[SEL] Good stuff happens / Witte CD serial no.

[Arnie Fero]

Holy crap Jerry!!  I think you scored BIG TIME with that paper treasure trove!!

To help you with your quest of linking the engine to the paper via the serial
number, may I suggest two other locations that you did not mention.
On the Lorenz engines the S/N is stamped on the big end caps and crank shaft throws
and also on the top surface of the piston.  You might give those spots a look on
your Witte.

GOOD LUCK!!  BTW, if you continue to be unsuccessful in finding the actual S/N on
your engine, I would opt for the "engine rarity" argument and select the S/N from
the paperwork that you have.  As you say, there can't be many of 'em, and if the
engine doesn't have a number, who's to say that you're wrong?  Personally, I think
you've just reunited the engine with it's paperwork.

Do you have a tag design or should folks elsewhere be looking for a Witte CD engine
to take a photo of the tag?

There seem to be some interesting threads on the web in response to "Witte CD diesel".
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29849
http://www.petternut.co.uk/Witte%20CD.jpg
http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=station&th=2039
http://www.www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMJXSzj2LBk

It appears that the Witte is still being used in the oil fields and that parts are
available.  Perhaps contact a distributer with the "Where's the S/N question?"

See ya,  Arnie

On Fri, March 12, 2010 2:46 pm, Jerry Evans wrote:
>          I have a 12 H.P. Witte CD Diesel. Tank cooled - not radiator
> cooled. Do any of you great guru's know if there is a serial number
> "stamped" anywhere on or in the engine and where? (Dave, "Yes" does not
> qualify as an answer :-)).  Mine was without a plate when I got it. I've
> asked this question in the past (also of David Johnson on Smokstak) but
> have never got an answer. I've searched all over the engine without luck. I
> really would like to know the serial number and if I can find it anywhere
> on the engine. I've looked at all the obvious/normal/usual places
> (crankshaft ends, flywheels etc.) without luck so unless someone who
> actually knows the answer can tell me to look at a specific point/place on
> these engines then your "guess" would be no better than I already have and
> worthless to me.
>
> I was given this Witte CD a few years ago (actually November 2007):
> <http://www.oldengine.org/members/evans/witte/index.htm>
>          It had a few missing parts which I managed to import from the USA
> (David Johnson). Now it's waiting for me to get off my rear end and restore it.
>
>          About 2 weeks ago I received an e-mail from someone in the area
> where the engine came from - he is an old guy (aren't we all?) and is
> "cleaning up". He had, amongst other things, an original manual for this
> engine as well as the original packing/shipping documents for 2 of these
> engines to South Africa. My heart rate hit the roof (but another "Brandy &
> Coke" stabilised it). Would it not be fantastic if these shipping documents
> (dated 1947) were actually for my engine? There were not many Witte CD's
> brought to South Africa - being part of the British Commonwealth most of
> our engines came from Britain.
>
>          I took the plunge and today decided to drive to the "Big City" and
> collected the documents from him (as well as a box full of other old
> manuals, pamphlets and similar stuff). On the way home I realised that this
> was going to be a "Brandy & Coke" evening and stopped off at the local
> liquor outlet and stocked up. :-)
>
>          So far I've only opened the old "buff coloured" (kraft paper)
> Witte envelope. Packing slips (in that old blue print from early
> duplicating machines (Banda, Gestetner, Roneo et al)are all intact as is
> the operators manual - AND - the manual refers to the same engine that I
> have (although not necessarily to my engines serial number).
>
> Would it not be incredible if these documents actually are for my
> engine ?
>