Eye-Catching Collection Of Trailer-Mounted Steam Engines

2021 - Volume #45, Issue #6, Page #38

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Francis Lindauer packed his 8 1/2 by 21-ft. “steam trailer” with 13 engines, jackshafts, pulleys, pumps and more. Each engine drives a bunch of equipment. The late dairyman bought the equipment at auctions all over the U.S.
    “Dad had a passion for steam engines,” says Mike Lindauer. “Most guys go for big engines, but he picked up unique engines. We worked on the trailer for about four years.”
    Although the trailer has one vertical boiler that makes steam, it doesn’t provide enough for all the engines onboard. When running the trailer engines, the Lindauers pull their Avery underslung steam tractor alongside and hook it up. The big engine provides steam via a regulator to a system of pipes that feed each engine.
    Mike and brother Phil helped with the trailer and now carry on their dad’s passion, taking it to shows and events. They are proud of the trailer and the bits of history on it.
    “We made the frame and then started piecing things together,” says Mike. “As it got heavier, we had to add more axles. It has 10 tires carrying the weight.”
    “I don’t think he had a plan at the beginning,” says Phil. “He just made-up things as he went along. It was just one thing added to another.”
    One example of that is the steam engine that powers an air compressor. It in turn provides air pressure for a tugboat horn and a whistle from a San Francisco streetcar.
    “Everything runs something, every shaft turns,” says Mike. “He liked to see jackshafts and line shafts running.”
    Some of the unique engines include a marine engine and boiler from a small paddle boat that can run forward or backward. The smallest engine has a 3-in. piston and was one of 100 that ran sewing machines in a factory. It drives a threshing machine bushel counter. The collection also includes a Locomobile steam car engine and an unusual, inverted V drive.
    “We do have two really unique engines,” says Mike. “They are 3 and 5 hp. L.J. Clark engines used to power circus rides. They are thought to be the only two in the U.S.”
    Mike and Phil treasure the hours they spent working with their dad to build the trailer. For Mike, restoring steam engines beats the Chrysler muscle cars he worked on for 20 years prior.
    “You can’t go to a NAPA store and order parts,” he says. “When dad started this, I got out of the car business. It is more of a challenge restoring a steam engine, and I like the people better.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike Lindauer, 9331 S Club Rd., Ferdinand, Ind. 47532 (ph 812-367-1206).

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Eye-Catching Collection Of Trailer-Mounted Steam Engines ENGINES Francis Lindauer packed his 8 1/2 by 21-ft “steam trailer” with 13 engines jackshafts pulleys pumps and more Each engine drives a bunch of equipment The late dairyman bought the equipment at auctions all over the U S “Dad had a passion for steam engines ” says Mike Lindauer “Most guys go for big engines but he picked up unique engines We worked on the trailer for about four years ” Although the trailer has one vertical boiler that makes steam it doesn’t provide enough for all the engines onboard When running the trailer engines the Lindauers pull their Avery underslung steam tractor alongside and hook it up The big engine provides steam via a regulator to a system of pipes that feed each engine Mike and brother Phil helped with the trailer and now carry on their dad’s passion taking it to shows and events They are proud of the trailer and the bits of history on it “We made the frame and then started piecing things together ” says Mike “As it got heavier we had to add more axles It has 10 tires carrying the weight ” “I don’t think he had a plan at the beginning ” says Phil “He just made-up things as he went along It was just one thing added to another ” One example of that is the steam engine that powers an air compressor It in turn provides air pressure for a tugboat horn and a whistle from a San Francisco streetcar “Everything runs something every shaft turns ” says Mike “He liked to see jackshafts and line shafts running ” Some of the unique engines include a marine engine and boiler from a small paddle boat that can run forward or backward The smallest engine has a 3-in piston and was one of 100 that ran sewing machines in a factory It drives a threshing machine bushel counter The collection also includes a Locomobile steam car engine and an unusual inverted V drive “We do have two really unique engines ” says Mike “They are 3 and 5 hp L J Clark engines used to power circus rides They are thought to be the only two in the U S ” Mike and Phil treasure the hours they spent working with their dad to build the trailer For Mike restoring steam engines beats the Chrysler muscle cars he worked on for 20 years prior “You can’t go to a NAPA store and order parts ” he says “When dad started this I got out of the car business It is more of a challenge restoring a steam engine and I like the people better ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mike Lindauer 9331 S Club Rd Ferdinand Ind 47532 ph 812-367-1206

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