This was the first steam engine that Birk built in 2012, hence the name. It was made from plans found in a 1961 issue of Popular Science. It’s a 2-cylinder marine type engine with crankshaft on the bottom. Birk put a nice engine-turned finish on the block to give it a special craftsman’s touch.
Mr. Petersen created a vast array of projects over his lifetime, ranging from miniature engines to hand-cranked animations and more. He built functional miniatures like a 1/3 scale Gatling gun or a 1/4 scale Case steam tractor, but he also built mechanical creations for the fun and enjoyment of his family. When Birk passed away in 2015, his family graciously donated over 150 items from his collection for display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, where they are currently on display. We thank the Petersen family for sharing his extensive collection, which demonstrates the broad interests and many talents of Birk Petersen.