What type of old engine is this
 

My sister and BIL have an old house on the Cape that had this engine in an outbuilding. Is it an old steam engine with a nice big flywheel. They have just removed it and may use the big gear as a garden ornament.

I'm no expert, but it looks like an old steam engine

That isn't an engine it's an air compressor
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You think so? All the pistons are the same diameter, would have thought a/c multi stage. Anyway may be. Compressors and engines are just about the same thing.

Looks to me if it is a steam engine then the flywheel was used to drive a big wide belt to send power elsewhere.

Any combustion chamber, spark plugs, or magnito or anything? I would say it is not an engine at all based on the picture. Looks to me like it is belt driven, probably by a hit and miss engine. The belt pulley drives the big gear on the left and the gear drives the shaft that drives the pistons. Compressor might be right. The pistons might drive air into that cylinder on posterior side. I may have a home for it if you decide to get rid of it.

Just went back to the original post. They definitely should not take it apart until they know what it is. I sent the pick to my dad. He or my grandfather will definitely know.

Looks bolted to the floor, any history on what the outbuilding was used for which might be a clue?

maybe a cranberry bog pump motor??? who knows

it does appear to be driven by what would be a belt to or from that wheel

Antique Tractors Forum :: View topic - Bernardston, Ma. 2008 there are forums for everything. Don't take it apart Im sure thats worth alot to the right person. There is a tractor club in Swansea. I can get the name of it if you want

:nopics:
I just got an email from my BIL and my sister chimed in as well... apparently the building was the village laundry and the mechanism was the pump driven by a hit & miss engine just like Zimmy said. There were also belts that drove the agitation of several vessels used to wash clothes. The Hit & Miss engine was sold this summer to a guy in Ohio who came with his Dualie pickup truck and they had a rigger remove it and put in the bed of his truck.. here are a couple more pictures before the motor was removed and the actual removal

Looks like a Fairbanks. Cool find.

I had one in my younger day when I was a wood tycoon.
I had it hooked up to a swing table buz saw.

There is usually a good display of old equipment and a hit or miss engine running at the Tunbridge World's Fair in September. Nice fair too, even if they don't have the girly shows anymore.

We visit in Wachula-Zelpho Springs Florida in March each year and they have a big gathering of single cylinder engine enthusiasts there. Fascinating to hear those make and break engines hissing and banging.
Getting back to the Three Stage Water Pump. All Babbitt Bearings with the oil resevoirs on the bearing caps. Three Stage Crank Shaft.. that unit is worth a lot to someone.