THE FLOUR MILL REEVES

August/September 1989
Dave Stevenson Illiana 
Mel North
Image Gallery
Coming through the hole to the second floor. (From left: Mel North, me, Don Hufford, Uncle Ben.)
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Antique Power Association, Inc., P. O. Box 4, Boswell, Indiana 47021

RELATED CONTENT

This story and engine are something I've dreamed of for years. A friend of mine has always traded me out of my gas engines because I told him years ago I was a tractor man. I decided I would only keep a large engine.

My dream came true. My friend, Marvin Scott, located an H John Deere parts tractor for me, so we made arrangements to go get the tractor. After we bought and loaded it, we talked to the owner about his engines and listened to several run. The more we talked, the more interested I got.

He was telling Marvin about a 3-cylinder 50 HP Reeves that was in the basement of an old flour mill in Chillicothe, Ohio. If it were closer, he said he would buy it. We showed interest so he gave us the name and phone number of the man who owned it. I decided I wanted this Reeves engine if Marvin didn't. The trip home involved much conversation with the end result being I had a shot at it.

About a month later, early on a Saturday, Uncle Ben, my nephews Mel and Steve, Don Hufford, Danny Scott, Marvin and I left for Chillicothe. We took Don's 1-ton truck and trailer and a borrowed truck and trailer. On the way we found a Massey 44 diesel and an Oliver 77 diesel which we bought on the way back home.

We arrived at the mill at 7 a.m. and started removing parts from the engine. The flywheels, plus lots of other parts, had to come off. Uncle Ben, Mel and I started with the flywheels. Don and Marvin went up to the third floor and cut holes to put log chains through. They wrapped the chains around two 10 foot by 4 inch 'I' beams and dropped them to the engine. The chains were hooked around the center cylinder and 2 three-ton chain hoists were attached at the top. The winching began and I was a nervous wreck until it was up through the hole. Once it was on the second floor, we slid 10 inch channel iron under the engine and across the hole. It was then lowered onto machinery rollers and moved away from the hole.

Once we were on good flooring, we had to go about 30 feet, around a corner and then onto Don's trailer. With the help of Don's winch and a snatch block we got the cable around the corner to the engine. It was easy from there on with the engine, but, we had to hoist the flywheels, belt pulley, water pump, extra cylinder and other parts through the hole. This may not sound like much but the flywheels weigh 1500 pounds each and the pulley and carriage stand weigh 1000 pounds!

At 4 p.m. we were loaded and ready to head back 30 miles to get the Massey and Oliver.

This Reeves was built in Mt. Vernon, Ohio and is in reasonably good shape. I'm a member of the Illiana Antique Power Association, Inc. of Boswell, Indiana and I do hope to have it done and running for our show June 30, July 1 and 2.

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Farm Collector readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to GAS ENGINE?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


SUBSCRIBE TO GAS ENGINE MAGAZINE TODAY!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Gas Engine Magazine is your best source for tractor and stationary gas engine information.  Subscribe and connect with more than 23,000 other gas engine collectors and build your knowledge, share your passion and search for parts, in the publication written by and for gas engine enthusiasts! Every month Gas Engine Magazine brings you: restoration stories, company histories, and technical advice. Plus our Flywheel Forum column helps answer your engine inquiries!

Be sure to take advantage of the Square Deal Subscription Program.

  • No Missed Issues.

  • No Renewal Notices.

  • No Additional Cost.

The Square Deal Subscription Program is designed as a paperless transaction with automatic renewals at a preferred low rate.   With advanced electronic notification, a 100% satisfaction guarantee and an easy opt-out plan, the Square Deal Subscription Program is the best value, risk free, eco-friendliest way to subscribe.