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
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 (genesis645@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.
Good steaming!
