Osborne OMC Model 10G - What is this?

andres14725 · May 11, 2011

We cleaned out the barn and found this machine inherited from the previous owner. It has a set of rotating blades much like a feed hammer mill except the blades are rigidly welded to the shaft. The blades are about 2" wide and 3/16" thick and seems not to have sharp edges. The outlet has a screen with 1/2 inch holes. Some have suggested it to be a wood chipper or a mulcher, but the small engine, blunt blades and screen leads me to believe it to be something else. I could find no information on the Osborne Manufacturing Company located in Osborne KS since it apparently burned down decades ago. Any help identifying this would be much appreciated!

paulrk · May 14, 2011

Looks like a chipper.

KFree · May 14, 2011

Maybe an insulation blower?

SixHoeBob · May 14, 2011

Topsoil shredder?

andres14725 · May 15, 2011

Well, yesterday I decided to get the machine running. Had to remove the engine covers to clean about a shovel full of mud wasp nests out. The fuel tank is all rusted, and after rinsing that out I added some 2-stroke mix, poured a little engine oil through the spark plug hole, and pulled the cord. On the third attempt the engine fired up and ran as if it had been running every day for the last twenty years.

The machine is not a wood chipper. I dropped a twig in the feed bin and it was pulverized. Attached is a picture of the blades and of the screen. Next would be to feed some leaves through. I'm still thinking it to be some sort of corn grinder? Any other guesses?

Oh, and the fuel tank has a few pinholes where the rust ate through the metal. Will need to replace that. Any ideas where to look?

SixHoeBob · May 15, 2011

Put a generic in-line fuel filter on it, say a Fram G-1 to protect the carb from rust. Better yet, rob a plastic tank off of a push mower and hang it on the side along with the fuel filter.

With it running and you standing off to the side, put one shovelful of dry topsoil in it. It should come out like powder.

andres14725 · May 16, 2011

The inline fuel filter is a great idea, only problem with the older B&S engines is that they have a rigid standpipe sucking fuel direct form the tank into the carburetor, no room for installing filters!

Why would anyone want to mulch/shred topsoil?

Perhaps I need some lessons here!

SixHoeBob · May 16, 2011

andres14725 said:
The inline fuel filter is a great idea, only problem with the older B&S engines is that they have a rigid standpipe sucking fuel direct form the tank into the carburetor, no room for installing filters!

Why would anyone want to mulch/shred topsoil? Perhaps I need some lessons here!

Turn lumps of topsoil into consistently fine material for planting trees, shrubs, flowers. I suppose the machine could also be used to mix several types of soil together to make potting soil.

ERHandyman · May 18, 2015

I have one from my father that he bought new. He always used it to shred all of the leaves and small twigs in the yard every fall. I have been thinking I have too get the old Brigss & Stratton engine running and try it out next fall. I was just in the process of trying to get old parts manuals from B & S.

Best of Luck with the OMC.