We received but one response to the “mystery” engine featured in Spalding’s Corner in the September/October 2005 issue of Steam Traction. Bill Roberts from the Somerset Steam & Gas Engine Assn. in Somerset, Va., wrote in with his identification and a request for more information. Bill wrote:
“In reference to “Spaulding’s Corner,” page 20, of the September/October 2005 issue of Steam Traction, concerning the unidentified steam traction engine: I believe this is to be an 1884 Gaar-Scott 10 HP steam engine. It has all the features of my Gaar-Scott, which appeared in the March/April 2005 issue on page 11.
“I would be very appreciative if you could send me a copy of the photo in question and any information you may already have or may obtain from the readers concerning the photo.”
The engine in last issue’s photo was not accompanied by any identification, but after receiving Bill’s letter there’s no question that Bill is correct in identifying it as a Gaar-Scott. For getting his answer in first, Bill gets a free copy of Prof. P.F. Rose’s Steam Engine Guide.
This month’s mystery engine comes, as usual, courtesy of John Spalding, 112 Carriage Place, Hendersonville, TN 37035 (genesis 645@aol.com). By way of a hint, we’ll allow that the pictured engine is exceedingly rare. How rare, you ask? Well, to date, only one surviving engine has accounted for.
As ever, the first person to correctly identify the engine, by mail, gets a free copy of Prof. P.F. Rose’s Steam Engine Guide.
