Krasl Concours d'Elegance

*News*

*For Immediate Release* * **For further information:*

Steve Sizer: 269.231.5083

269.326-0378

billygoat@birchwoodbeach.com 

Dar Davis: 269.983.0742

drd43@sbcglobal.net 

* *

*Krasl Concours Preview On Friday, August 7 *

*To Feature Stanley Steamer “Steam Up” Demo*

St. Joseph, MI -- At approximately 3:30 on Friday afternoon, August 7, 
an event few people now living have ever seen will take place in the 
Krasl Art Center parking lot at 707 Lake Boulevard in St. Joseph. Ron 
Hardwig of Bloomington, Illinois, will “steam up” his 1910 Stanley 
Steamer and then take it for a short spin around downtown St. Joe as a 
preview for the 2009 Krasl Art Center Concours which takes place the 
next day. The public is welcome to attend and watch as Hardwig goes 
through the demonstration.

The procedure, which Hardwig says takes about 30 minutes, if everything 
works right, helps explain why the Stanley Motor Carriage Company only 
lasted for 27 years.

“Imagine, “he says, “it’s 1910, and you’re the proud owner of a Stanley 
Steamer Model 70 like the one we own – and the lady of the house asks 
you to go to the grocery store for some milk and a dozen eggs. So, you 
get out your driving coat, goggles and gloves and you head out to the 
barn to start up your Steamer. Here’s all there is to it:

1. Make sure there is enough kerosene in the fuel tank; if not, fill it.

2. Make sure there is enough oil in the steam cylinder oil tank; if not 
fill it.

3. Make sure there is enough gasoline in the pilot fuel tank; if less 
than 1/4 full, fill it.

4. Make sure you have 20 psi pressure on the Pilot fuel tank and 120-140 
psi on the main fuel tank; if not, pump them up using the pump located 
under the front floorboard.

5. Make sure there is plenty of water in the water tank; if not, add water.

6. Open the engine steam-chest drip valve, set the emergency hand brake 
and block the rear wheel.

7. Open the coffin-nose hood and open the flue vent on top of the boiler.

8. Make sure there is enough water in the boiler to get steam up.

9. Pre-heat the pilot light with a torch to vaporize the gas.

10. Open the pilot valve and light with torch or long lighter.

11. Burn pilot for 15 minutes to thoroughly heat main vaporizer.

12. Pre-heat the down tubes and jets with torch.

13. Open main fuel valve and wait for it to ignite with a “puff” sound.

14. When steam pressure reaches from 250 to 450 psi, you’re ready to go.

15. Before driving, check to make sure you have enough fuel and water on 
board to complete your journey.

Thirty minutes later, you’re on your way, in one of the smoothest and 
quiet running automobiles ever built. But,” he adds, “they were 
expensive, tricky to operate, had a very short range, and were hard to 
start. Along came the electric starter – and the steam car’s days were 
numbered.”

*Why The Stanley Steamer Only Lasted 27 Years*

The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was a steam engine vehicle 
manufacturer that operated between 1897 and 1924. During the company's 
peak years, its vehicles outsold every gasoline-fueled car, with sales 
second only to the Columbia Electric. The cars were generally referred 
to as /Stanley Steamers/, although a number of different models were 
produced, including a special racing machine that in 1906 set a land 
speed record of 127.66 mph.

During the mid to late 1910s, the increase in fuel efficiency and power 
delivery of gasoline engines, the introduction of electric starters, and 
the cost efficiencies of mass production greatly increased the 
popularity of gas powered cars and ultimately led to the demise of the 
Stanley Motor Carriage Company in 1924, just 27 years after its founding.


1910 Stanley Steamer Model 70

/For additional information and/or photos, please contact Steve Sizer at /

/269.231.5083 or billygoat@birchwoodbeach.com./