The Mighty Thor Slag engine

Ken Cook Sun Mar 21, 2021 6:44 pm

Here's a example that most are probably not familiar with. This is the "Mighty Thor .29". Not so mighty but it's running which most can't say they've seen. The company that made these also made the "Buzz", 'Genie", "Rogers" and a few others. These engines had their aluminum pistons which ran in a cast aluminum case. The saying was that your fingers will get awfully "Thor" flipping it. I pulled my version out which has horrible compression and gave it a few flips. To my surprise, I got it running relatively quick. I had my after run oil in it to free it at first which offered enough compression to get it running. Nonetheless, a neat part of history.
https://www.facebook.com/PhillyFliersCL/videos/874343110025315/

fredvon4 Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:06 am

Very cool, thanks Ken, never seen one run before

NEW222 Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:04 pm

Neat. Sounds like a diesel from what I remember the last time I ran mine. Thanks for the video.

rsv1cox Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:14 pm

Back in the 1940's my Mother had a Thor washing machine, wonder if there was a connection. New technology at the time, no wringer. Had a lever on the front that you had to shift for rinse and spin. Sounded about the same.

Found it on wiki

In the 1940s, Thor introduced the Automagic hybrid washer/dishwasher. The top-loading machine included both a removable clothes washing drum and a dish-washing drum. The Automagic was widely marketed but disappeared from the marketplace soon after its introduction, as many consumers soured on the idea of washing dirty clothing and dishes in the same machine.

Not that one, this one.

dckrsn Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:43 pm

Yyyyeeeeeeaaaaahhh, Bob. I'm one of those who'd be little soured with the combo washer. My mom was a
R.N. and I think I knew more about hygiene, medicine, e.tc than the grammar school nurse. At least no white
washes before the dishes please.
Jacob, we need a queasy emoji. Embarassed

Bob
P.S. Did that woman have a few ribs removed?

rsv1cox Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:12 pm

dckrsn wrote:Yyyyeeeeeeaaaaahhh, Bob. I'm one of those who'd be little soured with the combo washer. My mom was a
R.N. and I think I knew more about hygiene, medicine, e.tc than the grammar school nurse. At least no white
washes before the dishes please.
Jacob, we need a queasy emoji.
Bob
P.S. Did that woman have a few ribs removed?

She is a skinny little thing isn't she. Smile

Marvelous what pen and brush can do.

Found a web site "Products related to the Thor model engine." No washing machines listed. Sad

I swear, they both sounded alike.

**Cribbs74** Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:06 pm

Just a little info. It appears the “Thor” was produced by the Judson Co. and marketed by GHQ and AHC.

http://www.modelenginenews.org/drj/thor_b.html

Bob A Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:48 pm

It's always unexpected to see a Thor run, but notice it's running glow, which might be a little easier to do. Getting a Thor running on spark ignition is the real hurdle. Those little "wipe" timers were probably the main problem. I once picked up one on which someone else had installed an Ohlsson type timer. It will run up to about 5,500 RPM, but if you try to push it beyond that it overheats and quits. There's just not enough metal and cooling fins on the thing for a.29 size engine.

Jason_WI Tue Mar 23, 2021 1:15 am

We still have an old Thor washing machine my great grandma used on the farm. I think it was used as shipping ballast on the Mayflower.

Ken Cook Tue Mar 23, 2021 3:56 am

Indeed running a Thor on ignition would be a difficult task. Mine is missing the timing mechanism so I opted for a glow plug. This was just a fun experiment. My engine was also missing the rear tank so my son made a aluminum plate. The connecting rod looks like it was made in a cave.

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