Hey Cliff and everyone else who reads this forum,
I have researched these important points you have raised and here is our response.
I am a little concerned about the comparison made between our engine, the Heron, to a MaxII. I have included a picture I found of a MaxII online and have posted it here along with a picture of our Heron.
I do not see the similarities.
In addition to the cosmetic differences, the MaxII is a piston valve engine with a valve operated by a lever for changing the direction of the way steam flows inside the engine, from intake to exhaust, causing the engine to reverse. Yes piston valve engines are cheaper to produce because they need fewer parts, however once you wear out a piston valve you're in trouble.
The Heron is a slide valve engine, which uses a Stephenson link to change valve timing events causing the engine to reverse.
Slide valve engines do not suffer from these problems. However, they do cost more to produce because the number of parts required increases. Plus, the look of an Stephenson link is more attractive to watch while the engine is operating.
An important point you have brought up is that our water pump does share a similar appearance to the one used on the MaxII's, but this is as close as they get. The reason for this is simple. The water pump is turned on a lathe first to essentially the shape of a bell. Then the sides of it are milled away giving you the shape you see. This shape is not unique to any manufacturer. The basic shape of the pump body has been used for centuries for similar pumps and this is the reason we use it as well. If any one would like, I can post a photo's showing old steam engines using pumps shaped such as the one on the Heron.
On to the boiler comparison.
Our Belmont Vertical Boiler utilizes water storage from the very bottom to almost the very top of the pressure vessel. After examining one of our local members Richmond boiler, this is not the case for it. The Richmond, although similar in height, only uses the top half of the boiler for storing water since the bottom half contains a large burner which is the diameter of the boiler. In my opinion this make sense since it is much easier and cheaper to produce this design. The thing that worries me about this design when compared (since you are comparing these two boilers) to our Belmont vertical is the key fact that the center of gravity is now much higher in a modelers boat. Whereas with our boiler the storage of water is almost twice that as well as the center of gravity is kept much lower. If someone wants to offer up a sacrificial Richmond boiler I will be more than happy to cut it in half as well as one of our Belmont Verticals to show that they are completely different, especially where it counts.
Similarities in sight glass fittings. What are we looking at? The ball shape? I assure you our balls are bigger!
Now as far as the purchasing issue from overseas companies like ours if you are living in the U.K.
First and formally I think people should always support their local businesses. We wouldn't have nearly the problems we have today if this were practiced more often.
We are not trying to take business away from any U.K. manufacturers. This is precisely why we have been focusing the majority of our advertising in the U.S. market. Of course, we are happy to supply those outside the U.S. with not only our products, but the same level of help and support as with our domestic customers.
As far as prices go: It is my understanding that whether you buy in the U.K. or overseas items priced over a certain amount are all charged the 17.5% VAT. Given the current exchange rates between our countries you stand to purchase these items for over half of what they cost in the U.S.
Turn around times for products: One to Two weeks for everything if we don't currently have it on the shelf.
As always, we sincerely appreciate your feedback.
Best Regards,
Nick Monahan
Author
Topic: New engine available from Monahan Steam Models Inc. (Read 19244 times)