Rare Antique ca. 1890’s Weeden Steam Engine Fire Double Pumper *SOLD*
Rare Antique ca. 1890’s Weeden Steam Engine Fire Double Pumper
We have an incredible find, a gigantic Weeden Fire Engine for sale that is steam operated. Size is over 16″ long, 6 1/2″ wide at rear wheels and 11 1/8″ high.
The boiler is brass with simulated rivets throughout. A threaded cap is present inside the stack and it is used for filling it with water. Two gun metal /blued sheet metal doors are on the back, and inside is a period oil burner.
The frame and seat are heavy cast iron as are the two large wheels. Originally, there was a front set of wheels and hand pull handle (man powered not horse powered), the front wheels are no longer present.
The unbroken and original site glass is present. Our example is original with a replacement whistle and round dome.
Two pumper cylinders are used to propel the pump and water sucking/shooting mechanism. We did not test it and assume the entire apparatus is too old to operate- It is around 120 years old!
More Details to come!
Please check out the great site www.WeedenSteam.com, and they have a great summary of this historic American company:
“Weeden Manufacturing Company History
The Youth’s Companion, a publication for children approached William Nye Weeden and asked him to design an inexpensive, quality toy that the magazine could use as a premium in an effort to increase subscriptions. Weeden designed an upright steam engine, the design, quality and function of the engine so impressed the publication that they gave Weeden an initial order for ten thousand units at one dollar apiece. This $10,000.00 would be the impetus for the formation of The Weeden Manufacturing Company in 1883.
Weeden’s Upright Steam Engine No.1,” first appeared in the October 1884 issue of Youth’s Companion. This was a stationary steam engine with an upright boiler, offered for $1.00. In the 1870’s and early 80’s, the magazine had offered steam engines made by the Buckman Company of New York for these same purposes.
He often made his own tooling for the items he manufactured – presses, dies, molds and other production items. Realizing the value and the uniqueness of these specialty tools, patterns and dies he had them locked away in a fire-proof safe at the close of business each day.
The Weeden Manufacturing Company was in business for a long time and made a large variety of stationary toy steam engines and trains over the years. Mr. Weeden actually only ran the company for 8 years until his death in 1891 when William Richie, a former salesman took overas chief executive.
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