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Topic starter
19/05/2026 10:55 am
Heinrich Lanz's "Bulldog" only requires a blowtorch to heat the "hot Bulb" until it glows so you can crank the massive 10 liter, single piston 2-stroke engine into life. The only caveat to this procedure is occasionally it's start running backwards! The Mannheim, Germany company had been producing their Bulldog model from 1921 to 1960 when it was bought out by John Deere. By 1952, that engine was producing 45 HP at very low rpms making it very successful as a farm tractor. It also would run on virtually anything flammable including crude oil, kerosene and vegetable oil. How successful? Over 220,000 Bulldogs were sold over its 40 year lifespan and working and/or restored Bulldogs are still in demand internationally with certain rare models being highly collectible.
This 20 year old 1/18 model by Schuco was quite a surprise at a time when their diecasts were still a bit toy-like, they seems to pull out all the stops to make this a very detailed well crafted model. Schuco made a few variants of the Bulldog along with some machinery accessories. I chose the enclosed cab model that seemed fully appointed. Sitting on huge branded Continental tires, this Lanz Bulldog has quite a presence. If you're interested in this unique engine, type in "How to start a Lanz Bulldog" in your browser and there's a video to watch.
19/05/2026 12:18 pm
Phenomenal photos! Love these old European tractors and isn't a blowtorch a novel way to start it?
I like the English Field Marshall. You first turn the massive flywheel to top dead center. Insert a shotgun shell. Light a salt peter blotting paper and stick in the front and then whack the shotgun shell. Ha! Think I'm kidding?
19/05/2026 2:17 pm
Interesting post on an incredibly long lasting machine. Blowtorch start is rather unique.
19/05/2026 2:56 pm
"This mode, by Schuco, was quite a surprise at a time. When their other diecasts were still a bit toy-like, they seem to have pulled out all the stops to make this a very detailed and well-crafted model."
I couldn't agree more..... I love this beast! It's so nicely done and so very cool!
Topic starter
19/05/2026 3:30 pm
That's how you started those old radial aircraft engines back in the day.Phenomenal photos! Love these old European tractors and isn't a blowtorch a novel way to start it?
I like the English Field Marshall. You first turn the massive flywheel to top dead center. Insert a shotgun shell. Light a salt peter blotting paper and stick in the front and then whack the shotgun shell. Ha! Think I'm kidding?
19/05/2026 6:03 pm
@perrone1 Love it, love it, love it. I've had a few cars I took the hammer to but none of them ever started that way. Perhaps i should have used more salt peter
19/05/2026 9:44 pm
...I've seen this before. Seems like a very dangerous way (despite being a blank 12-gauge shell ) to fire-up an engine - absolutely ludicrous by today's standards of course, but it most certainly "raised a few eyebrows" even in 1945!
I can't believe this was "the best" method engineers could devise to start that diesel, albeit massive, engine. I suppose employing a giant battery & huge starter was too cumbersome & costly....? 🤔 🤨 🤔
Rich Sufficool and Tony Perrone reacted
20/05/2026 5:45 am
20/05/2026 5:49 am
...I've seen this before. Seems like a very dangerous way (despite being a blank 12-gauge shell ) to fire-up an engine - absolutely ludicrous by today's standards of course, but it most certainly "raised a few eyebrows" even in 1945!
I can't believe this was "the best" method engineers could devise to start that diesel, albeit massive, engine. I suppose employing a giant battery & huge starter was too cumbersome & costly....? 🤔 🤨 🤔
I think you reasoned out all the viable answers Chris. In fact, John Deere's older diesels used a device to start theirs that seems ludicrous - a Pony engine. A small gas-powered motor that started the bigger diesel then, when warm, shut down the gas pony motor.