Little Ol' Motor (Cameron 19)

[Dave Moritz]

Discovered in a box a free, model air stuff. Not much else useful in there but this curiosity piece. By the way, that Champion is actually a working glow plug. Can any of the brethren or sistren here steer me towards that web site on which the guy did all kinds of engine runs, new and old, and then showed the results? Would like to find out more about this little mill. Thanks!

Dave Mo...

[John Carrodus]

Good Lord! Can you still buy fuel grade coal dust? I'd love to see and hear it running.

[L0U CRANE]

Cameron engines were around in the late '40s or early '50's. I think their first were tether car .19s. Those had unusual  shape -IIR. the "block" had cooling fins parallel to the cylinder!

I don't recall any engine tests on their aircraft engines like yours. They  remained in production or were at least advertised for several years.

Air Trails and/or Model Airplane News may have dpne a paragraph or so on them. I doubt they were strong enough performers - or reliable enough - to make a dent in competition events. Thus, little word of them.

RJL, I think, has some stock and may have more on their history. If I recall, prices asked were a "BIG" surprise.

[Carl Cisneros]

Dave

All that that site shoes for a Cameron 19 is the 2 speed unit.

her ya go guy.

http://sceptreflight.com/Model%20Engine%20Tests/Cameron%202-speed%2019.html

[Tim Wescott]

I have two, both clapped out.  I'm ashamed to say I'm responsible for one of them being clapped out.  I'm not going to admit to accidentally grabbing the wrong jug of fuel when I ran it -- but be sure to use 25% castor in yours.

It'd be perfect in an Akromaster, or similar-sized plane.  A Ringmaster only on calm days with short lines and no stunting.

[Trostle]

 Would like to find out more about this little mill. Thanks!

Dave Mo...

In the coverage of the Nationals in the early 50's, pictures appeared of a scale model that won the CL Scale event at least once.  It was powered by a Cameron engine.  I am not sure if it was like this .19.   This was a scale model of what I think was an Aronca that was converted to a crop duster.  The fuselage construction was scale with tubing.  Supposedly, the fabric covering material had a weave supposedly scaled down from the full size aircraft.  It was reported that the same number of coats of paint were applied to the model as the full size aircraft.  It had a scale operating wind driven rotor to spread the simulated fertilizer.  Complete instrument panel with operating cockpit controls.

There are probably some early Air Trails Annuals that will have a picture or pictures of this airplane at the Nats.  I think it won several times.

If I remember right, the builder's name was/is Tom Dean.  I met this person at the first Lake Charles Nats (74?).  He had another model with him, unfinished.  It was a biplane crop duster, I do not remember which one.  It was uncovered but showed the scale tubing fuselage, scale constructed ribs, full operating cockpit, a complete scale radial engine from machined parts.  The model's power plant was mounted behind the scale radial.  I do not remember how he supported the extended shaft through the scale radial replica.  To describe it as a museum piece does not do it justice.  That is the last I heard of this person.

But the one thing I do remember is that crop duster used a Cameron engine.  Other than the advertisements from that time, I am not aware of anyone else using this engine. 

Dan McEntee help me out with the old magazines.

Keith

[qaz049]

[john e. holliday]

Some where in my shop I have my brother little midget tether race care with the vertical ribbed Cameron in it.  Have to replace head gasket every time we ran it.  It is not a power house.  I would say a great sport engine as it would start very easely .

[Dan McEntee]

In the coverage of the Nationals in the early 50's, pictures appeared of a scale model that won the CL Scale event at least once.  It was powered by a Cameron engine.  I am not sure if it was like this .19.   This was a scale model of what I think was an Aronca that was converted to a crop duster.  The fuselage construction was scale with tubing.  Supposedly, the fabric covering material had a weave supposedly scaled down from the full size aircraft.  It was reported that the same number of coats of paint were applied to the model as the full size aircraft.  It had a scale operating wind driven rotor to spread the simulated fertilizer.  Complete instrument panel with operating cockpit controls.

There are probably some early Air Trails Annuals that will have a picture or pictures of this airplane at the Nats.  I think it won several times.

If I remember right, the builder's name was/is Tom Dean.  I met this person at the first Lake Charles Nats (74?).  He had another model with him, unfinished.  It was a biplane crop duster, I do not remember which one.  It was uncovered but showed the scale tubing fuselage, scale constructed ribs, full operating cockpit, a complete scale radial engine from machined parts.  The model's power plant was mounted behind the scale radial.  I do not remember how he supported the extended shaft through the scale radial replica.  To describe it as a museum piece does not do it justice.  That is the last I heard of this person.

But the one thing I do remember is that crop duster used a Cameron engine.  Other than the advertisements from that time, I am not aware of anyone else using this engine. 

Dan McEntee help me out with the old magazines.

Keith

     I just did a quick search of the forum, because I remember it being discussed a time or two and found this;

          https://stunthanger.com/smf/scale-models/tom-dean's-aeronca-crop-duster-30003/msg292348/#msg292348

   That ought to do for now and I'll check the 1958 model mags tomorrow sometime.

    Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Dave Moritz]

Wow, lots of great info here, and I thank each of you for making it so. Of particular interest is the Sceptre web site and the cautionary note on castor useage.

As usual, you all came through. Much obliged!

Dave Mo…

[Bob Angel]

Years ago I put many flights on a Cameron 19 powered Ringmaster Jr., Which still hangs in my garage. They're fine little engines. Easy starting with power similar to some of the best of their era. I happened to be living in Ontario California just a short distance from the factory, and made a visit one time with a fellow flier who knew the Cameron Brothers well enough to get us an escorted factory tour. "Factory" might be an overstatement, as it was a converted chicken ranch in a rural area. I don't even recall a sign out front. Their main product had been small high precision drill presses, when they branched into model engines. They did high quality machine work. The American Model Engine Encyclopedia pictures 19 different models. Many were made for small tether cars, and several were for boats. A few had two needle valves for two speed operation. But my favorite is their 23 spark ignition engine, which I've flown in an old timer RC ship, also still hanging on the garage wall. Their 23 was the largest and only sparker. It's fairly similar to the O&R 23  sideports, but in my opinion superior. It has a seperate bolt on head, bolt on cylinder a more solid NVA, and simpler to service timer. You could buy all parts at reasonable prices. I've run lots of O&R 23's and the cameron is stronger. The only weakness in their operation was in marketing, at a time when there was lots of competition. It was a small operation, and they were doing OK at what they enjoyed. I'm not sure if they even had any extra employees. Bob

 

[Dalton Hammett]

Hi Dave

I have several Cameron engines, 15 and 19.   I've run a couple of them and they seem to run fairly well.  I have a 19 in an old PAPOOSE that I will be trying out as soon as a few repairs from age are completed.

Dalton

[Frank Imbriaco]

While I don't have any experience with Cameron engines in model aircraft, I'm quite familiar with their (first design) use in early Thimble Drone " mite " tether cars.   Between 1948 and 1951, Leroy Cox purchased .09, .15 and .19 engines from the Cameron Brothers of Sonora, California to motorize his "Champion " series of metal "whip around" cars. He even went so far as to stamp the side of the mounting lug with " Thimble Drone".
In 1950, Leroy partnered with Mel Anderson and powered another of his "whip around "  cars known as "Special" with Mel's 0.45 "Spitzy" and  even a few 0.60 Spitzys.

Leroy then moved onto his own line Thimble Drone engines we're all familiar with. He had design help from others ; including Dale Kirn.

Around the same time, the Cameron Bros. decided to manufacture the Rodzy tether car, powering them with their 0.09. The early "Big Nut " versions used the first design motor. Later Rodzys had the re-styled version pictured  above.

The early Camerons used a stamped steel connecting rod which was prone to bending under hard use.

[Bob Beckett]

from the obituary of Thomas Sawyer Dean Jr., Dec. 29, 1919 - June 12, 2013:


Thomas Sawyer Dean, Jr. passed away Wednesday, June 12th in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was born December 29, 1919 in Pleasanton, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army as a Fire Control repairman during World War II. He received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&I University in 1948. He retired from Corpus Christi Army Depot as an Engineer in 1974.

After retirement Tom spent every day in his workshop. He had a passion for airplane modeling. He blue printed and built all of his airplanes from scratch. He won many competitions locally and internationally. He also has an airplane at a model airplane museum in New Hampshire.

Tom loved to play the guitar and played many years in the South Texas Opry....

[Roy DeCamara]

I saw Tom Dean's crop duster on display in John Brodak's personal shop during one of the fly-in's.  I don't remember what year, maybe around ten years ago.  It was in somewhat deteriorated condition and displayed in a box simulating a hanger with the model being worked on.  Perhaps it is in the Brodak museum?  Others that were there may chime in. 

[Dave Moritz]

I took a closer look at the .19 and found some interesting design attributes. Dual piston rings, subpiston induction, and a piston baffle that tapers down toward the exhaust port.

Dave Mo…