20HP Oilcity Boiler Works Halfbreed

Like most of my other toys, this engine is a project that needs a little TLC. The only reason I have not tried to start it is due to a cracked flywheel.....and thats a chunk of metal to have fly apart. I went and got the replacement flywheels last weekend, and have intentions of just changing out the whole crank / flywheels assembly. This engine has # 109 stenciled in the bedplate....(block).... and the cylinder which was made by the South Penn Oil co / S P O co has the number # 679 stenciled into it. Mr.Anderson who I got the flywheels from just happens to own the data / repair cards from the old South Penn Oil co, according to the cards, this is what I have found out about the life / history of this engine. There is no "info" showing when the Oilcity bedplate was made, BUT the cards show that it was 1st put into production in 1911, but at that time it had a Bessemer cylinder on it. In 1933 the engine was recorded as being "scrapped", apparently it had a bad cylinder, but it obviously did'nt get junked / melted down cause here it is still today in 2013, Now....the cylinder, it originally had a Bessemer cylinder on it, but now has a South Penn Oil co cylinder with serial # 679 on it, there is no info in the cards showing when it was manufactured, or put into service, BUT....the cards show that this cylinder was brought into the shop in 1951 and had the cylinder bore worked, and new rings put in it. The man I bought it from said he heard it run a few years back when he bought it, but due to an illness he can't conquer he has been forced to sell all of his things. Hopefully this year it will be barking again just as it was built to do over 100 yrs ago.

As I found it in Jim's garage.










In this pic from Left to Right....I'm at far left, Jim the owner is at 3rd from left, and my engine friend that rode down with me is at 4th from left (Robert)





Jim