At auction
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
This was part of the collection of steam whistles up for auction last weekend where we purchased the Kelsey Steamer. I thought I might buy one of these, until the prices were settled. They went from $475 to $180 each! Ron was having a fit, as he remembers scrapping plenty of these when he worked for my grandfather retrofitting the old steamers.
-Tim
Boilerplate
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
Close up of the front of the Kelsey Steamer bought at last weekends auction in Norwich, Ont.
-Tim
and bought!
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Image Copyright (c) 2006 Tim Warris
One mans junk….
Finally, one of these is back in the family! Built by my grandfather, W.C Kelsey over 50 years ago, these portable “steamers” were used by tobacco farmers to provide steam to cure tobacco.
We (all us Warris brothers) have been looking for one of these for some time, and thanks to the sharp eye of one of Scott’s “scouts” one was found coming up in an auction which was held last Saturday.
What makes this find so great is that this is one of only about 15 four wheel versions that were built, most were the two wheel version.
This one was is good shape too, although the rear door casting on the firebox is missing, and has been replaced with a poorly made one. We think we might be able to find one somewhere. Other than that this one is completely original, has never been converted from a coal burner to an oil burner (which most of them have) and even has the original tires and paint on it.
Bought it for a reasonable amount too, as there was only one other bidder who was interested. We were not sure what to expect, and hoped there would not be too much interest in it, but we were not optimistic as the auction was being held not too far from Delhi, where this was originally manufactured. A little steam engine next to it sold for $4300, and it was in very poor shape, we thought we might be in trouble, but fortunately this steamer sold for much less than we expected.
Now we have to arrange to transport it to its new home, in my back yard in Burford.
-Tim
