My steam and other things

I soon learned that two Jensen's sitting on the same shelf seem to multiply somehow, at least that's my story now and I'm sticking to it.  It seemed like every time I turned around "bing" there would be another Jensen sitting on the shelf next to the first two.  This multiplying has now slowed down, actually it has stopped completely as of today--but you never know when those first two might get together and "bing" there's another one!

This is Jensen's largest & most powerful Hobby Line Steam Engine, features a double acting stationary slide valve cylinder with plenty of low speed torque, 2-1/2 x 6 boiler, reversible, 2 speed pulley and a F-N-R Stephenson link shift lever.

The highest RPM engine they make. Unique, vertical, double-acting oscillating cylinder engine with a 2-1/2 x 6 boiler, 2 speed pulley, 400 watt heater. It's their most requested engine for the school sciences, physics & fun!

Jensen's web site says this "Twin engine series is the result of an ambitious design and engineering project undertaken by Mr. Jensen in 1948. The complicated slide valve timing was solved, providing a power stroke every 1/4 turn of the flywheel, thus making the #55 self-starting with a very high RPM."

The above engines are still being made by the Jensen Co. in the same building where the company started so many years ago by a small dedicated staff.  

The engines below are no longer being made, but some parts are still available from the Jensen factory.  http://www.jensensteamengines.com/

This engine was in production from the early 1940's until 1964. The only oscillating cylinder engine they made with an exhaust pipe, the # 5 is an extremely fast and powerful engine. In demonstrations, they used a #5 to turn 3 additional idle steam engines and a 30" tall Erector model of a carnival Airplane Ride!  This engine that I own has the cast iron fly wheel, which not all of them have.

The Model #45 "Candle Stick" engine was made from 1952 - 1955 and was never one of Tom Sr.'s favorite engines. It was a difficult engine to build and the lack of ready brass during the Korean war forced the use of steel for the boliers on most of these engines. The steel boilers are often pinholed by rust which caused problems with the sealed heaters. Finding a brass boiler #45 is a sure way of knowing you've found a rare piece---the one I own is brass so I feel very lucky!

   Jensen 70 [older version of the current version]  This seems to be similar to the current version with the exception of a wooden base, black fire box, silver chimney, and separate sight glass---or it is different from the newer version except for the side mounted fly wheel and being heated electrically--glass half full or half empty?