Posted 8 years ago
hotairfan
(388 items)
Here is some photos of a Dunbar Peanut & Popcorn Machine's Steam engine that was used on a sidewalk vender's peanut machine. I thought it was a Cretors peanut and popcorn steam engine when I purchased it at a friend's estate sale. It has a similar appearance to a Cretors steam engine (probably because Dunbar worked for the Cretors Co. before he started his own business). Upon further research, I discovered that it is a Dunbar model #1. It has power rating of 1/2 hp. and ran the peanut mach. on 10 to 15 psi. of steam. The serial no. is 3342 and it is complete with the driven gear train to power the roasting mechanism. In the photos you can see the flyball governor, the driven gear train, the steam whistle (used like an ice cream truck's music to entice more popcorn or peanut sales), even the displacement oil lubricator is visible in the rear view next to the whistle.
Displacement lubricators worked by displacing the flowing condensed steam (water) with steam oil that floated to the top of the water than followed the steam into the steam chest and onto the working parts of the engine.
Steam oil was necessary because normal lubricating oil would flash over do to the heat of the steam and burn on it's way to the steam chest fouling everything up and giving no lubrication.
This is great :) always look forward to your post!
Thanks Trey, for the nice comment.
Could you please call me about your Dunbar steam engine.
My number can be found at antiquepopcornmuseum.com
Thanks, Jim