Found this today in an old shed. I'm thinking Stanley. Any insights??

It's not Stanley. They use a frame made out of round stock.

I think saw mill

I agree, not Stanley, they usually had both cylinders as one casting and a "enclosed" type crosshead. It appears to have a reverse gear--photo isn't clear enough (at least on my screen). The frame appears to be arranged for a horizontal install-as it is shown now, but where does the crankshaft connect with anything else?
It might be marine--but I think this is some kind of auxiliary steam engine; powering something like a winch or a pump.
Whatever, it's pretty cool!! More pics??

Early Mason engine? Used by Stanley early on and
before they became Locomobile and Mobile. Milwaukee and others also used these. Most of the
early steam car manufacturers were really assemblers
and did not make their own engines. Need better pictures to see if single or double cross head.
Any drive gear? It does have the Stephenson linkage to allow reversing. Measurements?

Does have Stephenson linkage for reversing. No play in linkage.The engine is good and oily and not stuck. Neat piece. Wondering what it's worth!

Having owned a Locomobile and a Mason engine, I say no

Rob,
That's a tough one--just because they (small steam engines) are uncommon does not mean folks are spending "big bucks" for them.
Definitely not Mason, Locomobile, Stanley, Grout, etc. I'm fairly certain it is not automotive, and I mentioned "pump" in my previous posting, but a pump would likely not have a reverse gear. So I'm back to winch, steering engine, etc.
I'm thinking a gear clamped onto the center of the shaft with the keyway. A two-piece gear would not be uncommon back then. The clearance around that area by the engine frame also suggests this.
The small bearings on the piston rods at the crankshaft also make me think this was not in a constant motion use; steam cars had much larger bearings for the loads they would be under. The more I think about it, the more I like steering gear! (On a boat to turn the rudder) \Number of bolts on the heads and the valve boxes also make me think of a lower pressure unit--probably not over 200 lbs/steam.

Could be for an elevator in an old building. Common in the 1880's - 1920's. Might be fun to build a car around it.

I'd buy it.

Might be fun to refurbish it, then get it running on compressed air before you dive in with getting a burner and steam generator.

Due to the lack of very much rust and corrosion, hard to believe it ever lived in a salt water environment, and Nova Scotia makes me think of a wooded area. And a heavily built two cylinder engine equipped with reverse gear, maybe some sort of donkey engine for handling logs and timber?

I considered the sawmill suggestion. It just seems so small for it. Any sawmill operations around here used much larger steam units or gasoline engines (think fairbanks morse). It certainly could have, just seems so lightweight. I may have to clean it off better and really look for makers marks. Had a few offers on it already, just like to know what it is before I commit to selling or keeping. It is a neat piece nonetheless

Lots of winch and other applications possible

The more I research the more I see there were a large number of manufacturers of steam engines for a vast amount of reasons. I will keep everyone apprised of what I discover

Don,t be fooled by the apparent small size. Those little bugger's pack a big punch. What were the Stanley's. 10 & 20 HP?

The ones this size were considered about 3 HP and typically ran under lower pressures than the later ones (later ones at 600lbs), but yes, this engine will "pack a whollap" In comparison to a gas engine, this is an 8 cylinder because both sides of the piston are powered, and also on every stroke, unlike the gas which is every other stroke.

MacLachlin built steam engines for many years in Canada. They also did build gasoline engines for farm and industrial use. Many of the engines they built were huge, some were small. For only about three years, they built and advertised gasoline motors for automobile use. I found out about them while researching for my early gasoline carriage. The one cylinder motor in it has no name or significant identifying marks. I have not yet determined who built the motor, but MacLachlin remains on the short list of suspects.
Yours does not resemble any of the MacLachlin engines I have seen pictures of. But, who knows?
Interesting engine! Lots of potential.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

Rob
A thought. I own a Atlantic 2cyl 8 hp marine engine made in Lunenberg. I would be very surprised if they didn't also make steam engines

Lesley I was thinking about that. Also Robb engineering in Amherst and Oxford foundries were known steam engine manufacturers, although the latter were typically larger. I dare say a trip to the museum of industry is in order

Sorry. Just Les. I didn't proofread

It could be a S.B. & M. compound engine though I can't quite see if it is a compound from the photos. Shaeffer, Bunce & Co succeeded Schaeffer, Bunce & Marvin making a steam engine for an automobile which was rather underpowered. Cylinders were two at 2 and 5/8, bore 4" stroke and one at 5" bore and 4" stroke. The frame of the one in your photo looks quite similar.

The two cylinders are too equal in size for a compound engine, plus the valve boxes are plumbed together indicating steam supply from a single source.
Just my quick observations

They are equal size cylinders. Can't find a makers mark. I'm going to clean it up and take a really good look. I did hook it up to my air compressor. It works! So neat to watch it spring to life so effortlessly

I've started to take it apart to clean it etc. It is leaking air like a seive. The bearings are all babbitt. The nuts and clevis links are brass, as well as piping. And the fasteners are all very odd sizes. I haven't checked the threads to see if they are witworth or sae. I can see the allure of these old rigs!

If you are running it on air, add an oiler to the air line. Steam is more lubricating than air, also usually there was oil added to the steam to lubricate the internal engine pieces.

Still think it's some sort of a winch engine due to the general configuration. Nice thing about a compact little twin cylinder double acting simple engine properly quartered with no dead spots, is that it does not need a big, heavy and bulky flywheel,.....in fact, no flywheel really needed at all and it will start, run and reverse quickly and easily which, again, seems perfect for a winch engine. One of those really "neat" things I'd love to have, even tho' I have no idea what I'd do with it!

For reference, here is a Locomobile steam engine in the collection of the Charlton Park Museum in Barry County, MI. Was there for the Father's Day car show yesterday... too many rods and modded cars but I love walking around the historic buildings. This engine is sitting on the counter in the "hardware store", if you ever make it there.

Rob,

Taking it apart - cleaning it - will only serve to decrease resale value ..


Freighter Jim

Why can't I ever find cool stuff like this?

I agree with Freighter Jim. If you're looking to sell it, just leave it as is. Maybe a little penetrating oil on the moving parts to loosen it up, but don't go full on sandblast and paint on it.

Rob
I agree wth the others, unless you are planning to keep it, don't "fix" it

What FUN is having toy and not playing with it!

I would give it a good general cleaning to remove any grit and heavy grease/oil/crud and play with it first. Clean out any grease/oil cups give a good lube job. If I get an old engine I like to hear them run before I go on to the next step, restore or sell.

Notice the larger bearings on the Locomobile engine, and the way the crosshead guides are made. The angled caps on the mains helps define the year of that engine, but I forget what years used them. The red lever sticking up a bit connected to one crosshead ran a feedwater pump, that was fastened to the engine where you see the round hole in the frame. The other lever with what looks like a piece of tape on its end is the forward/reverse/hook-up lever.

Leaving it intact. I'm no expert on these. Just decreasing and taking a good solid look at things. I've had a number of people interested in it. Hate to screw it up!

The only thing I took apart were the pipes to seal them back up properly. The old oakum was in poor shape, and getting new red rubber steam gasket for the steam valve covers as they have completely disintegrated

Bob, use high temp gasket sheeting for the valve covers, not red rubber.

Local plumber supply has that. Uncle is a steam fitter, he's been a wealth of knowledge! He's been retired so long I actually forgot that!