Delta Queen Paddleboat Steam Engine -Working Model

Written by Ralph on 28th February, 2010

Delta Queen Paddleboat Steam Engine Working Model

Click here to see the auction. Currently $1600.00.

A rare chance to own a magnificent working model of a paddlewheel steamboat. Literally hundreds of precision-machined parts make up this museum-quality model. Large! 40 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 14 inches high. Very complex twin cylinder engine closely modeled after the Delta Queen’s engine. Complete with mahogany-lagged cylinders, throttle valve, California cutoffs, mahogany piston rods, reversing, and detailed paddlewheel. Finished in 1984 by master model builder, Lew Bower. His other 15 models, built over a lifetime, are in museums around the country. Runs majestically and smoothly on 30 psi compressed air or live steam – slow enough to watch the operation of the mechanism. As the parts are mostly brass, steel and mahogany, there is some light tarnishing of some of the brass parts. See photos. For the perfectionist, it could use some polishing and cleaning. There is no wear on the mechanical parts and linkages. Clean it up a bit (or not), and it would be a magnificent museum-quality display model. This model weighs 42.5 pounds, and includes a custom-made plywood carrying case that weighs and additional 30 pounds. The shipping box will be about 48 inches long, 28 inches wide, and 20 inches deep. So, I will only ship it within the Continental U.S. and it will probably be best to ship via FedEx ground, due to its size and weight. Because eBay doesn’t have a rate calculator for FedEx, you are responsible for researching your shipping cost based on your location in relation to Indianapolis, IN. Search “Lew Bower Steam” on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QOm80Flv8 and please note that the color in the video is awful. So, check out the photos on this auction to see what this model really looks like. The sound in the video is pretty good with the model running on 30 psi compressed air.

Delta Queen Paddleboat Steam Engine Working Model

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