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(DIR) Return to: Restorations
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#Post#: 40517--------------------------------------------------
Restoration of a Mason Steam Car Engine - Part 1
By: Gregowen Date: April 18, 2021, 3:40 pm
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Thought I would share some photos and comments on my restoration
of an early 2 1/2 inch bore Mason steam car engine. Most posts
in this section concern model engines, so something different
here. I am not sure how many photos I can use in one post, so I
will divide this into sections.
The Mason engine was first produced by the Mason Regulator
Company in 1899 and was designed specifically for use in the
earliest Stanley "buggy' cars. The Stanley brothers sold the
rights to their car design to Locomobile the same year (but
remained in charge of management), and then in 1903 bought the
company back. There is a long and convoluted history involved,
which is well-documented from various sources.
This particular Mason is a later (1900-1903) version with
two pump brackets (the loops on top), whereas the earliest
Masons had only a single bracket. It bears serial #1008, but
because Mason made the same engine for multiple car makers at
the time, it is impossible to determine for certain exactly
which company it was made for, as Mason would produce the
engines with whatever serial numbers the buyers wanted. Details
regarding these serial numbers are largely lost to history.
[attachimg=1]
When I acquired the engine, it was partially disassembled,
but was nearly 100% complete and original, including almost
every last bolt and screw. The only major part missing was the
main crankshaft driving sprocket (which drove the main drive
chain and wheels). The engine had suffered a major failure of
one cylinder head cap, with damage to the top of the cylinder.
This type of damage was often caused by un-vaporized water
getting into the cylinder while it was running. The engine
produced about 3 1/2 HP at the nominal running pressure of 150
PSI, but was capable of almost 10 HP at the highest pressures of
close to 500 PSI.
[attachimg=2]
This shows a page from the 1902 Mason catalog which (with all
pages) illustrates all parts of the engine and includes part
number and pricing information. This catalog is one of the few
surviving resource documents that allow the certain
identification of this engine as a Mason #1. For most other
types of very early steam car engines, such documentation is
very difficult or impossible to find.
[attachimg=3]
This image is taken from the Locomobile catalog of 1901, and
shows one of several body styles produced that year. They all
shared the same engine and basic chassis. I include this only to
give a general impression of the appearance of the car that this
engine powered - it could have been one of any number of makers
and models, but they all looked pretty similar by todays
standards. This smallest and most simple type of steam car,
using this very small 2 1/2 inch bore engine, was produced by
the principal car makers at the time only for a span of about 4
years, from 1899 to 1903. Subsequently, those makers either
ceased operations, or developed and sold larger cars with larger
engines.
#Post#: 40520--------------------------------------------------
Re: Restoration of a Mason Steam Car Engine - Part 1
By: Stoker Date: April 18, 2021, 4:56 pm
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This should be a great thread, and will be fascinating I'm sure.
I'm also running a thread on a small "full sized" engine here on
the Restoration board, so you are not alone.
Six or eight photos usually work about right in my experience,
but breaking a thread up in several postings is typically a good
idea for organizational purposes if nothing else.
Looking forward to much more on this one!!!
#Post#: 40522--------------------------------------------------
Re: Restoration of a Mason Steam Car Engine - Part 1
By: classixs Date: April 18, 2021, 5:05 pm
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Very interesting project, thanks for sharing it here :)
As far as pictures goes, this board is quite tolerant of many
and large photos.
Agree with Daniel, that seperating into several posts in the
same thread is good, also leaves room for comments along the
way.
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