Eastern Sierra Treasures

A gentleman I was talking with at one of our engine shows mentioned
some large engines he had seen near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California.

I have been traveling to that area for years but had never seen them. In late
September of 2001 my brother and I were in the area and following some very
vague directions were able to run them down. The equipment shown in the
pictures below is located on National Forest Service land so is not available
for private acquisition. All of the machines were used in mining operations.
The two large engines went into service in the 1920's.

There are larger pictures lurking behind the thumbnails

A quarter mile walk in from the road produced this. It was installed in late 1878. This 20 ft. diameter flywheel was originally powered by a Knight (Pelton type) water wheel and in turn operated a stamp mill.

This is the Knight water wheel that originally powered the 20 ft. flywheel. After the mine shut down it was moved to another location. These low volume, high pressure wheels are very efficient but due to an unreliable water supply they had to supplement it with a steam engine.

Hidden in behind a campground a couple of miles up the road we then found this nice little piece of iron. This is a Primm made by the Power Mfg. Company of Marion, Ohio and is claimed to be a 100 hp. engine.

Shown here is the multi-point oiler. The governor weights.

The engine appears to be a 2 cycle diesel. Here is the valve for compressed air starting. Flywheel with an oversize face to serve as a belt pulley.

Head showing fuel injector which would have had a fuel line connected to the fuel pump located below the multi-point oiler. Another view of the starting valve showing where the compressed air would be connected and the actuating rod controlled by a cam on the crankshaft.

The Chicago Pneumatic two stage compressor that was powered by the Primm engine. Note the central position of the flywheel/drive pulley.

The flywheel/drive pulley was cast in one piece but designed to be split in half for assembly. 100 horsepower Ingersoll-Rand oil engine.

This engine powered a stamp mill. Oiler and governor assemblies.

Head showing valve springs. Wooden pulley with an interesting design.

Ingersoll-Rand logo and cast iron fulcrum. Cast in notches on pulley side flywheel.

Alignment of fulcrum and notched flywheel allows hand levering of engine to proper position for compressed air starting. Portable Ingersoll-Rand compressor possibly used to supply starting air for the large one.

Questions or comments contact: lfevans@pacbell.net

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Updated 02-03-2007

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	A quarter mile walk in from the road produced this. It was installed in late 1878.		This 20 ft. diameter flywheel was originally powered by a Knight (Pelton type) water wheel and in turn operated a stamp mill.
	This is the Knight water wheel that originally powered the 20 ft. flywheel. After the mine shut down it was moved to another location.		These low volume, high pressure wheels are very efficient but due to an unreliable water supply they had to supplement it with a steam engine.
	Hidden in behind a campground a couple of miles up the road we then found this nice little piece of iron.		This is a Primm made by the Power Mfg. Company of Marion, Ohio and is claimed to be a 100 hp. engine.
	Shown here is the multi-point oiler.		The governor weights.
	The engine appears to be a 2 cycle diesel. Here is the valve for compressed air starting.		Flywheel with an oversize face to serve as a belt pulley.
	Head showing fuel injector which would have had a fuel line connected to the fuel pump located below the multi-point oiler.		Another view of the starting valve showing where the compressed air would be connected and the actuating rod controlled by a cam on the crankshaft.
	The Chicago Pneumatic two stage compressor that was powered by the Primm engine.		Note the central position of the flywheel/drive pulley.
	The flywheel/drive pulley was cast in one piece but designed to be split in half for assembly.		100 horsepower Ingersoll-Rand oil engine.
	This engine powered a stamp mill.		Oiler and governor assemblies.
	Head showing valve springs.		Wooden pulley with an interesting design.
	Ingersoll-Rand logo and cast iron fulcrum.		Cast in notches on pulley side flywheel.
	Alignment of fulcrum and notched flywheel allows hand levering of engine to proper position for compressed air starting.		Portable Ingersoll-Rand compressor possibly used to supply starting air for the large one.