Recent content by tsvservice

If you're in western PA, stop by the Portersville steam show (big summer show Aug. 1,2,3,4); they have a working Linotype in the print shop along with hand-set type and several presses. Wayne and Nancy will give you a very informative demo - he took 4 years of print shop classes in school...

The last man mentioned in the article, Lester Friend, manufactured and sold castings for a line of live steam locomotives in the 1930s. The line is being revived by his son or grandson, I believe, and now operates under the name "Friends Yankee Shop Models." They advertise in Live Steam and...

Good point shred -- spend a couple minutes putting things away and you save MANY minutes finding them when you need them. Where I work, we sell commercial video equipment; I'm the repair tech, but I deal with one salesperson in particular who borrows tools and equipment and abandons them where...

Don't overlook old VCRs for mechanical parts. A typical VHS VCR has several SMALL ball bearings in the capstan motor and pinch roller. In addition, you can salvage a big chunk of aluminum (the main mechanical chassis), one or more 6-12 volt DC motors, lots of metric screws, spare power cord...

Don't overlook yard sales; I visited one this summer after a friend called me and told me that there were some Starrett tools at the sale. I got there, didn't like his price, but asked what else he might be selling. He took me out to the garage and showed me a stack of aluminum and brass stock...

A good way to make the methanol flame visible is to put a pinch of baking soda in when you fill the tank. The flame will have a yellow color.

Hi all, my real name is Don.

Interesting site - now I know what to do with the little bit of spare time I had left... I've been an electronic tech for about 25 years, and a steam engine nut for about 35 or 40. I've been going to Portersville for 32+ years, and have only missed 2 shows. I'll look for you at the October...

If you get a chance to read some of the excellent books by Kozo Hiraoka (Shay, Climax and Heisler live steam) you will see that he advocates the "small piece of solder" method. As his photos show, it does a VERY neat job.

In my visits to yard sales, flea markets, auto parts swap meets, I keep my eyes open for useful or unusual items. A couple years ago at a local "parts-a-rama" auto parts swap meet, I found an 'antique' can of valve packing (graphited asbestos) for $5.00. Bought it, took it home and opened it...