All-Volunteer Museum Showcases Early Engines
You can see hundreds of early gas and diesel engines at the Coolspring Power Museum. Ranging from 1 hp. to 600 hp., many of the engines still run like new. It’s the largest collection of historically significant, early stationary gas engines in the U.S., if not the world, and is run and staffed completely by volunteers.
“We have 350 engines in 32 buildings spread across 35 acres, with 200 of the engines in operating order,” says Dr. Paul Harvey, museum founder. “Our displays range from a 60 by 150-ft. building to individual displays in 10 by 16-ft. buildings scattered all over the grounds, many of them taken down and restored. We are trying to set up more displays with the equipment they powered.”
He notes that a 600 hp. engine is the museum’s biggest exhibit. The 75-ft. long machine was made by Snow Steam Pump Co. It went into service in 1917 and ran 24/7 until 1996.
His favorite is a 75 hp. Otto, originally installed in a local waterworks in 1920 and kept on standby from the mid 1940’s until the 1960’s. It has a 21-in. bore with a 30-in. stroke. He loves it because it was used locally, but also because it is big, beautiful and rare, 1 of only 2 surviving 1912 model Ottos.
“When we installed it here, we brought the engineer who had run it in the mid 30’s to the dedication,” recalls Harvey. “He was 94 and in assisted living at the time. He turned on the gas and air, retarded the timing, opened this and closed that and away it went.”
The museum website has a page devoted to exhibits that lists each building and the engines in it with photos and descriptions of each. Much more information is available in publications put out by the museum.
The 600-member museum is not resting on its old engines. A project now underway will provide an early 20th century, German-style building to house a 1903, 12 hp. Augsburg M.A.N. air-blast engine.
“We have a goal of $150,000 for the building,” says Jones. “We are raising funds now and hope to break ground this spring.”
“It is the oldest diesel engine in the world,” says Harvey.
The all-volunteer museum is open one weekend a month from April to October, often with special events in June, July and October.
“We had to cancel in 2020, but normally we bring in 4,000 to 5,000 visitors a year,” says Harvey.
“We may have limited hours and volunteer staff, but we really are a world-class museum,” says Jones.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Coolspring Power Museum, 179 Coolspring Rd., Coolspring, Penn. 15730 (ph 814 849-6883; cpm@coolspringpowermuseum.org; coolspringpowermuseum.org).
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All-Volunteer Museum Showcases Early Engines ENGINES You can see hundreds of early gas and diesel engines at the Coolspring Power Museum Ranging from 1 hp to 600 hp many of the engines still run like new It’s the largest collection of historically significant early stationary gas engines in the U S if not the world and is run and staffed completely by volunteers “We have 350 engines in 32 buildings spread across 35 acres with 200 of the engines in operating order ” says Dr Paul Harvey museum founder “Our displays range from a 60 by 150-ft building to individual displays in 10 by 16-ft buildings scattered all over the grounds many of them taken down and restored We are trying to set up more displays with the equipment they powered ” He notes that a 600 hp engine is the museum’s biggest exhibit The 75-ft long machine was made by Snow Steam Pump Co It went into service in 1917 and ran 24/7 until 1996 His favorite is a 75 hp Otto originally installed in a local waterworks in 1920 and kept on standby from the mid 1940’s until the 1960’s It has a 21-in bore with a 30-in stroke He loves it because it was used locally but also because it is big beautiful and rare 1 of only 2 surviving 1912 model Ottos “When we installed it here we brought the engineer who had run it in the mid 30’s to the dedication ” recalls Harvey “He was 94 and in assisted living at the time He turned on the gas and air retarded the timing opened this and closed that and away it went ” The museum website has a page devoted to exhibits that lists each building and the engines in it with photos and descriptions of each Much more information is available in publications put out by the museum The 600-member museum is not resting on its old engines A project now underway will provide an early 20th century German-style building to house a 1903 12 hp Augsburg M A N air-blast engine “We have a goal of $150 000 for the building ” says Jones “We are raising funds now and hope to break ground this spring ” “It is the oldest diesel engine in the world ” says Harvey The all-volunteer museum is open one weekend a month from April to October often with special events in June July and October “We had to cancel in 2020 but normally we bring in 4 000 to 5 000 visitors a year ” says Harvey “We may have limited hours and volunteer staff but we really are a world-class museum ” says Jones Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Coolspring Power Museum 179 Coolspring Rd Coolspring Penn 15730 ph 814 849-6883; cpm@coolspringpowermuseum org; coolspringpowermuseum org
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