[SEL] The Gig on the Dig - Part II

Gary Epps garyepps at fidnet.com
Sun Jul 20 21:55:28 PDT 2008


Tommy,

It looks like you guys had fun!  I wish I could have joined you.

Gary

On Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM, Judge Tommy Turner <Lcjudge at scrtc.com> wrote:
> I had emails from several of you asking me to keep you informed on the "Gig on the Dig" in regards to searching for the balance of the parts on the Type B Springfield I have.   The possibility of giving the dig a shot last week came together rather quickly, over the span of a few days.  I appreciate all the offers of assistance several of you gave me to come and help and there may be another chance yet!
>
> Here's a bit of background:  A man named Hannebaum lived in Billings, Missouri in the late 1800's.  He was a machinist, inventor, and from all accounts and information found, a mechanical genius for his time.  In the early 1890's Hannebaum designed an internal combustion engine.  He went to work at a foundry and machine shop in Springfield, OH.  While there are records of him living in Springfield and his grandchildren know of the accounts of him living there,  there is no record of where he worked.  I have a strong suspicion that the company was the Springfield Engine Company.
>
> I believe the Type B Springfield was actually designed by Hannebaum.  The Type B's were evidently a failure in terms of sales as of the Springfields that survive, only 3 (up till now) were the Type B's.
>
> Hannebaum returned to Billings, MO after his stint in OH.  One of two things occurred however.  Hannebaum either brought the Type B Springfield patterns with him or brought unused castings back to MO to build engines.
>
> One of the engines, probably rated around 4 to 6 HP, was installed in a grain elevator in Billings.  It remained in service until the early 1940's when the elevator was torn down.  The Malice family purchased the engine and took it to the farm where they lived.  Richard Malachi's father eventually took the engine apart, scattering the pieces among the piles of scrap iron on the family farm.  The base, cylinder, crank, flywheels, piston, rod, sideshaft and sideshaft supports and brackets remained together.
>
> After numerous years of trying, the engine was acquired about 3 years ago by a collector who lived in the area.  After seeing the task to bring the engine back to life (and determining it may be a bit much), I was able acquire the engine from him.  Mr. Malachi gave permission for us to search the property as he was confident the parts were located somewhere on the farm.
>
> Last week the stars finally aligned to make the first attempt to locate parts.  Some were found but the main item still missing is the intake valve cage.  Maybe another dig is in the future?
>
> If you will go to this site, you can look through the photos and read the captions under each to follow the progress on The Dig.
>
> http://picasaweb.google.com/Lcjudge/TheGigOnTheDig
>
> Tommy Turner
> Magnolia, KY
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