Ohio
The data on the opposite page is the result of the economy tests
runs of steam traction engines tested at Montpelier, Ohio last
June.
As in former years, the testing was done on the original A. D.
Baker Co. Prony friction brake. This brake was borrowed from the
reunion at the Blaker Farm several years later and saw the interest
that was shown, he gave it to the association.
Compared with the 1960 tests that were published in the Jan.-
Feb. 1961 issue of IRON MEN ALBUM, it will be noted that they vary
somewhat. A good simple counter flow engine should use from 32 to
36 lbs. of water per hp. hr.
The Advance catalogue states that their new engines will develop
one horsepower per hour on 34 lbs. of water. Last years tests shows
John Holp of near Brookville, Ohio with his nice 20-60 hp. Advance
engine did it on 32.54 lbs. of water.
I assumed the Baker uniflow engine was as economical as a good
Woolf compound engine, but the average of our tests did not prove
it. Also on the average, the boilers with long tubes proved the
most economical.
I was at the Baker Co. factory many times when they were
building and testing steam traction engines. Their first high
pressure light steam tractor was cross-compound and Mr. Baker told
me he did not like the indicator cards from it, and they were
looking for a more economical engine. I told him he would have to
admit the Reeves cross-compound was a good engine.
John Albeck, one of their test house men, told me they acquired
a 16 hp. Port Huron engine with Woolf Compound cylinders, and
thoroughly rebuilt it, and in the test house, it developed one hp.
hr. on 27 lbs. of water. That greater economy and cooler exhaust
steam so their condenser radiator would be more efficient, caused
the company to design and build a tandem-compound light steam
tractor, and it would have been a great success had they been able
to extract all of the cylinder oil from the condensed exhaust steam
which was used to feed the boiler.
