1912 Fairbanks - Morse 15 HP Hit And Miss Engine And Two Stamp Mill Demonstration 

It is amazing to see what people have invented over time out of necessity. Each generation improves a little on the technology of the previous one. Think of the work an engine like this could do with a gallon of gas. As Ron pointed out you could belt this up to many things from a generator to a washing machine and everything in between. Thanks for the comment!

Nice viewpoint You've just earned another subscriber.

Thanks, we appreciate it!

It's probably more fuel efficient than most of the more modern engines, and also not too bad on emissions.

It is fairly efficient, maybe something to do with it coasting part of the time. Thanks for commenting, Doug!

Thanks for the nice comment, Colin. Yes, once those flywheels get going they're not going to stop easily. Lots of kinetic energy.

Glad that you enjoyed this, David. We went from this engine right over to Ron's engine shop and listened to him for another hour or so. Here is the link to that video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dySxypkHOKY.html

Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment, Glen. It sounds like you have some great memories that have stuck with you all these years. Ron certainly knows his engines. I have another video of his engine shop that you might like.

Ron has it running properly, thanks for watching.

What a great story you tell of your pal Sammy. He sounds like a great guy who loved his machines. I'm glad you still have your memories of him. Thanks for watching and commenting. P.S. you know you shouldn't eat desert first, but in this case it's a good thing. RIP Sammy.

Thanks for the great comment, Skysurfer. Loads of history here in the US.

Exactly, very fun to listen to someone like Ron who knows a good bit of history behind these engines. Thanks for watching!

I agree, William. Some of the things that people have invented is pretty amazing. World changing ideas! Thanks for commenting. 👍👍

These are amazing pieces of equipment. Fun to watch and hear running. I have a small hit and miss engine at home that I'm trying to get running. I can't get the magneto to fire, otherwise it's good.

Thanks for the nice comment, Neil. Ron certainly is a fun guy to spend some time with and he knows these engines inside and out.

That was exactly my feeling, Eric. It was really fun to listen to Ron, who obviously loves and knows about these engines, share his knowledge of history relating to this technology. You might enjoy my video of his engine shop where he talks about several smaller engines. The link is in the description of this video. Thanks for the great comment!

LAND SEA AIR CANADA Thank you for the nice comment. It really was fun to spend the time with Ron who really knows these engines well. He has a smaller shop next door to this one with five more hit and miss engines of various sizes. He started a smaller one that ran a drill press and saw. I'll post that video soon.

F-M engines were also used on WW2 and after US submarines.

Thanks for the comment, Fred. Hopefully Ron will see it.

Glad that you enjoyed the video and thanks for commenting, Wallace! They are pretty cool to see and hear running.

Exactly. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks, Phil. We appreciate you watching and commenting.

Exactly. I asked Ron about fuel and he did say they will run on just about any type of combustible liquid. Thanks for the comment.

They are fun to watch in action. It's also fun to imagine the mill pounding ore from a mine and all the work the miners did to dig and transport the ore. Visiting abandoned mines is one of our hobbies. Thanks for watching and commenting!

They definitely use old engines like this to power oil pump-jacks, sometimes smaller sometimes bigger. They've been largely replaced with electric motors now though

Have you seen the other video of Ron's engine shop? You might like it. The link is in the description of this video.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring I'm getting ready to watch the other ones now ! Isn't it amazing that as far back in time as these engines were made, over 100 yrs later they stll run.

Pidasian Hippie We really enjoyed seeing the engine and mill, too. We spent at least two hours talking with Ron and checking out his engines. He has a shop next door to where this video was made that has a boat load of cool old engines and other equipment. Thanks for the comment!

Allen Oxendine Yes they certainly have, Allen. This is a really good museum and I made a longer video of most of it. Thanks for watching!

That would be nice. Thanks, Jessie!

It definitely does and engine technology has obviously come a long way since this was built. It has even come a long way since the 60's/70's when I used to be on the side of the road regularly adjusting points, fiddling with carburetors, checking spark plugs and wires etc. just to keep my car running. Thanks for the comment, George!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring sure has,, l have 8 classic cars projects, all pre 80,,,so I know Excaclly what your saying,,,,he'll tires don't even go flat anymore,,,lol

They are cool engines. I have more on them in a video called 'Hit and miss engine shop with Ron Morefield'. Thanks for watching.

i think hit and miss also efcient in petroland use of the combustion incompare to 2 stroke and 4stroke?

@@djlau1 They were efficient for their time, nowhere near as efficient as a modern 4-stroke engine.

Great story, William. Very interesting how the machinery was designed and then built in place. The Laws Museum is a very fun place to visit if you like old equipment and such. Plus, it's free admission. I have a few more videos that were taken at the museum that you might like. One of Ron Moorehouse's engine shop and one of the Twenty Mule Team Borax replica wagon train. There are a couple more, too. Thanks again for the great story, I will read it a couple more times.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Back then cameras were strictly forbidden and it was an instant firing offense. Now I wish I had taken the chance to get pictures. Over the years as new processes were installed the old machinery wouldn't be removed unless the room was needed so the old machinery would just sit there. The machinery was built to last for ever. There were a couple of Ingersoll Rand air compressors that were there from day one that were still running every day until the place shit down although the steam engines that powered them were long gone. There were wooden tanks and some cast iron tanks still in use from day one until the end. The factory covered a little more than 2 city blocks with brick buildings 12 stories tall. Back in it's day it drew much attention. A huge "Steam Powered Factory" it was called. The operators used pipe to communicate with each other. Just like old Navy ships. Some of the pipes were still there at the end. One would blow into it like a trumpet to get the attention of the next operator. Small steam whistles were also used for communication. They were used until the end. Steam power came before electricity. It wasn't long before this factory was built steam railroad engines had to uncouple their cars so horses could pull the cars to their destinations because steam was thought to be too dangerous to be close to highly populated areas. In some cases it was true because every once in a while a locomotive would blow up. Again, this video woke up a lot of wonderful memories. Thanks Again!

Too bad you didn't get any photos of the factory and the vintage machinery. I'm glad that you have the memories after least. That factory must have given you some intense experiences to have developed such deep memories of that time. You are a good writer, maybe a book in your futue? Thanks for another great comment, William!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Thanks for your more than kind words. There won't be a book. Just like the machinery that went to the scrapyard not many are interested in some old man's memories. I was just a kid when I started there. I was a sponge trying to learn everything I could and I wound up in a candy store so to speak. The old timers I worked with were more than happy to pass along a lifetime of information which included information that was passed along from previous generations of millwrights. They were a wonderful bunch that were children during the Great Depression. Most knew of a cold house in the winter and going to bed without a meal. They learned to share at a young age and did for their life. Their knowledge flowed to me like a river. You guys are busy and I really enjoy what you do. One day when not so busy you will most likely remember much of things in your past that you most likely thought you forgot.

@@williamwintemberg You always seem to remember the important things. I really do like your writing skills and wouldn't uderestimate what you could do with those great memories that you seem to have. Stories and ways of life that were passed down to you are priceless.

They do make some interesting sounds and are kind of relaxing in a rhythmic way. I've been accused of snoring like a chainsaw, moose and a couple other things but never like a hit and miss engine, so that's a rare talent you have. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.

My cat sounded like that when she snored. She was a big girl, perhaps a little bit overweight (16 or 17lbs). She died in 2018, but she lived a pretty long time for a cat. She was about 10 or 11 years and we had her since she was a kitten.

That a big car. We have a 19 year old car traveling with us right now. She has always been very small about 6-7 pounds.

We love the Laws Museum. Not many better museums around and it's free. Thanks for watching, Matthew!

Yes, very true. I'm starting to see the same on new engines for increasing fuel efficiency when under minimal load. Thanks for your comment, Steve!

Glad you enjoyed it, Darren! Thanks for the comment.

Definitely a recognizable sound that they make and I'm sure nostalgic for someone like you that has heard them on the job. Thanks for the comment!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Yes sir, most definitely! I remember thinking at that time, that it was strange to leave a piece of equipment running with no one around! (I was still pretty young and naive at the time.) I do lament the loss of such things of that era (and before) that have totally vanished from the landscape. Da#ned progress and electric motors! The lights and conveniences of today are still pretty hard to beat!

That was a big one, Pat. You would need a small army and a big trailer to get that home. Thanks for watching and commenting!

It is a cool and rhythmic sound that this engine makes, Ren. Thanks for watching again.

They certainly are, and fun to listen to as well. They have a nice rhythm to them. Thanks for the comment, Mark!

Once those flywheels get moving, there is a lot of kinetic energy there. They won't stop in any hurry. Thanks for watching, Mick!👌😁

Oh they'll do it, after a fashion. Whether they'll be capable of still doing it 100 years from now (with the original parts) is another question entirely.

That's a happy little rhyme. This could do it I suppose.

Wow, that's amazing. I bet that is fun to see and hear running. That says something about the quality and simplicity of these engines. I get asked occasionally about fuel consumption of the engine. Can you give me an idea of how much fuel it uses? Thanks for the comment, John!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring it burns on average 1.5-2.0 gals per hour under a load. That's down from 2.5-3.0 before the rebuild. A benefit of the rebuild. It now starts easier and runs smoother. It starts right up on karosine now which it wouldn't do before. It had to be warmed up on gasoline before switching the fuel supply. The old engine is a hoot. I've been using it now for ten years since we moved and re-sent the mill. It never ceases to amaze me. Grand dad would be happy his saw mill was still cutting wood.

@@johnwillis4706 Thanks for that information on fuel consumption and type of fuel. I was wondering what fuel you ran it on. I agree that your grand dad would be happy and proud of what you're doing with the mill.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring it's a lumber mill by the way. It will cut logs up to 6 feet in diameter. We don't see logs that big today, about 60 inches are the biggest we see now and those are rare, but it would cut them. We cut full dimension lumber. 2x4's are 2x4 inches 2x6's,2x8's, 2x10's, etc. It's the old ways but, people really like the full dimension lumber.

@@johnwillis4706 Good to know what your mill can do. Feel free to put the mill name and location in a comment if you'd like.

Thanks, Marci! I'm glad that you enjoyed it. If you are ever near Bishop, California you should try and make a visit to the Laws Museum.

Yes, still working well. Thanks for watching!

Yes, they are all very knowledgeable and nice there. I have a video covering a good part of the museum on my channel if you are interested. Thanks for watching, Edward!

He is pretty good around these engines.

Thanks for watching, Alessandro!

Maybe, they do see like they are bullet proof.

Thank you on Ron's behalf, Paul.

That sounds like a cool engine. Glad that you learned something from the video. I have a 1919 Sattley 1&1/2 HP hit and miss. I need to get the magneto working, and it will run. Here is another video you might enjoy😁 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dySxypkHOKY.html

@@TomandJulieMineExploring are you familiar with the Starbolt catalog?

If I remember correctly Ron had a vertical engine in his shop. Did you see my video of his engine shop? He has all sorts of engines there. The link to it is in the description of this video. Maybe you can get your hands on one of the engines the fellow in your town had or another somewhere else. I think it would make a great project for a person with mechanical ability. Thanks for the comment, James!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring It was many years back. I am going to check though, his son has the place now. His son and I are freinds, went to school together. The vertical ones I saw looked to be 3-4 foot tall. His fatherusedto buy scrap metal and aluminum cans, I don't think his son kept that business going but those engines may very well be in the barn, going to check it out. I was a mechanic of some form or another all my life. Started with lawnmowers and small engines, went to farm tractors and industrial equipment, (backhoes, excavators, bobcats, etc. Then spent 16years building and servicing High pressure, closed loop hydraulic systems and the machinery they powered for the offshore oil and gas industry. Really loved that job. Then 9/2/14 the doctor said lung cancer, said 'I give you about 90 days', I quit my job, entered chemo and radiation treatment at the same time. Massive doses but BEAT the cancer but didn't beat the side effects of the chemo and radiation. But I am alive and somewhat able to enjoy life with my wife and family. If I had to guess I'd say I'm about 65/70% of what I used to be. Got a little woodcraft shop in the backyard helps keep me doing something. I love to watch the videos of these old engines. Would like to get a chance to experiance breathing life back into one. Definatly an era long gone but the machinery is out there, and I have a good friend that's the best machinest you'll ever meet so nothing is impossible. Thank you for replying back, you got my mind thinking now. If I find them still there I'll drop you a message. Thanks again......

@@jamesmoore3346 Glad you are doing better now. Hope you find one of those engines, or another one somewhere else. Thanks for sharing your story.

We love it, too. We spent two days going through it last year. I have a video of the museum in general if you happen to be interested in that. The price of admission is right, too. Thanks for watching and commenting, Bob!

Thanks for the awesome comment, Stephen! The museum and equipment get together sounds great. Thanks for the information on that. We appreciate you following us for some time!👍😊

@@TomandJulieMineExploring You & Julie are very welcome Tom !! Also I just love the fact you guys take your old YJ Jeep to some pretty damn impressive high points in some of your videos, and it looks mostly STOCK 😳. Impressive driving there my friends. Stay safe out there & look forward to seeing you in future vids😎👍

@@stephenmiller5023 The YJ without track bars performs pretty well. Everything else is stock.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring I have a ‘91 Suzuki Samurai that I have extensively modified for off road exploration myself , and am running YJ springs over the topside of ‘83 Toyota Mini-truck axles with 33” Mickey Thompson tires . It’s powered by a Turbo charged & inter-cooled 1600cc Geo Tracker engine and has taken me to places few have dared go as well . I’ve mounted an 8500 lb pull winch up front that so far I have only used to pull others out of trouble with , and have my rig outfitted for all sorts of trail side repairs or recovery . Being prepared can also mean being safe ( in our minds anyway) so I always carry extra water & food & bedding & lights as well as a hand crank self contained weather radio for updates on conditions wherever I may roam. At 63 years old now my little rig has taken me all over here in California and parts of Arizona & I very much enjoy exploring new places like you two. Thanks for sharing again all that you post , and as I have commented on a previous video or two , maybe we will run into each other on a location somewhere, sometime. Stay safe you two👍👍

Glad that you like it!

Thanks for your thoughtful comment and your appreciation of this video and what it represents. I agree that a lot of the great innovators are not remembered or appreciated by today's people. I'm happy that you got a smile out of this!

Glad that you liked it, Richard. Thanks for the comment!

Yes, fun to see and hear running. I have a much smaller hit and miss that was sold under the Montgomery Ward's label. So far I haven't been able to get a spark so it's not running.Thanks for the comment, Mark!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Sounds like a fun project. Good luck!

That is what I have come to understand about the balls to the wall phrase. The 'balls out' was a similar phrase originating from the ball type governor, both meaning the engine was running at full power. Thanks for watching and commenting!

Also, pushing the envelope comes from the same thing. An Envelope in aviation is the term we use for the physical/structural limitations if an aircraft. It's the safe highs and lows of speed, altitude, engine power, and maneuverability. It has to do with test pilots pushing an aircraft to its limitations and trying to see how much further you can go.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring balls out is when running at max rpm...the flying ball governor was designed to keep engine speed consistant while allowing engine load to vary

@@CATech1138 Thank you, Charles!

The previous version of "pedal to the metal".

You're welcome. The old engines are amazing to watch and hear. I have a small one I'm trying to get running now. Thanks for the comment, Jason!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Thank you. The only time I get to see a hit and miss engine is at the county fair and/or the regional state fair. I am like the guy in the video in that I will stand there and watch for hours until I get dragged away.

That was a fun story that Ron told about that.

Yes, watching and listening to them run is fun.

Thanks for watching, Max. We really enjoyed talking with Ron and seeing his engine run.

Glad you like them, Almonte. Thanks for watching!

Thanks and Happy New week to you.

They are definitely fun to watch and hear. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video, Jerry. Thanks for watching!

You are absolutely correct on both counts. Thanks for watching and commenting!

They are not terribly hard to come by here in the States. I bought one for $100 that is not in running condition. I need to get the magneto working as there is no spark. Mine is a Sattley brand one and one half HP. I hope you can find one sometime. Thanks for the comment!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring $100 seems like a steal!! Great project, have fun getting it running!

@@chilrobberto1 Hopefully I will get it going this summer. I have two more video you might enjoy watching. 'Hit and miss engine shop with Ron Morefield' and Hit and miss engines with Ken'

Thanks, Ren!

Thank you, Paul! Hello to you from central Oregon.

Thanks for the great comment, Grant. After spending a couple hours with Ron you could tell he had a lot of respect and love for Fairbanks-Morse and these engines in general. He did explain the reliability of these engines saying they would run forever if properly maintained. I don't know if you saw my other video of Ron's shop where he showed us several other engines he works on from different manufacturers. I think it might interest you.

Thanks, Rob. We appreciate it!

Yes, this one is just a partially working mill so no real stamping going on. I hope you will watch some of our mine exploration videos. If you click on my playlist tab you will find a mine exploration playlist of 30+. Thanks for watching!

Thanks, Viviana!

Thanks for watching and commenting, Lo.

Thanks, Jim. I think Ron mentions the hot tube ignition during our visit with him but I don't remember if that part made it into this video. I haven't watched it for a while. Thanks for the comment!

Yeah, he talks about hot tube ignition and slide valve ignition.

Happy New Year, Mel!

😃👍👍

That sounds like a tough engine. Have you ever seen it run? Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for watching and commenting!👍😊

I understand it is only a partial demonstration of the mill and I would love to see it actually working in full, too. The mill is inside a building and would be very loud when the hammers drop, which I'm guessing is part of the reason it is not fully operating. I'm with you though, I would love to see the mill working in full. Thanks for the comment!

That's the only way you can turn the engine over to start it. They will definitely run for a long time. Thanks, Ozzie!

You're not alone with that feeling. There are quite a few people that rebuild, collect and enjoy stationary engines. With a little research you should be able to find a group with similar interests that could help you out. We see some of the bigger ones abandoned at some of the mines we explore. Did you watch the video of Ron's shop? It shows him running a small one hooked up to a couple pieces of equipment. The link to that video is in the description of this one. Thanks for the comment and I hope you get a hit and miss.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Thats a great idea. I should find a Facebook group or something.

@@VinnyMartello I have a 1-1/2 HP Sattley that was sold by Montgomery Wards. I need to get the Wico magneto working to make a spark. I think it's about a 1919 year model.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Wow thats cool!

Glad that you like it, Sparky!

That's great. Where are you located?

Thanks, Scott! I appreciate it.

Thanks, Len. Glad that you enjoyed it!👍😎

Very true. A lot has changed in that time, and not always for the better. Thanks for the comment.

You're welcome, Ray!

Thanks, Brett. I have a 1.5 HP Sattler that was sold by Montgomery Wards. I can't seem to get the Wico magneto to work. I think it needs a new capacitor.

I’m pretty green on working on them. This was my granddads and was passed down to me, he knew it inside and out. My plan is to power a corn grinder with it.

Me too. I haven't spent a lot of time on it yet.

Fun to have to play around with, as long as you don't have to lift it. Thanks for the comment, Bill.

Thanks for that.

Thanks, Eloi.

Thanks for that info. It's amazing how long some systems can remain in use, probably due to their simplicity and dependability. Thanks for watching!

Good point, Alex. It is interesting how engine technology has changed and the people that caused it are definitely important. I guess that's why it's fun to watch people like Ron, with this engine, as a reminder of how far things have come. Thanks for the comment!

Youre high. No offense

@@TomandJulieMineExploring I'm struck by the negative comments aimed at me. They are using a computer and a cell phone and have central heat and ac and drive cars. What?...... God gave you this shit. He di...ent! Wake up, assholes. Did God give you penicillin? Did God give you electricity? Did God give you art and literature? Did God give you music? He di...ent. He gave you a fucking brain. Well, some of you. USE IT!

@Martin Luther What are you thinking? Are you thinking that all the things you have are from some cosmic land of munchkins? Oh...you're like a kid or something. You have a garage band. Okay. You get a pass. Peace.

Getting some tech priest vibes from your comment.

Glad that you like it and it was pretty good technology for the day. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the interesting comment about what sounds like a good book and story. Who would have guessed that an ignition tube on an engine could be fodder for the plot twist of a book. Ron did say the ignition tubes were troublesome. Thanks, Melkior!

@@TomandJulieMineExploring Thanks. I'm not sure the story would be available anywhere now, since it was only ever published in one of two magazines intended for school-age boys, either the "Magnet" or the "Gem" which were both compilations of tales with some illustrations. The tales were highly "formulaic" with each character having a predictable set of responses to each situation, unless the plot demanded something different, in which case a halfway-plausible excuse would come up to explain the temporary change in personality. I think I still have many of the magazines stowed away in a wardrobe somewhere, if silverfish haven't devoured them by now.

@@melkiorwiseman5234 Interesting. I haven't heard of the magazines you mentioned. Maybe I'll try and look them up sometime.

@@TomandJulieMineExploring I'm quite certain they're no longer published, but it's possible someone may have mentioned them in an online article. There's a TVTropes page for Billy Bunter and Frank Richards/Charles Hamilton but of neccessity, it's not very extensive and last I knew, it didn't mention the two magazines, only the so-called Billy Bunter Books. Happy hunting.

@@melkiorwiseman5234 Thanks for the information!

Good question, Daniel. I would guess there were some differences between manufacturers but I will try and ask Ron if we see him. Thanks for watching.

It's quite a machine to see and hear run. Thanks for watching!