Our Blackstone 7hp type JAV was tested on the 12th of June in 1928 and sold to John A Wier of Ballyroney, Co. Down in Northern Ireland. He was commissioned to install a backup power supply to a distiller in Belfast, Ireland. The distiller used a water wheel to turn line shaft in order to drive the various machinery for power. If the water level dropped too low, they would need another source of power. The Blackstone engine was one of the last sold from the factory using the hot bulb for ignition instead of the newer “spring injection” system. Since the water level did indeed stay reasonably high, the distiller did not need to run the engine for power. It was started each month and run for a short time before shutting her back down. This left the engine in well cared for condition with little wear. When the distiller went out of business much later, the engine sat undisturbed for many years until the building was emptied and the contents sold. The new owner sold the engine to the Epping family in Nebraska and the engine was imported by them in the mid 90’s. We purchased the engine at the end of 2005 and brought her home. It took a while to locate a correct English cart as well as a Blackstone muffler pot and to mount the engine with a new coolant tank. She had her initial run at Mt. Pleasant’s Old Threshers show in 2006.
| Travis' Hit 'n Miss Engines |
| Travis Benner |
| 8945 140th St |
| Blue Grass, IA 52726 |
| 563.320.5834 |
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