Reprinted from ‘General Electric News–March 1979’ with
permission from Denver G. Chancellor, General Electric Company.
A work of art would be a fair appraisal of the miniature steam
engines built by General Electric’s Glenn Bowers. This working
model weighs about 30 pounds.
Glenn Bowers may not consider himself a celebrity but the recent
Tube Products Department retiree has (1) been featured on a
television program, (2) been the subject of a feature story in a
daily newspaper, (3) had his name appear in a well-known national
magazine and (4) won numerous awards.
Glenn, who retired effective March 1, has an unusual hobby that
has attracted all this attention. The former machine adjustor in
Owensboro’s grid department builds miniature steam engines.
Now perhaps the thought of a steam engine isn’t particularly
exciting. But if you ever see one of Bowers’ creations,
you’ll probably become a steam engine fan. Glenn’s steam
engines are simply beautiful works of art. They’re perfect in
every detail and work as well or better than the full-sized
models.
Whether you’re nine years old or 90, you’ll be anxious
for Bowers to fire up one of his engines so you can watch it puff
across the floor or yard.
If you’re a ‘city slicker’ and aren’t acquainted
with virtues of the steam engine, this type of power was used to
operate farm tractors, mills and locomotives before more
sophisticated engines took over. Bowers’ most impressive
engines are models of farm tractors which he has recreated
precisely, painted piece by piece and displays at fairs, steam
engine club competitions and other special events.
Just looking at one bf Bowers’ engines is entertaining, but
the real fun comes when he fires up one of the miniature tractors
and pulls a caravan of kids in coaster wagons around the yard.
That’s what he did for television personality Johnny Mann when
Mann brought his ‘On the Road’ program to Owensboro to film
Glenn and his engines.
Bowers, himself, can ride on a small trailer behind one of his
engines and ‘it can also pull a Volkswagen’, Glenn
reports.
Bowers’ steam engines become even more remarkable when you
consider that Glenn made every part himself. There are no kits or
manufactured parts involved.
‘I tooled every part with the exception of a few small metal
screws.’ Bowers confirms. ‘How long does it take me to
build an engine? I’ve never kept records of the hours required,
but I worked on one engine over a two-year span.’ That’s
easy to understand when you consider the tiny parts and intricate
work involved.
Glenn’s craftsmanship has earned him two awards from the
national publication, Mechanix Illustrated, and the Owensboro
newspaper featured the recent GE retiree in photographs and a
feature story after a reporter saw one of the engines at a county
fair. He has won several awards in crafts shows and competitions
sponsored by various steam engine clubs.
Bowers grew up on a farm and became interested in steam engines
when he was ‘about 17 years old. A fellow who owned a steam
engine lived about a mile from me and I would help him operate
it,’ Glenn recalls.
His first steam engine was built while he was working as a
mechanic for a Madisonville, Ky., Ford garage in 1948.
‘Business was slow for a few weeks so I thought I would
build one,’ Glenn explains.
There are two basic types of steam engines, traction and
stationary, according to Bowers. The traction engines are the ones
which can be driven (tractors, for example) while the stationary
engines were used to operate feed mills, flour mills and similar
operations.
‘A stationary engine once was used to operate one of
Owensboro’s distilleries,’ Glenn said.
About 1952 Bowers began seriously pursuing his unusual hobby.
Since that time he has built 14 steam engines and still owns a
dozen of them.
‘I sold two but I really didn’t intend to,’ Glenn
said with a laugh. ‘A couple of men asked me how much I would
take for engines, I gave them a price I thought they wouldn’t
take, but they did.’
Examples of the craftsmanship of Glenn Bowers are these 2 photos
of one of his steam engines. The engine pictured here has enough
power to pull a compact car.
The two he sold were the less-complicated stationary type. He
has been offered several thousand dollars for one of his traction
engines.
As a young man, Bowers worked at Ford garages in Eddyville and
Madisonville before moving to the Ford garage in Owensboro. From
there he moved to General Electric and, when he retired, had worked
at GE for ’28 years, nine months and 20 days.’
‘I was in grid when I started and stayed there throughout my
GE career,’ Glenn said. ‘I’ve got no complaints with
General Electric. It’s a fine place to work. The benefits are
good and I even won about $1,500 in suggestion awards during my
years at GE.’
Glenn said he decided to take early retirement at age 63
‘when I took a look at those good early retirement
benefits.’
Bowers’ wife, Mary, also is a General Electric employee and
currently works in the ceramics section.
What does Glenn plan to do now that he’s retired?
‘I have a lot to do around the house,’ Bowers said.
‘I bought some paint several weeks ago and haven’t had a
chance to use it until now. Of course I’ll also keep working on
my steam engines.’
Glenn puts his engines on display at various events about three
or four times a year but, if you live in or around Owensboro and
would like to see one now, there’s an engine on display at the
Owensboro Area Museum.
And with gasoline prices going up and possible shortages
predicted, Bowers just may decide to build himself a full-sized
engine for personal transportation. All he would need for fuel is a
few bushels of coal or some cords of wood.
