Jensen is THE maker of toy steam engines in the USA. Foundet in 1932 by Tom Jensen Sr. th company is still the familiy business it was as it began. Jensen built sturdy high quality no-frill Steam Engines. That does not mean the Engines are dull, boring and backward. The reverse is true. In Europe Jensens are quite uncommon and not easy to come by.
Jensen offers Steam Engines between 80,-$ and 5.000,-$. Both top models are in the cataloque but are not availlable.
#25
This #25 I got from John, a member of the Mamod Forum for my malfuntioning #95. I knew before that the #25 has no reverse and I was not bothered by that. I was very astonished to find out that this engine is very rare and very valuable. According to the Jensen archive the Engine dates from 1949. She is one of my best running Engines. You can see that she is old but that did not do her performance any harm.
She is one of my favourites and runs often.
The Engine is very powerful and at least in the league of the larger Wilescos if not one above. Newer #25 have reversing. You get a lot of Engine for your money. In Europe Jensens are rare and if electrically heated they may use the US Grid 110V type (some are 220V) and a transformer is needed.
The first impression is "Cute! What a twee little ting." This first impression is misleading. She is loud, she vibrates heavyly, Flames strike up out of the fire box and all the engine gets torrid, even the base plate. She is no Lady. She is a rough.
The Engine has to offer lot of power for her size. I like that little cowboy but he is a bit to rough to love him.
I am sure she can drive three or four models, maybe a whole Jensen Workshop. She is not expensive (if you find one in Europe) and a good steamer when she is broken in.
In the video you can see that the paint has suffered dearly already during the first steaming.
The Engine has a noble Look. Especially the tzrbine Unit is a gem. The Engine runs with the typical sound of an Aeroplane with jet propulsion. My first #95 was defective and I gave her away for a Jensen #25. Now she is running fine after beeing fixed by her new owner. My new Engine is a good rummer. Lots of steam, lots of cool sound, lots of fun.As she is built to use the US grid (110V) a transformer is needed to steam her up.
She is running often.
Transformer 220V 50Hz ->110V 60Hz
The turbine has lots of Power. I expected a lot and I was not disappointed. Alone the sound makes me shiver. A pressure gauge would be helpful .
