Jerry Kitten, of Slaton, Texas, who is a ‘triple great
nephew’ of steam engine business founder Florens Kitten, is
digging into the past and coming up with a lot of information about
Kitten engines.
For one thing, he has a copy of the patent papers issued to
Florens dated August 20, 1889, for ‘new and useful improvements
‘My invention relates to an improvement in steam-boilers;
and the objects of my invention are to place inside the fire-box a
fire shield formed of a plate or water-bars, so as to compel the
products of combustion to pass from the grate-bars in the rear end
of the fire-box forward toward the front end of the boiler, and
then upward and back under the crown-sheet and forward through the
flues; to secure the crown-sheet of the boiler, made of a single
piece, to the fuel-head at its rear edge and to the top of the
front wall of the fire-box at its front one, and to construct a
boiler which will generate a greater quantity of steam in a certain
time and with a certain quantity of fuel than other furnaces of the
same size.’
He asserted that the boiler was ‘especially adapted for
traction-engines’ but also ‘suitable for any and all places
where a boiler is needed’.
Jerry has sent us pictures and information, showing that the
earliest Kitten boiler had the exhaust in front, with no steam
dome; the second one had exhaust in back, no steam dome, and
half-canopy, and the third had a steam dome with exhaust in back.
He also sent a copy of a photo showing a portable engine next to
Florens’ house, with a steam dome.
Jerry understands that some company ‘filed’ against
Florens for making a reverse flue, ‘but as it turned out
Florens had the patent!’ He has sent along the directions for
setting the slide for the Kitten, as sent out by the factory. It
follows:
Directions for Setting Slide Valve
Set Pitman to center forwards and backwards and get slide valve
rod to a stand still. If the pitman stays below center when the
slide valve rods stands still, then the eccentric stand must be
lowered.
‘If the rod stands still when pitman is above center, then
the stand must be raised. If the slide valve has too much lead or
opens too much on center, then the reverse bar must be made longer
or the reverse stand must be raised.’
When adjusting the opening of the slide, Jerry advises Kitten
owners, the slide should be open half-way. He says that the
accuracy of the casting for the opening varies to some extent but
the makers were trying to get a half-inch-wide opening and half of
that is one-quarter. So, he says, the one-quarter-inch opening of
the slide valve should be the same in all four positions.
He adds: ‘When it is timed right, the second notch makes the
Kitten sound as though it has TWO engines.’ He calls it
‘tricky design in the valve system.’
If you need help, call him. His number is (806) 828-6244.
He’s with Kitten-Mosely Fertilizer & Supply, Inc., Rt. 2,
Box 6, Slaton, Texas 79364.
#
Year Mfg
Owner
224
1940
Kitten-Mosely Fertilizer, Slaton, Texas
223
Leroy McClure, Colchester, Illinois
222
Lloyd Sanders, Kokomo, Indiana
221
Lawrence Troesch, St. Meinrod, Indiana
220
Al New, Pendleton, Indiana
219
1927
Eiffel Plasterer, Huntington, Indiana
218
Lubbock County Museum, Lubbock, Texas
217
Graveyard Headstone
216
7-13-26
Billy Kennedy, Grafton, Ohio
215
3-27-26
Robert Lerly, Mountville, Pennsylvania
214
3-30-25
Paul Stolzfoos, Leola, Pennsylvania
213-211
????
?????
210
10-27-24
Neil McClure, Colchester, Illinois
209-205
????
??????
204
6-7-22
Hubert Reynolds, Boonville, Indiana
203-190
????
??????
197
6-30-20
Bill Ruttledge, Dyer, Indiana
195
2-16-20
R. E. Alexander, Bourbon, Missouri
176
10-24-13
Wallace Freeman, Kentucky
148
9-9-07
Eiffel Plasterer, Huntington, Indiana
153
1910
Edaville Railroad, South Carver, Massachusetts
??
??
Charles Scafer, Argus, Indiana
??
??
Eiffel Plasterer, Huntington, Indiana
Above is Jerry Kitten’s listing of Kitten engine owners – so
far, he has located 20 of the engines, and is still looking, so let
him know if you are aware of others. All of the ones he has located
had the ‘new’ style boilers.
Sawing firewood in Weber’s bottom about the year 1910. This
rugged crew took time out to pose for a picture, which is owned by
Edward Ruhe The steam engine was owned by Herman Jasper, John
Meyer, John Weber, Sr., Gehard Ruhe Herman Witte, who called
themselves ‘The Big Five.’ Pictured across the back from
left are Herman Witte, Herman Niehaus and Frank Meyer. Seated from
left are John Weber, Martin Shipp, Joe Weber, Harry Ruhe, Joe
Meyer, Charles Limp, Gehard Ruhe and Ben Weber. The three in front
are Herman Jasper, John Meyer and John Weber, Sr. The blurred
person in the lower center with dog is Herb Ruhe. John Meyer’s
wife’s maiden name was Kitten
