Parker Steam Engines

[Old and Reliable]

IMO- this has been the most interesting thread, and with a series of great photos with details about something than is not 100% a Parker shotgun. I think I am on safe ground when I say that the majority of the PGCA membership loves mechanical devices of all types, their history.

Rich- you are 100% right about the square cut (or punched) holes in the treads and stress- a circle or arc distributes stress- segue to early LC Smiths for an example- first series Syracuse guns had a rectangular with 90% corners lug that mated into the receiver slot- later they radiused the front corners to relieve stress--

Old timers trick in welding up a crack or fracture-- from each end of the crack- move about 1/4" back and drill a small pilot hole through the metal- skip and back-step the weld, and weld up the holes last-plus proper pre-heat and post-weld heat wrap to slow down the air cooling--

I think we all owe these PGCA brothers a big stand up round of either: (a) applause, or better yet (2) drinks of their choice for this great thread--and it might lead into a future article for PP- Parker & Snow vises, Parker steam engines-- etc!!

[edgarspencer]

Richard, In your travels around AK, did you ever see this?
My son took this on one of his many trips to Attu.

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Richard, In your travels around AK, did you ever see this?
My son took this on one of his many trips to Attu.

-- a some form of anti-aircraft gun-- my working knowledge of military weapons goes to the browning MG .50 cal and stops there- WW2 vintage??

[Richard Flanders]

Nope. Never been to Attu.

[Bindlestiff]

I would be interested in seeing those pictures. If you want to learn how to resize pictures for this web site look at this link,
http://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/Demo...tureVedio.html
I hope you get the hang of it, those pictures sound interesting.

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by Robin Lewis

I would be interested in seeing those pictures. If you want to learn how to resize pictures for this web site look at this link,
http://parkerguns.org/pages/faq/Demo...tureVedio.html
I hope you get the hang of it, those pictures sound interesting.

Hey- I'm 70- grew up with slide rules, drafting boards and T-squares, and Borwn & Sharpe "mikes"-- and I have a lot of problems getting pictures posted- all this "copy and paste" stuff doesn't do anything for me- so I try to get my daughter (this is her computer site anyway) to do it for me- sometimes it works, sometimes not--

I'm surprised some enterprising salvage crew hasn't hit that island for the scrap metal value of those Jap AA gun batteries- harsh terrain though, I am sure!!

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Francis Morin

I'm surprised some enterprising salvage crew hasn't hit that island for the scrap metal value of those Jap AA gun batteries- harsh terrain though, I am sure!!

Can't. First off the Island is entirely Government property, then, it's a consecrated battle field burial ground, then the minor detail of being about 2000 miles west of Anchorage. Occasionally, global sailors call on Shemya, next closest inhabited island, but that's only a few months a year.
This is Agattu, Just south of Attu and Shemya. I can't seem to find a picture of Attu, but you get the idea. It's the last island in the Aleutian Chain.

[Richard Flanders]

Anyone interested in the history of the WWII battles in the Aleutians should get "the thousand mile war" and associated books. Very well done and readily available on Amazon.com .

[Ed Blake]

You guys need to come south the third week in September for a local steam/tractor show called Field Day of the Past. A local gent has spent a lifetime collecting old steam engines, etc and he invites all who are like minded to exhibit with him. He has an old steam powered saw mill, old traction engines. Just tons of old stuff and all of it works. He believes it important to show kids how things were done in the old days. The best part is the steam powered ice cream churn. Chocolate or vanilla.

[charlie cleveland]

that i ce cream is some good....charlie