South Berwick, Maine
I enjoy reading the ALBUM very much. I was greatly interested in
the March-April 1958 issue to see the pictures of the Westinghouse
Portable, the James Leffell Portable, and the strange looking
engine on page 22.
Up in this neck of the woods there were never many traction
road rollers. About 30 years ago I borrowed from a neighbor, a
portable engine and sawed fire wood with it, and I have always
remembered what a good job it did.
A couple years ago I was able to save this portable from the
junk man. It was built by the Armitage-Hershell Co., of Tonawanda,
New York. It ran a merry-go-round at our local amusement park. The
bore is about 5 inch and 5 inch stroke. The rope sheave and the
brake on one of the flywheels is missing.
After I have finished the one inch scale Model Case traction
engine that I am now building I hope to make a Model of this
Portable. Its rotative slide valve makes it a neat and symmetrical
engine.
I am greatly interested in learning more about the
Armitage-Hershell Co., and Merry-Go-Round engine in general and
would appreciate any information the ALBUM readers could give
me.
