[SEL] Moving the IR Imperial Steam Driven air compressor to Youngstown!

[Todengine at aol.com]

Today we moved all but one piece of the Ingersoll Rand steam driven air 
compressor to the Tod Engine restoration shop at Castlo Industrial Park in 
Struthers, OH.  This leaves only the crankshaft and flywheel assembly to be brought 
back next week.

The IR Imperial Type 10 compressor was built around 1912 or so for Park Drop 
Forgings in Cleveland, Ohio and operated at the plant until a few months ago 
when it was taken out of service when the plant shut down. It was then 
earmarked for preservation and ultimately donated to the Tod Engine Foundation for 
inclusion in our Tod Engine Heritage Park.  While about 30 times smaller than the 
Tod Engine weight wise, it will still make an impressive addition to the park 
and is a wonderful example of the technology of a century ago. 

The Park Drop Forgings plant made diesel engine crankshafts and many forged 
parts for the aerospace industry before succombing to foreign competition.  
About 90% of the plant was demolished a couple of weeks ago, leaving the 
compressor as one of the few surviving pieces of equipment from the plant.  While not 
of Youngstown heritage, the compressor is representative of compressors used 
by local plants.

Photos of the entire dismantling and moving project are online at 
http://community.webshots.com/user/todengine in the IR Imperial Type 10 Compressor album. 
The demolition contractor used a large excavator to lift the parts onto the 
truck and trailer.  We had planned to bring back the air cylinder and flywheel 
on the trailer, however the cylinder weighed more than I anticipated so we 
left the flywheel to pick up next week. 

Our 20 ton hand operated overhead crane was used to unload the bedplate at 
the restoration shop, after about 15 minutes of heavy pulling on the chain I got 
it lifted off the truck.  The compresor will be restored at Castlo and remain 
there until a foundation is prepared for it at the heritage park, at which 
time it will be moved to its final display location. 

This engine became available to us a little over a month ago, amd I am glad 
that we had the resources to move the engine and could provide a home for this 
gem of industrial engineering!  

Rick Rowlands
Executive Director
Tod Engine Heritage Park
William Tod 34" x 68" x 60" Cross Compound Steam Engine
Youngstown, OH
http://www.todengine.org/
Photo Albums Online: http://community.webshots.com/user/todengine