James Leffel and Company

James Leffel was a millwright that was interested in water power, at the time known as hydraulic power. He experimented with and patented many different style water wheels and turbines to harness the power of water.   

The James Leffel and Company also had a boiler shop at their Springfield, Ohio facility and began making the Bookwalter engine.

The Bookwalter line was vertical boiler mounted engine named for John W. Bookwalter, a partner after James Leffel had passed.  

 The Bookwalter line was built from 1874 to 1910. We believe that our engine is a very early version.  

Although the boiler is cracked and being a lap seam, very unsafe to operate, we have ran the engine on air and plan to restore the engine and pipe steam to the engine only.