Help identifying table engine

[Cheshire Steve]

I know you guys love a challenge, and I have just acquired a model engine, which I think is called a table engine and would be delighted if anyone can recognise the type, design, or any other details. It is rather unusual in having a round steam chest (I haven't had the cover off yet). The photos still show it as received, complete with fluff. Apart from a little slack in the top bearings it seems in mechanically fine. I think it will look nice after a refurb.

 

[Jasonb]

Can we have a couple of sizes to go on eg flywheel dia and height

Jason

 

[Cheshire Steve]

The flywheel is 4.5", the gap between the bottom plate and 'table' is 6", stroke is about 1.25". I don't know what scale it is of course, so can't turn those into full size dimensions. I suppose 1:12 would be a typical scale, so just swap inches to feet.

Steve

 

[pmerritt]

Steve,

It looks like Rudy Kouhoupt's overcrank engine. The plans are in the first volume of The Shop Wisdom of Rudy Kouhoupt from Village Press. There are several other nice engines in the book as well.

Peter

 

[Deanofid]

What Peter said. Definitely a Rudy Kouhoupt engine.
Looks like the builder followed the plans pretty closely.

Dean

 

[Cheshire Steve]

Brilliant, thanks guys. Even armed with that knowledge I can't find a picture of the engine on the web, and I can't find a copy of the book for sale at a sensible price in the UK - but at least I know what I am looking for.

The parallel linkage works sweetly. I don't know if Rudy designed it himself, but the critical length for the linkages to make it work is beyond me.

If anyone can find an image of one then would be keen to see. I was thinking it would benefit from 'proper' split bearings for the shaft, as these have a little play and are not adjustable as they are.

Steve

 

[Deanofid]

Steve, the book runs about $40 + shipping here in the USA. If it's anywhere near that in your neck of the woods, that's just what it costs.
I have the book, and it's well worth the price. Has prints and articles on other engines too, (including the one in my avatar), along with a number of shop kinks.

The construction series ran in Live Steam, Aug 1985-Feb 1986, if that would help. Finding all seven issues would probably cost way more than the first Shop Wisdom book, though.

Good luck with it.

Dean

 

[Cheshire Steve]

Have just found Camden Miniature Steam Services are doing what I assume is volume 1 reprinted for £35 new (they don't say it is volume 1, but they separately list Vols 2,3,4). Amazon prices I was looking at before were £62 and £91 secondhand (about $100 - $140). They don't list new copies of Vol 1, but there is a Vol 3 for £159 (say $220). Which is why I was a bit surprised at the price.

Must be a good book !

Steve

 

[Deanofid]

I doubt it's a reprint, Steve. I think it's always been in print.
The first book, The Shop Wisdom of Rudy Kouhoupt, doesn't have a vol #. Just the books that followed it. Get the one that has no vol # and that is it.

I wouldn't trust Amazon prices as an indicator. You often see the same book there at wildly different prices. I recently bought one of Ivan Law's shop books there. Mine cost $12 new, and there were others there, same exact book, priced at over $100. People on Amazon are somewhat insane.

I think Tee Publishing may have these for folks across the water. I know they have many of the other Shop Wisdom series at around £32.

Dean