early 1940s, albeit on a smaller scale.
Edwards engine is in a class by itself
The most unique engine in Ervin’s collection is a 2-cylinder Edwards. Edwards Motor Co. was incorporated in 1920 in Springfield, Ohio.
According to C.H. Wendel’s Encyclopedia of American Gas Engines, Edwards produced just one model with a range of 1hp to 6hp. This unique engine produces different horsepower ratings depending on whether the engine is run in single-cylinder or 2-cylinder operation.
Each piston has its own gas line from the carburetor with a shutoff screw. When the needle valve is screwed in on one line, the other cylinder continues to operate. For greater fuel efficiency on lighter loads, the engine can be run on one piston. Operating the engine on two cylinders delivers a boost in horsepower.
The engine has igniters rather than spark plugs, an uncommon design in 2-cylinder engines. Two oilers, one for each cylinder, lubricate the wrist pin and piston, as most single-cylinder engines do.
The engine is started with a belt rather than a crank, and it is turned over the opposite way of almost all other engines. Most engines crank to the operator’s right; the Edwards cranks to the left.
McCormick-Deering and John Deere
Ervin’s collection includes a 1947 McCormick-Deering Model LB. The Model LA was built from 1934 to mid-1941. The Model LB followed, in production from 1941-’48. This model was offered in two sizes: 1-1/2hp to 2-1/2hp and 2-1/2hp to 5hp.
Although quite similar, the two models differed in one important way: The LB is self-oiling. A tube is connected at the block’s front and goes into an oil trough filled with felt above the rockers. Both models are throttle-governed.
Ervin’s Fairbanks-Morse 6hp Model Z engine was originally owned by his grandfather. The Fairbanks-Morse Co. was founded in the late 1880s with headquarters in Chicago. The company manufactured several kinds of engines, including the Eclipse pump engine, the Jack-of-all-Trades and industrial units.
The Fairbanks Z series engine line, introduced in 1916, was adapted to use with kerosene and other low-grade fuels. Originally sold with air compressors, vacuum pumps, water pumps, corn shellers, feed grinders, washing machines and sawmills, Z series engines were purchased by farmers for use in varied applications. Ultimately, more than 550,000 Model Z engines were produced.
Ervin owns several John Deere Model E engines. Beginning in the early 1900s, John Deere offered stationary engines manufactured by other companies. When Deere & Co. acquired Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., Waterloo, Iowa, in 1918, Deere began engine production in multiple configurations.
In their own engines, John Deere strived for simplicity. Fewer mechanisms meant fewer problems. Their Model E series included 1-1/2hp and 3hp engines with rotary magnetos and break-point igniters.
More than 70,000 1-1/2hp Model E engines were built in 21 years of production. Available in five versions, the 3hp engine was the most versatile. The 3hp was also the final Model E produced in 1946. With more than 130,000 units produced over a span of 24 years, the John Deere E series was a popular small engine around the world.
Building the Little John engine
In addition to restoring small engines, Scenic View Engine also builds Little John Type E one-half-scale-model engines. Ervin first saw a Little John years ago at the Tri-State Gas Engine & Tractor Show in Portland, Indiana. It had been built by Leroy Hoover, who operated Farmer Brown Engines. “References are not clear on Hoover’s source for the design of the little engine,” Ervin says, “but I was fascinated with the half-scale Little John. As a result, I bought a kit from Leroy and my nephew machined it.”
As Leroy aged, he was no longer able to assemble engines. He began to think that the Little John would complement Ervin’s small engine interests. “Eventually, I acquired the patterns,” Ervin says. “The block, flywheel, head, igniter, rocker arm and crankshaft are cast by Martin Model & Pattern. We machine most of the parts ourselves. We also built a single 1/3-scale model of the John Deere from a casting kit.” FC
For more information: Contact Ervin Miller via an answering service at (330) 674-2450 or scenicviewengine@ibyfax.com.
About the author: Freelance writer Fred Hendricks of Mansfield, Ohio, covers a vast array of subjects relating to agriculture. Email Fred at fwhendricks@gmail.com.
