Posted 9 years ago
hotairfan
(388 items)
This is an electrically powered toy from the 50's to the 60's. It was made by the Welesco Toy Co. It was made in West Germany. It uses household 115 VAC to power the unit by heating the water using induction heating. Most toy steam engines have a heater or burner under the water to make steam. I don't know of any other units that heat the water by an induction heater.
Here is how it works: You fill the boiler tube with tap water, the water enters the induction heater and the steamy water than returns to the boiler tube. The hot watery steam returns to the induction unit to be turned into super heated steam, and than on to the steam chest of the steam engine.
This model Welesco replica of an "Atomic Steam Plant" came out at a time of great concern, misunderstanding, and, sometimes fear of nuclear energy. This made it unpopular and resulted in few of this kind of steam engine being made and sold.
Today, it has become a somewhat rare and highly collectable toy.
This unit has the tin sleeve missing that covers the brass boiler tube. The sleeve covered the tube and simulated the cooling tower that is seen in nuclear power plants. Even with this sleeve missing, It is still very collectable.