A fellow I used to work with had several old hit and miss motors. He would set up them up at the county fair and demonstrate their operation and talk about their early applications. You gotta appreciate the simplicity and elegance of these old machines. Back when things were made to work well and run forever. Flash forward to the age of technology and we're purposely building obsolescence into the things we have to rely on. 🤔 For all we've gained there are things we've lost.
Growing up my grandad had a 1909 Minneapolis steam tractor. He and a friend rescued it off the scrap heap in the 50s. Restored it (helped that he owned a machine and welding shop) and used to run it in parades and use the live steam to cook horse tanks full of sweet corn. Loved that thing.
You are absolutely 💯 correct to a T. I've been collecting engines since I was 12 and now have over 140 in the collection I'm now 30, I absolutely admire the old technology as it's always better quality and built to last a life time and all these engines prove it
During the Denton Thrasher Reunion, The week before 4th of July, In Denton, NC, HUNDREDS of people bring these old engines to the reunion. It's amazing to see and hear them all running.
I'll add that the Thrasher's Reunion has much, much more than these "small" hit and miss engines. Haven't been there in several years but I remember a working steam shovel, an antique power generating station, and, of course, the steam train. Search Denton Farm Park for more information about the Reunion and other events.
Thank you John. Great video. I really like old equipment like this and its history. I spent my summers in the 1940's and 1950's on my grandparents farm near Hillsville, VA. All work was by humans and horses drawn equipment. Great memories.
In Childersburg Alabama I used to help my grandfather mess with those when I was little. At the time I did not know what they were I just remembered I was helping granddaddy. I could fall asleep listening to those things. As long as they’re well-maintained they will run forever
Another good video John , we have something like this in montana in August , antique farm tractors , saw mills etc.. etc... All things steam powered its awesome THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA......
Never mind the engines, albeit they are wonderful, it's the Appalachian people who I love. I'm hoping to spend some time amongst these wonderful people soon as it's something I've dreamed of for years. Lots of love to the Appalachian folk from the peak District in the UK.
Fairbanks-Morse was among the largest builders of stationary engines. Many different sizes of single cylinder up to multi cylinder diesel ones. The company also perfected "opposed piston" full diesel engines popular in navy marine power use.
I love that old guy… I wished he was my grandad.. but I’m an old grandad too… and when he started talking about his grandad on the farm, it was a good feeling.
I was a charter member of Branch 3 of Early Day Gasoline Engine and Tractor Association in the 1970's through 1990's. These are wonderful old machines. Many small machine shops to larger iron works manufactured their own design of these stationary engines. Most of the flywheel style were cast iron open flywheel style, as opposed to the later air cooled aluminum ones.
The Buckley Enigine and Thrasher club in Northern Michigan would have 200,000 people come through for the 4 day show back in the early 2000's. I have not heard recent attendance numbers but I'm guessing they still get 100,000 for their show.
I had an old 67 triumph motorcycle. Fun bike but it wasn't made for 6' tall XXL Americans. It also had the backwards foot controls, left foot brake right foot shift. I loved the bike but it didn't get ridden much, but boy did the old timers come out of the woodwork every time I started it up in my driveway. Without fail some guy would stop his car in the street and walk up to me. Vietnam vets mainly. They all had stories about racing their Harleys, Indians, BSAs, and Trumps. I sure do miss that bike.
When I was a kid in Coos Bay, Oregon an gravel company operated beneath the bridge. The owner ran shaker with a Fairbanks-Morse five horse engine. he claimed it had been doing that job for 60 years.
I wouldn't discount that. We are in a world about to collapse, old will be new again as everyone will have to turn to living like we did 120 years ago.
@@choccolocco if you’re a mechanic you can see it with how hard it is to get the right damn part for a machine everything is so complicated now you can’t patch it up to get it running and if you don’t realize how important machinery is to our modern world you’re blind, engines, hydraulics, motors, pneumatics and mechanical systems make the world go round almost everything manufactured today is plastic computer controlled proprietary non maintenance piles of crap
0:30 - LOL my first homebuilt go cart was powered by one of those... The engine was so heavy on the back, that even with two little kids seated up front, we had to attach a big rock up front to keep the front end down.
I'm 40 years old. I grew up going to the show in Portland Indiana. My Dad had several old hit n miss. I still have them. The only one I know much about was an old small Maytag. I'd kick it over and get it going to take to local shows. They're very cool machines. I personally have a love for the flathead motors 32-52. I have several as well as old speed racing used on salt. I love the sound. I've been thinking about trying to get one of the larger hot n miss that never ran going to use as a generator. The sound they made as well as proportions and flywheels is something to behold. I'm a master fabricator by trade with a degree in Metallurgy. I've been giving real thoughts to duplicating a Tiger Schwinn Cantilever frame and attempting to cast my own motor. My thought was to buy 2 cheap Chinese cases to cobble together to elongate my cylinder. You can get them to 100 cc but swap a head to get 110cc with a 50mm piston. However Stihl Saws makes big bore kits going to 56mm with a very similar head. I think I could make a Frankenstein and recast with better material as well as sleeve it. 125-150 cc two stroke would propel a bicycle to probably 85-100 mph 😆 it makes sense in my mind.
Magic! The small farm history here in high rainfall SE Australia hill is something similar, power only arrived in the 50's and to this farm in the early 60's. Home lighting was by 32V plant with an old ex dairy plant hit 'n miss Austral 3Hp for 30 years. Do you or anyone reading recognise the tunes in the background?
Cool. I went to a small scale steam engine show before. Causes one to pause and think of the state of the world today, and to the blessing that truth is.
Nice . I'm old so I remember the pedal start motor boing on a washing machine way out in the country . Some years back I saw a video of a home made hobby car that ran on one of these, slow but fun to watch . I can spend hours watching these things chug away . -Nate
The engine club near me has a 6 cylinder Fairbanks Morse diesel generator and the old switch gear. If the grid goes down I know one area that will still have power.
I've got a John Deere 1 1/2 horse in the stages of restoration, and another gas engine that an old-timer at a show told me he believed was a Sparta, as there are no markings on it, other than a brass tag with no manufacturer name.
Some might find this interesting - when you see a single cyliinder gasoline engine cranked several times till it starts - Most of the time the cylinder isnt warm enough to flash the hydrogen out the fuel - propane or butane is desolved in gas as a catalyst - After an engine has been cranked some the higher air pressure warms the cylinder - once the cylinder temp rises it easely flashes the lighter vapors out of the loquid fuel -- the spark ignights the vapors and the engine runs - With a diesel the fuel wont ignight till the cylinder is above 32° -
Thanks, Gary for sharing your knowledge! All your skills will be lost if you don't share the knowledge! I teach my men something every day as in mechanical repair and operation! Share, Share Share your wonderful knowledge and experience
Nice to see some of us have passion about these old machines . I am trying to sell a restored 1909 VanBrunt seed drill …no interest. It seems most under 50 ,even young farmers don’t have any interest .
What was the name and model of that Ford mower/hedge trimmer on display at the 4:23 time mark? I enjoy stuff like this. My ex wife's late granddad was a past president of the threshermen's society in northern IL and he introduced me to the world of steam tractors, engines and how things were done in years gone by.
These are the smartest and most handy people. When people like this talk, its best to listen.
A fellow I used to work with had several old hit and miss motors. He would set up them up at the county fair and demonstrate their operation and talk about their early applications. You gotta appreciate the simplicity and elegance of these old machines. Back when things were made to work well and run forever. Flash forward to the age of technology and we're purposely building obsolescence into the things we have to rely on. 🤔 For all we've gained there are things we've lost.
One of the most poignant things I've read on the internet as of late, very well said.
I guess Ford learned that the hard way this year. They looked at their sales sheets... Slim to none.
We can thank the dealerships for that one.
I like to listen to them talk but I wish they would show the working machines closer in more detail
Growing up my grandad had a 1909 Minneapolis steam tractor. He and a friend rescued it off the scrap heap in the 50s. Restored it (helped that he owned a machine and welding shop) and used to run it in parades and use the live steam to cook horse tanks full of sweet corn. Loved that thing.
Old engines were reliable, too reliable and the gov and big corp couldn’t have that. Soon enough everyone will begin to understand
You are absolutely 💯 correct to a T. I've been collecting engines since I was 12 and now have over 140 in the collection I'm now 30, I absolutely admire the old technology as it's always better quality and built to last a life time and all these engines prove it
Good to hear these engines without Noisy Music. . . .
During the Denton Thrasher Reunion,
The week before 4th of July,
In Denton, NC, HUNDREDS of people bring these old engines to the reunion.
It's amazing to see and hear them all running.
I'll add that the Thrasher's Reunion has much, much more than these "small" hit and miss engines. Haven't been there in several years but I remember a working steam shovel, an antique power generating station, and, of course, the steam train.
Search Denton Farm Park for more information about the Reunion and other events.
I mean, really!!! Look at this old time quality craftsmanship. They are still running and not missing a beat. Ever. So cool 😎.
OH YES..
Those were tough times..
And we must never discount discourage or forget these men and their machines and knowledge
Thank you John. Great video. I really like old equipment like this and its history. I spent my summers in the 1940's and 1950's on my grandparents farm near Hillsville, VA. All work was by humans and horses drawn equipment. Great memories.
Absolutely beautiful. Love them.. I still use a nearly 100 year old Lister as a generator for back up power.
I hear 3 cyl lister engines on the canals and inland waterways in the UK.
Over a century old. They have a distinctive sound and character.
A great collection of Engines and tractors. Thanks.
5 things... They make smiles too 😊😊
In Childersburg Alabama I used to help my grandfather mess with those when I was little. At the time I did not know what they were I just remembered I was helping granddaddy. I could fall asleep listening to those things. As long as they’re well-maintained they will run forever
Thanks for that. Really cool to document this stuff. Great people and backbone of this great country !
Glad you enjoyed it!
That's a very comical description of hit and miss engines. I love to watch 'em run. Cheers from eastern TN
Another good video John , we have something like this in montana in August , antique farm tractors , saw mills etc.. etc... All things steam powered its awesome THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA......
Boy that power show looks interesting! Thanks for taking us along 👍
Never mind the engines, albeit they are wonderful, it's the Appalachian people who I love. I'm hoping to spend some time amongst these wonderful people soon as it's something I've dreamed of for years. Lots of love to the Appalachian folk from the peak District in the UK.
Have you been to Appalachia yet?
Thankyou so much for this video. These old machines are the best.
I don't recall how young I was when I first saw a hit and miss engine on a farm. I've loved them ever since.
Thanks. To all. Gary is Wonderful guy
Ahhhh memories Tri State Gas and Engine Show Portland Indiana The sound and the smells My youth the best times ever
Its great to see these guy tinkering around with this stuff - Thanks
Keeping those old Engines going requires dedication and mastery. Great video ! Thank you for sharing! Greeting from the Dominican Republic 🤗
Fairbanks-Morse was among the largest builders of stationary engines. Many different sizes of single cylinder up to multi cylinder diesel ones. The company also perfected "opposed piston" full diesel engines popular in navy marine power use.
What a lovely interesting old fallow, many thanks for showing
Great video always love seeing those old engines working!!
I love that old guy… I wished he was my grandad.. but I’m an old grandad too… and when he started talking about his grandad on the farm, it was a good feeling.
My mother's mother's father (my great-grandfather) had one of these engines in his garage. He used it to power table saws and other tools.
My Grandfather had one running two 5gal. ice cream churns. He would make ice cream for the church potluck during the summer.
he is not wrong, Every time I go to the state fair I spend hours just watching and looking at them.
I love that hand made motor.
Thank you 😊
Wow that kitchen sink engine is something else... thanks for posting
A great video with lots of detail - thanks for posting- All the best and God Bless. 🙏❤🇺🇸
my dad always wanted one. now i know why. thanks for the video and keeping the hobby and equipment alive.
Is just fascinating to see and hear you explain Ford Engine 1893.
Super cool old engines. I remember some of these from when I was a kid.
I’ve been to many old motor shows..my uncle had probably 50-75 of them at one time…nothing like the sound of an old pop and skip!!!
Just amazing; thank-you!
Thank you for watching!
and when the grid goes down they'll become valuable.
I was a charter member of Branch 3 of Early Day Gasoline Engine and Tractor Association in the 1970's through 1990's. These are wonderful old machines. Many small machine shops to larger iron works manufactured their own design of these stationary engines. Most of the flywheel style were cast iron open flywheel style, as opposed to the later air cooled aluminum ones.
aww man I wish there was more people there! Cool stuff that needs to be seen.
The Buckley Enigine and Thrasher club in Northern Michigan would have 200,000 people come through for the 4 day show back in the early 2000's. I have not heard recent attendance numbers but I'm guessing they still get 100,000 for their show.
Whoever made your carts for the LB and the Dishpan did a great job!
Awesome thanks for the great work Sir 👍
This history that needs to be taught in schools
Good morning John good to be herein a another wonderful/ learning experience adventure
I had an old 67 triumph motorcycle. Fun bike but it wasn't made for 6' tall XXL Americans. It also had the backwards foot controls, left foot brake right foot shift.
I loved the bike but it didn't get ridden much, but boy did the old timers come out of the woodwork every time I started it up in my driveway. Without fail some guy would stop his car in the street and walk up to me.
Vietnam vets mainly. They all had stories about racing their Harleys, Indians, BSAs, and Trumps.
I sure do miss that bike.
I would love one of these. Small big what every it is I'll take it.
This was one of the best programs that I have seen in a very long time. Very well done!😊
I’m Leavin this channel live here in Knoxville and had no idea about some of these places that would be some great trips to make and appreciate
Meant loving the channel
I can’t quit watching so interesting
❤❤❤❤
Im glad to hear you like the video.Thanks for the comment and watching my videos! John Ward
love to see people like keeping the old engines going
This is what our children need to learn about in school today at 50 I never knew anything like this existed.
Happy's Antiques near the Buschs Baked Beans Plant has a couple hit and misses for sale. Really wanna get one!!!
Thanks for watching The Appalachian Channel and making a comment.. John & Jodi
I have a 1922 Fairbanks Morse on my ranch. Been there since new. Still doing the job too.
Was in Denmark at a community fest, numerous old farm equipment and naturally several hit and miss in operation. Nimbus motorcycles too
love them hit and miss engines
Fantastic video! I laud these old timers who appreciate early technology:)-John in Texas
When I was a kid in Coos Bay, Oregon an gravel company operated beneath the bridge. The owner ran shaker with a Fairbanks-Morse five horse engine. he claimed it had been doing that job for 60 years.
Opoop in just me a little while we will. Need these.
I wouldn't discount that. We are in a world about to collapse, old will be new again as everyone will have to turn to living like we did 120 years ago.
“About to collapse”?
Been hearing that nonsense for decades. Living in perpetual “fear” is no way to live.
@@choccolocco didnt have biden those days
It does feel that way. I just live my life like no tomorrow.
@@choccolocco Yep
@@choccolocco if you’re a mechanic you can see it with how hard it is to get the right damn part for a machine everything is so complicated now you can’t patch it up to get it running and if you don’t realize how important machinery is to our modern world you’re blind, engines, hydraulics, motors, pneumatics and mechanical systems make the world go round almost everything manufactured today is plastic computer controlled proprietary non maintenance piles of crap
I know an old timer that uses two of those. One for his saw blade to cut logs and one to pump water from his well. 👍
This reminds me how life was in my area before tourism went crazy. I miss that.
Sweet machines and smart fellas.
Thanks for making and sharing this video.
0:30 - LOL my first homebuilt go cart was powered by one of those...
The engine was so heavy on the back, that even with two little kids seated up front, we had to attach a big rock up front to keep the front end down.
As always, excellent video John.
I love it
I'm 40 years old. I grew up going to the show in Portland Indiana. My Dad had several old hit n miss. I still have them. The only one I know much about was an old small Maytag. I'd kick it over and get it going to take to local shows. They're very cool machines. I personally have a love for the flathead motors 32-52. I have several as well as old speed racing used on salt. I love the sound. I've been thinking about trying to get one of the larger hot n miss that never ran going to use as a generator. The sound they made as well as proportions and flywheels is something to behold. I'm a master fabricator by trade with a degree in Metallurgy. I've been giving real thoughts to duplicating a Tiger Schwinn Cantilever frame and attempting to cast my own motor. My thought was to buy 2 cheap Chinese cases to cobble together to elongate my cylinder. You can get them to 100 cc but swap a head to get 110cc with a 50mm piston. However Stihl Saws makes big bore kits going to 56mm with a very similar head. I think I could make a Frankenstein and recast with better material as well as sleeve it. 125-150 cc two stroke would propel a bicycle to probably 85-100 mph 😆 it makes sense in my mind.
Magic! The small farm history here in high rainfall SE Australia hill is something similar, power only arrived in the 50's and to this farm in the early 60's. Home lighting was by 32V plant with an old ex dairy plant hit 'n miss Austral 3Hp for 30 years. Do you or anyone reading recognise the tunes in the background?
Wow! Incredible!
Cool. I went to a small scale steam engine show before. Causes one to pause and think of the state of the world today, and to the blessing that truth is.
Nice .
I'm old so I remember the pedal start motor boing on a washing machine way out in the country .
Some years back I saw a video of a home made hobby car that ran on one of these, slow but fun to watch .
I can spend hours watching these things chug away .
-Nate
Thank you so much!!
@@theappalachianchannel Thank _YOU_ for keeping alive the things many have forgotten . -Nate
Way back when, it was probably said, “yep, we have a hit-n-miss engine for that,” as compared to today, “yes, there is an app for that.”
Thought words of a song went through me head as I looked on this, “Oh Lord, Mr Ford, What have you done”?
That's pretty cool!
Smart men right here. Great vedio
I just sold some of my maytag hit and miss engines! Small easy to fix and operate
They get work done without electronic engine management. That's a viable source of power with emp immunity.
The engine club near me has a 6 cylinder Fairbanks Morse diesel generator and the old switch gear. If the grid goes down I know one area that will still have power.
Great video, the faces shows what they're talking about
I needed a good video! Thanks!
Good video from John!
I've got a John Deere 1 1/2 horse in the stages of restoration, and another gas engine that an old-timer at a show told me he believed was a Sparta, as there are no markings on it, other than a brass tag with no manufacturer name.
Best use I have seen is powering a homemade ice cream machine. Very cool and tasty at the same time.
I'm "hit & miss" myself... but I haven't found four things I'm good at yet.
Thanks for watching and commenting on the video! John & Jodi
Good folks right there….. they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Old guys like him have forgotten more than I know man. Crazy crazy
Super interesting
Love those family toys.
I love that spark plug shirt!
Some might find this interesting - when you see a single cyliinder gasoline engine cranked several times till it starts -
Most of the time the cylinder isnt warm enough to flash the hydrogen out the fuel - propane or butane is desolved in gas as a catalyst -
After an engine has been cranked some the higher air pressure warms the cylinder - once the cylinder temp rises it easely flashes the lighter vapors out of the loquid fuel -- the spark ignights the vapors and the engine runs -
With a diesel the fuel wont ignight till the cylinder is above 32° -
Thanks, Gary for sharing your knowledge! All your skills will be lost if you don't share the knowledge! I teach my men something every day as in mechanical repair and operation! Share, Share Share your wonderful knowledge and experience
Very cool man 👍
Nice to see some of us have passion about these old machines . I am trying to sell a restored 1909 VanBrunt seed drill …no interest. It seems most under 50 ,even young farmers don’t have any interest .
Just outta curiosity what do you believe a fair monetary compensation in exchange for your very rare specimen of agricultural history
These old engines are really something.
I wish that old equipment was available in my area I would put it to use
If you go to the auction and live near Amish people, they will outbid you for the hit and miss engines every time.
What was the name and model of that Ford mower/hedge trimmer on display at the 4:23 time mark? I enjoy stuff like this. My ex wife's late granddad was a past president of the threshermen's society in northern IL and he introduced me to the world of steam tractors, engines and how things were done in years gone by.
Will county?
England and Britain thought them all they know.
Great video.
one of those engines would sound truly nice on a little shanty-boat ...
Id love to have one just as a backup power source for a generator.
no good if you have neighbors to noisey