P. S. I saw the engine about 15 years ago and it was running very smoothly.
Some time after I had left, the company found that they needed a descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the engine, and they had no one to write it; so they came to me, and in my office in New York I prepared one for them, for which they gave me the credit by printing on the title-page and cover the line, “By Charles T. Porter.” I took the same pains with this that I should have done had I owned the whole place.
The following letter, referring to an engine made by me in Newark, was sent by the addressee to the Southwark Foundry with an order while I was engaged on their catalogue. They made a blue-print of it and sent it to me for insertion.
Youngstown, O., Dec. 21st, 1882
Mr. F. L. Waters—
Mankato Minn.
Dear Sir—
Your favor recd, making enquiry how we like the Porter Allen Engine: would say, we have now run it four years, it has never failed one minute or cost one cent for repairs nor varied a revolution from its speed, are using it now non-condensing but think of using a condenser before long. As we use it in connection with our water power, which is variable, sometimes too high and sometimes too low, making up the deficiency with the Engine, be it all or little, we do not know just how much coal we require for a Barrel in case we had no water, this much I think I know. That it is the finest Engine made, Simple, durable, and Economical, and always ready for effective duty.
We run a Buckeye in the Diamond Mill and a good Engine at our mine, but the Porter-Allen is my favorite by all odds, ours is 13×24, 160 Revolutions (never more nor less). They are now designed to run 200 Rev. for that size.
If neatness effectiveness durability and Economy & Steadiness is any object to you, you will always be glad you bought a Porter-Allen, or I am vastly mistaken.
I know that has been my experience. We now run constantly day & night the year round (Sundays excepted).