Stuart Beam Engine Serial Numbers and Datind

[DjangoParticipant @django]

Dating Stuart Beam Engine Castings

[DjangoParticipant @django]

My Stuart Beam Engine has what seems to be a serial number cast into the top of the base. Does anyone know when Stuart was doing that?

Another question is, when did they change the flywheel and bearings?

Thanks

Edited By Django on 04/06/2023 18:18:54

Edited By Django on 04/06/2023 18:20:48

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The flywheel for all the 2" x 1" designs was changed at some time to one that has a shallower full width rim and the nasty looking "lumps" where the spokes meet the rims. I think this style was really intended for the twin Victoria where the lugs made it easier to join two flywheels together.

Mine from the late 80s or early 90s has the deeper rim and where I have used their more recent castings for other engines I machine the lumps off.

Bearings do differ between different age drawings with some having 5/8" ctr height and others 7/8". Those are not standard beam bearings on mine.

Not sure about the numbering of the bases.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

If the number is cast into the base rather than stamped it is more likely a casting number than an individual serial number. So would have stayed the same over many years on all such castings if the same pattern was being used.

[DjangoParticipant @django]

 

Posted by Hopper on 05/06/2023 01:29:22:

If the number is cast into the base rather than stamped it is more likely a casting number than an individual serial number. So would have stayed the same over many years on all such castings if the same pattern was being used.

I can’t say for certain that it is cast in. The numbers on mine appear to be 8065-3. The numbers are fairly faint and I left the casting bare. I am wondering what numbers if any that have on their casting.

 

Edited By Django on 05/06/2023 02:08:53

Edited By Django on 05/06/2023 02:14:22

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

The numbers are faint but appear to be cast in not stamped so will not be a serial number, more likely a number to identify the casting . Possibly part number 3 of assembly 8065? Noel.

[DjangoParticipant @django]

Posted by noel shelley on 05/06/2023 11:58:27:

The numbers are faint but appear to be cast in not stamped so will not be a serial number, more likely a number to identify the casting . Possibly part number 3 of assembly 8065? Noel.

I think that you are correct. The numbers are probably a part identification. It seems odd that they bother to cast a part number onto a part that cannot be confused with any other, but that still seems to be the logical explanation.

I do know that at some time the rim of the flywheel changed and the bearing went from gunmetal castings to Brass extrusions. I don’t know if these changes occurred together or not. If anyone knows when that happened it might help to at least establish a before of after date for identification.

Thanks

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I think mine is 8605 3 but nit sure on the six too shallow and paint making it hard to read.

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

My Stuart beam is probably from the '70s or '80s ( I got it part built second, or more, hand ) and the number on the base is 80063 and on close examination with a loupe is definitely cast in not stamped. So I would assume it is a casting number.

John

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

Further to my previous, I've dug out the parts list for my Stuart beam, dated May 1972, and it lists the pattern # for the bedplate as 80064. In the parts section for the beam engine on the current Stuart web site it also lists the stock # of the bedplate as 80064. So it is definitely a casting/pattern # not a serial #.

John

Edited By John Purdy on 05/06/2023 19:25:13

[DjangoParticipant @django]

Posted by John Purdy on 05/06/2023 18:24:44:

My Stuart beam is probably from the '70s or '80s ( I got it part built second, or more, hand ) and the number on the base is 80063 and on close examination with a loupe is definitely cast in not stamped. So I would assume it is a casting number.

John

The number on mine is probably she same as yours. It is quite faint on mine, so I posted what I thought it said. My base casting was a replacement that I bought from Stuart, so it is from a different vintage than my casting set, (the original was a terrible casting. The raised Stuart lettering was very defective and quite unappealing).

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