Anyone remember toy steam engines?

[Tccp123]

My father found one at the tip when I was in my early twenties and gave it to me. I'm now in my late sixties so that was 43 years ago. Last night I pulled it out of storage after coming across a video about them. I did a little soldering then filled it with water and put some metho on some cloth and this is the result:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkjNtsahjrk

Not really very practical for anything but I thought it was impressive!

[Chesand]

I had one that was vertical - I think I still have it somewhere. Mine would have been last run just on 40 years ago when my son was a child (now 47).
There was a small metal container that was filled with metho and then you lit the wick which was basically a short piece of sash cord.
They were intended to run Meccano models but were hardly powerful enough unless you had a full head of steam and then did not run for long anyway.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I should still have a little donkey engine, the identical model to that, in storage at my Mums! I used to use it to drive my Meccano constructs.

One of my nephews/nieces lost the pressure relief valve - the screw-in plug that you fill the reservoir through - about 20 years ago, though.

They were great little toys! Thanks for reminding me... good memories.

[Chris Parks]

I have a vertical one, my Dad gave it to me when I was very young, perhaps 5 years old. They were made after the war by a company in Annandale Sydney and if my memory serves me correctly the boiler was made from old shell casings. There is a bit of information here https://collection.maas.museum/object/167048 and the top picture on that page is the one I have.

[Chesand]

There is a bit of information here https://collection.maas.museum/object/167048 and the top picture on that page is the one I have.

That is mine also. I was not aware of the shell casing connection but it makes sense as they were made in the late 40s early 50s

[rrich]

This really goes back. . . .

I was working for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in Los Angeles as a software support guy. Among other duties, we would catch the calls when the hardware guys wouldn't talk to the customer. A customer called saying that every time that he discharged a static charge into the system it would crash and reload. (Obviously a software issue. The system reloaded.) After some discussion I suggested one of those steam engines running in the computer room which would reduce the static electricity buildup. The customer was none too pleased. About a month later I got a call from the same customer to say that the steam engine helped a lot.

LOL

[BobL]

At a high school I taught in at in the early 80's there was a set of 16 small steam engines and we used them in a year 8 science module about energy. The engines were able to be connected to small generators that could light up a small light globe.The kids really liked using them and so they were used as a bit of a reward.

There was of course an inevitable a class clown (CC) who skipped a lot of classes and often would turn up in bare feet and when that happened he had to sit up the back and could not participate in any experiments. When he finally came to his first class (again with no shoes) during the Energy module he was miffed because there was no way he was going to be playing with a steam engine so he had to sit up the back as usual and just watch.

While they were doing their energy experiments one of the groups near the back of the lab left their engine running slowly and went over to see what another group was doing. I could see CC was itching to get his hands on the slow revving engine and from the front of the lab saw him slowly get up off his seat and go over to the slow running engine and turned up the spirit lamp to max. Fairly quickly it got up enough speed to vibrate excessively and as it was already close to the edge of the bench it fell off the bench spilling the meths all over the floor and catch fire. Even more stupidly CC tried to put the fire out with his bare feet and got a few drops of burning meths on his feet. The fire was out within seconds but CC was screaming blue murder especially after I turned a short length of hose attached to a lab water tap onto him and managed to get him fairly soaked.

After that CC still skipped a lot of classes but he always came to science class with shoes even if he had to borrow them from another student.

[Tccp123]

At a high school I taught in at in the early 80's there was a set of 16 small steam engines and we used them in a year 8 science module about energy...

Great story !

[Chris Parks]

Mine was renovated and the boiler resoldered a few years ago and the chap that did it fond a source of stickers the same as was originally on the base and seen in this video



The chap that did it was the dad of a forum member but I have lost his details.

[I_wanna_Shed]

I love these. I never had one as a kid, although a friend had one in a steam roller. My 4 year old son loves steam trains and can tell you how a steam engine works in great detail.

I've looked at pricing for these new, and they're fairly (very!) pricey. I should have a look at the 2nd hand market.

[Tccp123]

I should have a look at the 2nd hand market.

Maybe not, one similar to mine sold on eBay the other night for $247

[Tccp123]

...but if you're really keen this one is due to finish tonight:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LARGE-LI...EAAOSwJbpbhJ2~

[DSEL74]

I’ve been on the look out for one at an affordable price for a few years with out luck. I find it is often cheaper to buy the full sized units at a 1/4 the price or less than the models.

[Cal]

Gee I better get my two out and flog em off, I have one the same as the OP and a genuine meccano branded one (it’s in bits and in need of a restoration)

[Handyjack]

I should still have a little donkey engine, the identical model to that, in storage at my Mums! I used to use it to drive my Meccano constructs.

One of my nephews/nieces lost the pressure relief valve - the screw-in plug that you fill the reservoir through - about 20 years ago, though.

They were great little toys! Thanks for reminding me... good memories.

Spare parts are available. https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...co+filler+plug

I have a traction engine. Purchased as a kit by my parents in Germany and assembled about 20 years ago. I have built a carry box for it. About 18 years since I last steamed it.
These days I operate engines which have a scale of 1000mm to the metre.