Dave Thinkstoomuch
BANNED
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2009
- Messages
- 1,196
Here's one with some interesting history. The "Enterprise Steamer" was a horse drawn steam-powered pump that was used in the late 1800's right until the 1930's. Walden's Enterprise #2 Steamer is currently on display at the Orange County Firefighters Museum.
Walden's fire dept is rightfully proud of their heritage and I learned about this piece of machinery here:
http://www.exit109.com/~mikezac/departments/_oldwalden.html
http://www.exit109.com/~mikezac/departments/walden.html
To quote:
"Enterprise #2 Steam Engine from Walden New York is a Button Stem Engine, circa 1872. Two horses were used to pull this engine. It was built in 1872 in Waterford, NY, by a prominent manufacturer of fire equipment. This was the fire apparatus of Waldens Steamer Company No. 2. The steamer remained in service in Walden until as lat as 1935.
American LaFrance Company purchased Button and Co. They re built this steamer in 1907. In the rear of the steamer is a firebox, which contained kindling wood. This wood was lit by using a boiler torch. This small fire produced sufficient heat to turn a small water supply into steam, which operated the steam engine. This stem engine operated a pump that drew water in from the left side of the steamer through the hard suction hose which drafted water from a pond or stream. On the right side of the pump are the discharge outlets, which could discharge water over 200 feet.
A steamer operator had to watch his pressures using the gauges on the machine, because without proper supervision and operation a few of these machines have been known to blow up.
Soon into the 20th century Walden Fire Dept purchased motorized fire equipment and retired the Enterprise Steamer. They stored this machine in the Walden Fire House for years and used it for fire parades and other events.
It is now on loan by the Walden Fire Department, Walden New York to our museum."
Now for the knife. It's serial #190 out of an unknown number produced. If some knowledgeable soul could dig up the order I'd love to learn more about this SFO. This is the first one of these I've seen. Unfortunately there is no model specific registration form with it to help get an official order name for this knife.
White delrin with a scrimshaw, a blade etch and a unadorned but quality sheath; it's a keeper!
