BOILER INSPECTION

Noel, Missouri 64854

Here-to-fore, each state has its own boiler inspection laws,
adhering closely to the ASME boiler code, for steam traction
engines used for show exhibits. However, in many cases engines are
not allowed to cross state line for displaying at other shows.

From the first to the last traction engines built there have
been many models, designs and types of boilers used. Would it be
more co-operative, helpful and pleasant to have a National Boiler
Organization, for traction show engines only, to draft a unified
boiler code for all types of steam traction show engine boilers,
with the same laws, rules and regulations for the boiler
inspectors? (In all states).

There are many types of seams in the longitudinal tube section
of boilers. Some of the earliest traction engines, which are now
real show engines, had a one row rivet lap seam with a 90 pound
pressure. Others had a two row rivet lap seam for a 125 pound
pressure, and a few of the later and larger engines had a three row
rivet lap seam for a 150 pound pressure.

The next was the advent of the various types of buttstrap seams.
Most of these are good but, a few are nothing to brag about. One of
these has a plate on the outside for one row of rivets and a wider
inside plate for a skip row of rivets, on each side of the seam.
However, all buttstrap seams having outside and inside plates with
two or more rows of rivets on each side of the seams are good.

Would it be good and reasonable to assume and believe that all
boilers free from visual imperfections, regardless of the type of
longitudinal seam, be safe for steam engine shows at 80 percent of
the original steam pressure when they were new? If that be true,
the small steam traction engines of early vintage, now ancient,
antiques and relics of the early day, would be a great asset to the
steam engines shows.