The Duplex Corliss Model Steam Engine by John V McDivitt

[@aplinewalker]

What a remarkable engine ,,, and what an outstanding engineer to build something with such precision,,, I was lucky enough as a young lad to be taken around dozens and dozen of cotton and woolen mills in Lancashire and Yorkshire and many mines where similar engines where used as winding engines but with a drum flywheel (My Dad was made on steam)

[@turningpoint6643]

I more than enjoyed it, my sincere thanks for again taking the time to put this up. I thought John's single cylinder Corliss was the best I've ever seen, guess the only thing that would surpass it would be this Duplex Corliss. And I've machined more than enough parts to have some idea of just what an unbelievable craftsman John was. For anyone who hasn't ever operated a machine tool. I can assure you it's much much tougher to build parts up to John's level than it looks. You have many very beautiful engines built to an extremely high standard in your collection and I'm a bit envious. Very nice to see someone collecting these that does understand how they work and the craftsmanship involved. But I'm not sure if lifting screws is the correct terminology. It might be in North America, but I know in the U.K. there called jacking bolts. The other reason they were needed so badly was due to the technology or lack of it available at the time. They used some pretty strange concoctions as a sealer, and a lot of it dried rock hard with the heat. So those jacking bolts were used to break the seal.

[@frankbiz]

I can’t add anything else except I second all the positive comments. Just an amazing work of art. Thanks for sharing.

[@motoresesistemasautomatos.]

Um dos motores pm a mecânica mais bem elaborada que já vi, maravilhoso. Parabéns.

[@anythingoldmechanical]

So beautiful, that words fail me!

[@helthuismartin]

Talking about art.THIS IS ART.

[@teescottageguyproductions]

Wow that is an incredible model. It’s a credit to the builder. I am amazed!!

[@geraldmorain3166]

The actual valve timing is genius

[@rhavrane]

Bonjour, Just amazing... Thanks for sharing such beautiful machines, Amicalement, Raphaël

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Truly amazing craftsmanship !

[@gary.arthur]

What a stunning piece of work!

[@geraldmorain3166]

It's all about valve work ,corliss Stephenson joy .....

[@raymondj8768]

such a beautiful engine great job.

[@darkcustomxxx7252]

wow, just wow. It's art, poetry and music all in one superb engine. Im sure John McDivitt is now somewhere showing god how the universe shouldve been made! Your collection has no equal, it's truly amazing what you have, you must be the wealthiest person on the earth to own all these magnificent engines!! where did you get them all!!??

[@jimsvideos7201]

I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by the large parts or the small parts, but I'm impressed.

[@grahamhall2662]

Incredible engineering. Could you tell us a little more about the history of the man? He must have ben a very special person.

[@reddrryder]

Sure......... John V. McDivitt (1918-2008) As you may know, my friend John McDivitt passed away in October ’08 at the age of 89. He was a true gentleman and a patriot most steadfast in his convictions. He served in 2 wars to defend our freedom. His conversation was rich with history. He was a self-taught metallurgist and machinist. During his life he built some of the finest model steam engines ever produced. In 1972 he built a Coles Corliss and for that project he received the Golden Hammer award from Mechanix Illustrated. He built 4 of the Coles Corliss engines over 32 years. A fellow collector has the first of 3 or 4 known of John’s Lane and Bodley Corliss models. One of John's other two Coles Corliss engines graces the cover of Coles Power Models catalog #26. Several of his engines have been on the cover of Live Steam magazine including the Duplex Corliss in this video, and I believe some other publications. He has written articles for these magazines and made numerous contributions to the model engineering hobby. I have had the good fortune call him a friend and to acquire a large part of his collection of exquisitely crafted hand built steam engines. It has been rightly said that he had a very keen sense for what to paint and what to leave exposed as finely finished metal. He took immense pride in properly fabricating each part as if it were a whole new project. Each part, after fabrication, was finished like a surgical instrument. He was a true master of his craft. John made each part himself from castings, bar stock, round stock, etc, including every last stud, nut, and bolt. All of his engines, even the oldest from 1949-50 run very smoothly on very low pressure.

[@grahamhall2662]

@@reddrryder Thank you for that. It is interesting how a great engineer spent his life and good to know that his masterpieces are in very appreciative and caring hands. Thank you for sharing.

[@treverrin]

Wow what a wonderful engine.

[@teescottageguyproductions]

That corliss valve gear is so well made

[@ModelEngines_Workshop]

Fantastic performance!

[@garyfaulk9802]

Amazing workmanship

[@lestermiller2717]

Just an amazing piece of engineering art. I grew up learning how these worked and made some Stuart Turner engines back in school days. 60’s period now a days this is a dying art no one tries to do this anymore. Obsolete technology sorry to say but this was my main way that I learned how to be a Me. / Mfg. engineer back then. Wish I could own one I could spend hours just watching it work.

[@rongeremy5370]

that is. magic my friend!!!

[@juanasanelli6831]

que hermoso trabajo!

[@JoshKilen]

beautiful engine

[@overbored1382]

Absolutely beautiful

[@jeffanderson1653]

Absolutely incredible

[@DELTA1DSV]

now thats great , " beatiful to see thanks for your videos "

[@hansschmidt1961]

Mr. McDivett's work was at the highest level of the craft. Did anyone ever do a video or photo tour of his workshop? What type of lathe and mill did he use?

[@reddrryder]

Here are some shop pictures. i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07285.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07283.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07281.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07280.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07279.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07275.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07277.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07278.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07274.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07272.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07271.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07267.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07268.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07269.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07263.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07264.jpg i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh210/reddrryder/Shop%20Photos/DSC07265.jpg

[@hansschmidt1961]

Thank you for sharing those. I appreciate it.

[@CHARLIE1955able]

i like the clarkston marine model you show, about all i can fit in my 5th wheel, i have a can of oil lol

[@ramo7963]

quelle mouvement !! tout en douceur .....!

[@AdversityZone]

stunning

[@AtlasReburdened]

Too beautiful.

[@CreaseysWorkshop]

Amazing work. Truly inspirational. Do the oilers fully work with needle valve adjustment?

[@reddrryder]

yes

[@50shadesofgrade]

Incredible

[@donstor1]

Could not put a price on this. No way. Just beautiful.

[@ranjitpatel496]

Amazing

[@lestermiller2717]

I was wondering would they have made the shaft with the fly wheel longer on each side. To then add different size pulleys to run machine equipment. Or just have one pulley opposite the fly wheel and run a belt up to the ceiling where other shafts with pulleys could be set up to power a machine shop. I always wondered how a turn of the century bicycle company used steam engines in the factories. If only I still had a machine shop. I really would love to build one of these engines. I wonder if it would be possible to get the parts machined first. Then I could do all the little hand fitting an plumbing work myself to finish up the engine. This really is a dying art these days sorry to say. I learned how to make Stuart Turner engines back in 1967 while learning about mechanical engineering only made 11 engines myself tons of fun though. But I really learned a lot along the way. I really blew my teachers mind when I brought in a couple to show to the class. It was funny I remember my teacher asking me why I’m bothering to take his classes in mechanical engineering and drafting when I can do things like this. Without that stupid piece of paper no matter how much you know people still look at you!! As a worthless stupid person with no experience. Used to drive me crazy especially when they said I was way to qualified for the job.

[@kingneutron1]

Making your own model engine as an "engine"eer is a bit like making your own lightsaber if you're a Jedi ;-)

[@markhansford178]

This type of engine would have been found typically in mills where the drive would be taken via cotton ropes on grooves in the pulley or directly on the flywheel to lineshafts throughout the mill building. This would in some cases power over a thousand looms in the larger mills. Some of the full sized engines were rated at 2 or 3 thousand horsepower.

[@stompingfreak8980]

She’s beautiful.

[@dragovanukic4716]

Prelepo!!!

[@ZirraAdalisk]

I really want one.

[@rpatrick2]

I've been assigned to work on a full scale one of these. Would you have any advice on tuning one of these. You mention the tuning valves on the back and a "Steam Indicator."

[@reddrryder]

+rpatrick2 You will want to get a couple books: Valve Setting by Morris and probably the New Catechism of the Steam Engine. There is another I don't remember right now. I once had a book that had 6 pages of instruction on setting the Corliss Valve gear. Morris' book has a chapter on Corliss valves. After reading it, The only conclusion I made is that it is a series of precise steps. Each step in the progression requires that all the steps before it are performed accurately. Best of luck with your project.

[@rpatrick2]

Thank you. I don't want to destroy a historical machine.

[@dikhed1639]

Did he make the plans or did he get them somewhere? Are the plans available?

[@StripeyType]

Holy mackerel. What a remarkable example of real craft. Did Mr. McDivitt also produce those castings, or are they commercially available?

[@reddrryder]

Patterns were made for John by Gordon Gore. As far as I know castings were poured for John only.

[@StripeyType]

reddrryder thanks for your reply. That news serves to increase my awe of this model. It's truly fantastic.

[@reddrryder]

Also... I have turned the patterns over to Jeff Lehn who has the last and 3rd set of castings for this engine.

[@billh308]

Why do the oilers have no oil in them?

[@Fatpumpumlovah2]

but can it run an alternator or bank of alternators to charge batteries :)

[@geraldmorain3166]

The efficiency of this bankrupt reciprocal idea is surpassed by the valve timing internal combustion be damned ,steam h20 heated

[@984francis]

Why are you running it with the oilers empty?

[@reddrryder]

Before operating, each oiler was removed and synthetic clock oil or Mobil 1 Ow-20 was added plentifully to each location. In addition, each moving part was manually lubricated. Given the low speeds I operate at and the build qualitu, the lubrication I have done is more than enough to run it for 10 hours straight without additional dripping. These oils do a great job holding a film. Oil is also carried into the cylinders via air line. There is no point in filling all the oilers for such a short run.

[@gregwarner3753]

Where is this colliection? Contact information?

[@geraldmorain3166]

Momentum

[@derekgee4223]

Excuse my ignorance but what's the knocking noise

[@reddrryder]

Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKuaZZ99fbyMiK8

[@cannon440]

What is that valued at? $500,000?