Very Rare Early Stationary Steam Engine Boiler Gauge $$ Very Rare and Collectible Steam Gauge Start Price USD 2,685.00 Current Price USD 2,685.00 Time Left - Bid Count 2 Buy It Now Price USD 3,185.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, October 11, 2008 End Time Saturday, October 18, 2008 Location NE OHIO 25 miles east of Cleveland See more about 'Very Rare Early Stationary Steam Engine Boiler Gauge $$' Description You are bidding on a very early and rare steam gauge made by the American Steam Gauge Company. This gauge is very similar to the one featured on the cover of the book “The Antique American Steam Gauge” by Barry Lee David. The differences are the gauge on auction features the rarer etching of a stationary steam engine. They also had a gauge with a steam boat that is even rarer. The locomotive was the most common. This gauge is much earlier and includes an 1852 patent date. The gauge on the book cover is serial number 187884. My gauge on auction is serial number 19486 making it much earlier. I would guess this gauge to be between 1860-1864 (during the civil war).  The gauge is beautifully illustrated with the stationary steam engine on a box bed and very ornate lettering. The main mechanism is the double Bourdon with T. W. Lanes improvements. I put the gauge on my air compressor and took it up to 110 psi. Over this range it stayed within 7 lbs of the compressor regulator. The case, dial face and bezel are all cast brass or bronze alloy. The cast dial face is 6-3/4 inches in diameter and retains about 60 % of its original silver plating. The bezel is a screw on (very good threads) and is 8 inches in diameter. The case is 8-1/2 inches in diameter. Overall thickness is 2-1/4 inches. There is no glass in the gauge.  Threads are very good on the steam inlet. There are small dings on the bezel along with some green discoloration. Dings are easily straightened. I have decided not to do anything to the gauge. It is as I got it. I feel it is too valuable to mess up or do the wrong thing. Cleaning it up is a very easy thing and I will leave it up to the professional collector. If you have any questions or would like to see it before bidding please email me. The shipping calculator says UPS but I may send it by Fed Ex or USPS.  Thank you for your interest Jeff in Mentor. Place a Bid!