Jensen Steam Engines Factory Tour

[@IronheadOfScroteus]

I just bought a model 60 at an estate sale for $5. Nobody there knew what it was, all they saw was some old piece of junk. But I knew. It was missing the whistle and fuel tray but I was delighted to learn the parts are available from the very company that made the thing. Astounding to see an old-fashioned industrial factory still in business doing the same thing they always have. The Jensen operation should be a national treasure.

[@MechaniclifeJDM]

I bought one for my son 2644 rpm, 220 degrees Fahrenheit measured with an infrared temp gun at the sight glass end of the boiler, at full steam. We both love running it, the little guy is a huge rail fan. Awesome creations!!

[@ys1rs]

Good to know! It will last for a life time!!! Say hi to the young engineer machinist.

[@67comet]

I recently pulled mine off the shelf (I'm 46 and received mine from my grandma when I was 10). I went down to the sporting goods store and got some fuel pellets and started it up. My kids have been on me to keep running it ever since. Runs like a champ and we recently used a rubber band on the flywheel to run some of their Lego's contraptions. Mine is the Style 76. Thank you to all who build these machines at Jensen MFG, INC.

[@navelriver]

I found a Type 70 at an antique store! Ordered a safety valve and steam oil! Beautiful machinery!

[@ys1rs]

Glad you got one! Sure will last a long time if you take care of it. Will sure outlast you.

[@eliotreader8220]

great episode

[@MickLBrad]

Very nice video, Roberto. I am 68 years and still a little boy at heart! Thanks for sharing. 73, de Mick - WB4LSS

[@ys1rs]

Jensens are made to last many lifetimes. Excellent quality! Thanks for your comment. Rob

[@ys1rs]

Your welcome Mick. The people at Jensen keeps a long tradition alive. You can see all is still made by hand with the same tooling made by Mr. Jensen senior. When you talk to Dorita on the phone, she takes care of your orders the old personal way, like the good old days. I have grown up but still my eyes wander in fascination when I see a superb steam engine running and even more if it is pulling a miniature workshop! Rob.

[@paulchamberlain3359]

The best engine is Jensen's

[@ys1rs]

I also like Wilesco engines. I do have a couple of them, a 1965 vintage Wilesco D5 and also a nice Wilesco D141 workshop. The workshop is a delight see it running and operating. The D14 engine that powers it is very strong!. Beautifully made. Now Jensen boilers are silver soldered. Wilesco boilers are made with thin brass and soft soldered. Jensen steam engines are 100% hand made. No automatic machines are building them but a small family who follows a long tradition of quality over numbers.

[@TL-ps5lt]

Nice video of shop! I had the opportunity with Mr Jenson for many years and heard a few stories of the steam engines. Its time for me to get one of these...

[@ys1rs]

Yes! Get one while still in business. It is a classic now and a nice piece of history. Well built! worth every penny if you compare it with other brands. Boilers are silver soldered not soft soldered like other brands. These are fully hand built not made by machines. Quality is top.

[@MickLBrad]

Very nice tour. Thanks for sharing.

[@mattbod]

Bought one! Initially bought a Wilesco but felt tinny and cheap. Also the whistle had defective threads. Sent it straight back to dealer paid an extra 50 pounds and got a 75. Paint aside it is in a different league to the Wilesco in terms of strength. The consensus on the toy steam forums is that Wilesco have dropped in quality and have niggarly cost cutting: plastic valves and wheels on their steam trucks. I have some British Mamods which are tough little things but the 75 is tougher.

[@ys1rs]

mattbod Yes you are right... is a different league. Will pass from generation to generation. Made by hand, slow and quality to last... and not a serial big number low quality. Congratulations!!! Again, have nothing to do with them apart that I own a few and I recognize quality when I see it and recommend them with my eyes closed.

[@MrDjh66]

Yes I will and thank you for your response

[@wesleyhill4922]

I had a buddy in the 8th. grade, Ca. 1952, he had one that I thought was powered by alcohol .....oh how envious I was.

[@ufobill1]

My dad bought me on back in the 50's with the generator. Still runs

[@fazthatcoyote]

I want to get the model 75, what do you guys think

[@ys1rs]

FazbearLegun53/ TrainManButton the 75 is a fine engine and powerful. Is also very fast. Somebody commented “it is like a bat coming out from hell!” Without load of course ;-) Good it has a steam control valve and reversible.

[@DoNotPushHere]

What do you call "soft solder" on the wilesco boilers? I mean: I've got one and it's not pure silver but thats because silver rusts along time...and its definitely not tin soldered... Mine is modern though...I dont know if older ones were tin soldered. Did you mean that?

[@MrDjh66]

Wow this is great I just found mine in the basement I forgot all about it it's a model 65 from the 70s

[@MrDjh66]

I just found my model 65 on top of the beam in the basement and it still works

[@ys1rs]

MrDjh66 Glad you still have. Treat it well and will last a lifetime.

[@johnnyjames7139]

My step dad complained that he never had one as a child, so I gave him one late in his life. He ran it once for his step grand daughters but they showed no interest.

[@ys1rs]

Yes, modern kids are used to electronic video games full of color and noise that they are longer surprised by technological marvels of our time. Toy Steam engines used to be the kind gift a father would give to a technological inclined, future engineer son. To be a steam engineer was a wow kind of professional just as a jetliner pilot would be today.

[@mattbod]

Oh well I might buy one lol. I would like to deal with them direct as they seem a nice crew. It depends on shipping charges from US to UK though. They are notoriously high.

[@ys1rs]

mattbod Dorita is the one that usually deals with phone calls. I have nothing to do with them, except that I have had a few engines from them and I have bought spare parts to restore them (I buy them in poor condition... in the only way for to afford them LOL).The best I have is the model 20. Again, if you buy one, let’s say a model 75, remove the paint from the firebox before first run and paint it with heath resistant black. You won’t regret doing so.

[@mattbod]

Roberto Salazar I've bought one from a UK dealer and love it. Dorita quoted me $100 shipping so lucky to find the UK dealer. I'm not too bothered about the paint. Dealer says if it gets too ugly he can strip it back even after use so no worries. The actual build of the boiler and mechanicals is far better than the Wilesco: much heavier gauge. Not sure about older Wilescos but I sent the D10 ai bought back as it felt so cheap and paid another £50 for this. I prefer quality engineering to surface glitter.

[@ys1rs]

mattbod look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprUZ42HbJ2okLM

[@darrenongorchid]

Wilesco engines?

[@mattbod]

Darren Ong used to be good I hear and looking for an old one. My experience was not good with a new one: thin metal, tinny, plastic valves, poor soldering on the steam pipes...

[@MW-C-Music-Copyright-Free]

WooW Good You Rock Man ;)

[@ys1rs]

LOL thanks but those guys at Jensen are the ones that really Rock by keeping their business running after 60+ years still by hand and proudly made in the US. Its a hand manufactured labor intensive product that will last your entire life if taken care of. As they say... "its not a toy but an educational piece...is that what it is."

[@debbiebrown2096]

0.22 em wilesco and i think jensons just coped wilesco and wilesco is buitiful it is the largest steam company ever

[@mattbod]

Nice engines but I was speaking to the guy in my hobby store in the UK and he recommended Wilesco over the Jensen as they use bad quality paint on the burner which blackens and peels off after first firing and looks awful. It's a shame. Apparently he rang Jensen to raise this with them and they were pretty offhand with him.

[@ys1rs]

mattbod Yes he is right. Agree 100%. But on the other side... Jensen’s boilers are silver soldered and not soft soldered like Wilesco. I would recommend Jensen Pro line if you like electrics (kettles). They will outlast any Wilesco on time of service and never burn out the paint. Now, I know we like real fire so... Another recommendation is to remove the ugly pink paint on the Jensen fire house and just leave the pure bare copper or if you like black then paint it with heat resistant black used on barbecues. They look very nice. Just do it before the first run of the engine. Again, that Jensen will be there for generations to come and enjoy with that silver soldered boiler. Quality is amazing except on the paint that burns out with real fire.

[@mattbod]

Roberto Salazar Ok I'll get one eventually! Not remotely interested in te electric ones. I am a purist. Steam engines should be stoked by flames! No electricity in James Watt/Newcommen's day! As to the paint why do they still use it after all the complaints?