Where are all of the Buffalo Pitts Steam Engines?

[David Parfitt]

Hi James

Could you give me more details on the engines you mention in Italy and Serbia? I know of half a dozen or so US-built engines in Italy, but these are all recent imports, but wasn't aware of any in Serbia. Perhaps we could compare notes (by email?) I would also be interested to know more about the other two traction engines at Carahue, as I have only come across portables (besides the B-P).

Many thanks

David

[Pete LaBelle]

James -

I have no idea on the number of engines BP made. Compaction Technologies in Kewaunee, IL are what remains of the Buffalo Pitts empire. Made contact a decade ago with a man there. He had ledger/build books of the Buffalo Springfield rollers, but not of the BP agricultural line. He honestly was not aware BP made agricultural engines till I made contact with him. He was kind of their historian with several cool photo albums of the BS line that he kept from being tossed out. Being Buffalo Pitts moved a couple times before and after their dimise, it is assumed that all those records were purged at one time, thus serial numbers & build information is lost in history.

Off some old letterhead & drawn arial views that have surfaced from time to time, I decided to Mapquest the location & maybe visit any remains of the manufacturing complex. Unfortunately, that property is now an interchange of an expressway, thus nothing remains of the original manufacturing complex.

E&E magazine earlier this year had a Part 1&2 article of the Buffalo Springfield company, which had good info & dates about the BP company.

My engine, for that matter, was missing it's serial number plate. Nothing has ever surfaced of that number being stamped elsewhere on the engine. Thus, when I found an engine with an intact number plate, I had one cast in the same format with a different number on it just so it looked complete, though not authentic.

Pete

[steamin191620]

I know where there are 2 18 hp tractions. 1 is a double the other is a single simple

[Beth V]

Billy Kennedy has Ed Hurd's Buffalo Pitts.

Beth

[steamin191620]

that is one of the ones they both came from right in my back yard!

[greysteam24hp]

Pete L.

E&E magazine earlier this year had a Part 1&2 article of the Buffalo Springfield company, which had good info & dates about the BP company.

It be possible to find some lost or existing information regarding to Buffalo Springfield. I did ask about
the information available in the Library using digital library.
I have copy and attached from my email inbox file.

He respond and wrote:

Not to my knowledge. One of the Buffalo Springfield employees, Morris L. , saved most the factory's archive from the dumpster when the company became the Bomag firm approximately 25 years ago. I was able to make xerox copies of these records and have tried to encourage him to donate this material to the Clark County Historical Society as they have a large quantity of Buffalo Pitts/Kelly Springfield photos and other materials in their library.

[Ted Knack]

Here is a Picture of a Buffalo Pitts. My Uncle Emial Knack was fireman on this Buffalo Pitts. They threshed in Cottage Grove Mn. It was a straw burner. As far as I know the engine went to Wisconsin a few years later.

Can anybody tell me what size it is.

[20 Reeves Highwheeler]

Ted,
That sure looks pretty identical in hp to the Anderson 35hp engine.

This is Emil Knack's engine. The front tanks are different, but I still think they may be the same? The steam line has taken the opposite side.


This is the Anderson 35hp back in the 1940s, courtesy of my late friend Danny Roen. Gary

[Beth V]

Here are a few photos from my Rollag trip.

The first is Anderson's 35 hp with the second a close up of the flywheel. I'd say its been beat on multiple times....

The last is another BF from the parade.

Beth

[Eric M.]

Has anyone got any information on the "Niagara" road roller that Buffalo Pitts produced? One is at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, CA. We've been able to find a postcard advertising the roller from 1912, another postcard that shows the same type of roller (but is not an advertisement). Boiler number is 9987. The engine number is gone. Interestingly, the Buffalo-Pitts name cast into the side of the bed has been chiseled off.

Attached is a picture of the roller.

[greysteam24hp]

I have couple photos of special Buffalo Pitts plowing engine and road locomotive
http://www.smokstak.com/gallery/show...p?i=5852&c=113

[Andrew Gibb]

Originally Posted by greysteam24hp

He respond and wrote:

... Clark County Historical Society as they have a large quantity of Buffalo Pitts/Kelly Springfield photos and other materials in their library.

Does anyone know what information is at this Historical Society exactly? Sounds interesting.

Jim Johnson from Dane Wisconsin had and sold a Buffalo Pitts traction engine @ his estate auction in 1998. I know the boiler was weak and needed a ton of work...heard it was for sale again shortly after due to the thin boiler....have no idea where it went from there. N

[Ted Knack]

Gary that sure looks like the same engine.My Uncle said the intermediate gear cracked and they took it off and had it welded.Thats the only way a guy could tell if its the same engine.I also noted the extension rims on my uncles Engine. I have a picture when they took off the gear.

[greysteam24hp]

These photos were scanned from original photo postcards. It appeared to be a larger BP in the field and threshing.

[Pete LaBelle]

Eric M -

My Buffalo interestingly enough had its company name chiseled off, but part numbers remained. Seems like there is something fishy going on here.

I made a pattern and had a plate cast to screw over top of the "scars" in pretty much the same layout as the originals. You can use it if you want to.

Also had some extra engine number plates cast up for a friend. If you can't figure out the engine number and want a plate with "something" on it, let me know and I'll send one off.

Pete

[greysteam24hp]

My Buffalo interestingly enough had its company name chiseled off, but part numbers remained. Seems like there is something fishy going on here.

Pete,

Curious I like to see chiseled off. Do you have a photo close up? Interesting. This could have something changed to another brand?

[greysteam24hp]

Has anyone got any information on the "Niagara" road roller that Buffalo Pitts produced?

Eric M.
I have a original 1912 BP catalog that was originally distributed by Banting Mfg Co. of Toledo, Ohio. At the end of page there is a BP factory photo. The message on bottom says operated by Niagara Falls Electric Power. Here is something I am going to figure.

[greysteam24hp]

Here is part of my BP front cover catalog. Has a original hand written by John Straight. I purchased this catalog from Michigan some years back. Anybody know him?
As far I knew the Banting Mfg Co. went liquidated sometime in 1929. Not sure how and why Banting Mfg. Co. sent him a catalog in 1929? Buffalo Pitts farm machinery went out of business in 1915. I have seen 1915 BP bankruptcy file on the net. Wondered if Banting taken over their BP parts and agency till end?
Mr William Kopitke moved to Toledo. He was an engineer of BP Co. William has few completed invention assign to American Beet Harvester and Banting Mfg. and re engineered into heavy duty Greyhound engine.

[greysteam24hp]

Some of you folks might want to see the late model 1914 BP engine specifications. I have scanned copy from a brown catalog like the one above. if you are looking for early model specification. PM me then I will post another photo. I have 1909 and 1912. Specification have some changes in some years.