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Which Detroit maker?

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Blair Goss
Senior Member
Username: bgoss

Post Number: 104
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 06:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This is definitely one of the Detroit designs, but can we nail down which tag it should have?

Cast iron water pump, six-hole flywheel and a strengthening web between the bolt holes on the base mounting flanges.

d1
.
d2
.
d3
.
Thanks, Blair.
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Searcher
Senior Member
Username: searcher

Post Number: 298
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 08:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have an engine that appears identical to yours, not close, but identical. The only differences I see between them are the hex nut on top of the water pump, and the water pump strap. I think those two items may be repairs or replacments on your engine. Mine has a Detroit Engine Works tag. I bet the name tag from mine would screw right onto your engine without modification based on the screw holes and the faint shadow left where your tag was. The casting number on both exhausts is 5BC. Is the number on your cylinder 1b and on the crankcase 3B? The few Detroit Motor Car Supply Co. engines I have seen had 5BC1 on the water jackets but the other casting numbers are quite different from those on these DEW engines. I don't know if there is any consistency in casting numbers between these and any other members of the Detroit family.

Mine has what I believe to be the serial number stamped on top. Look in the area between the spark plug and the point where the water jacket bolts together with the exhaust jacket. Mine is stamped there with an 80 in fairly large numbers but I have to get it just right in the light to see it.
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RichardDurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee

Post Number: 2048
Registered: 11-2001
Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 - 04:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

*
When these engs came on the market in 1906 they were under the same companies umbrella (The Scherer/ Wadsworth Conglomerate), there were minor differences but the flywheel holes did sort of indicate the different brands ? I believe because of the narrow mounting flanges that this is a very early eng and my opinion only is that its chances of being a Columbia are the highest probability, although I have seen this 3 Large/3 small hole wheel on the Detroit. I have searched extensively to try to get a shot of an eng with the cast web brace but could not find it on a Detroit, Sandow,or Termaat Monahan- there was several off brands that were also from these same molds and I could not find a photo of a 1906-08 Columbia !! The Detroit, Columbia, Sandow and some others used the exact sized tag on the front of the eng in the same location ? As This large business entity got into financial and other difficulties I believe that the integration of parts became more commonplace.
Thats my 2cents or 18 cents worth when adjusted for inflation !

1911

C11911
c1a1911

*
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 180
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 - 10:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just finished updating the Detroit Engine Works & related companies history page on my website a few weeks back. New information all through out the page. Just thought some of you collectors might be interested.

http://www.antiquengines.com/Detroit_Engine_Works_Menu.htm
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miro forest
Senior Member
Username: miro

Post Number: 371
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 08:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

JOhn - I've seen parts of this before,
but this is a WOW !
You deserve a gold star for the work - well done.
Miro
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RichardDurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee

Post Number: 2049
Registered: 11-2001
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

*
John

Thanks for the post, your site is outstanding work on these engine mfgrs,it also looks like the more info thats brought out the more difficult it is to put an exact name to a tagless engine ?

*
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Ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie

Post Number: 950
Registered: 01-2002


Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John,
I have refered to your site for years.
You keep making it better.
Many thanks
Ernie
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Searcher
Senior Member
Username: searcher

Post Number: 299
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Here are three photos of my Detroit Engine Works. It has the six hole flywheel and the webbed base. I can see no evidence that it has ever been altered other than the oil cups and primer cup having been replaced and the mixer removed. The tag was apparently polished so often the detail is hard to see unless the light is just so. I take the number stamped in the top as the serial number. It is 80 despite looking like a 30 in the photo.


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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 181
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 11:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for the compliments everyone. It's a passion that I'm really hooked on. I think I got the basic history figured out for Detroit Engine Works and its related companies but I didn't do it all myself. A few other people have done a lot of research also and we shared our information. Now I just wish I could get a hold on figuring out the different Detroit engine castings and what manufacture made what. It appears they made so many different configurations and styles.

Who knows if we keep researching maybe some day we might learn the differences in the Detroit engines.
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Blair Goss
Senior Member
Username: bgoss

Post Number: 107
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks to everyone for the help. Great website John.

Searcher, you're absolutely correct. Our engines must be nearly identical. Right down to the number stamped on the top of the block. Yes, ours has a large 80 stamped on top also...

Thanks again, Blair.
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 182
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 05:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does anyone have any marine engine specs from an original DEW,DMCSC,CEC catalog or literature? I have the DEW stationary engine specs need marine specs for all the different horse power engines.
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Robert B. Price
Senior Member
Username: rbprice

Post Number: 237
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 09:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John - I have a 1911 full line Detroit catalog and a 1915 Installation and Instructions booklet in my collection.

Ping me or call 518.895.8954 if they would help.

RB
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Searcher
Senior Member
Username: searcher

Post Number: 300
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 10:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blair,

Following your post, I have been pondering the 80 stamped on both our engines. I have come up with two possibilites. First, the engines may have been assembled in batchs that had identical configurations and each engine in the batch was stamped with the 80. The more plausible explanation is that the workman that morning, bleary eyed from carousing into the early morning hours, inadvertantly stamped the same serial number onto two adjacent engines. If that is the case, one of our engines should have been #79 or #81. Now, that is a pretty neat thought, that both both engines might still exist after 100 years.
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William Schaller
Senior Member
Username: billschaller

Post Number: 252
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 08:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

is the 80 below the paint, or above? if it was stamped after painting, than it could be a jobbers mark, a dealers mark, or a shipping mark, etc.
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Searcher
Senior Member
Username: searcher

Post Number: 301
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 09:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I had to wind this 63 year old body into a contortionist's position in order to manuever a flashlight and hand lense where I could discern whether the stamp occurred before or after painting. Ain't no tellin' but I would guess before. However, once I got into that position with the hand lense, I could see that a couple of reflections off imperfections gave the impression that the number was 80. I now suspect it is in fact 30 rather than 80. Oh, the things we do for this old iron.
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 183
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have been trying to figure this out myself. My little 2.5hp DEW engine has a large number 7 stamped on the top of the cylinder. Also has small numbers 236 stamped on the face of the flywheel and in the end of the crankshaft. Which is the serial number or what is what?

I have five parts catalogs, four are for DEW stationary engines and one is for DMCSC (Sandow) stationary & Marine. All five catalogs state this:

"When sending in you order for repairs,state the number stamped on top of the cylinder, face of flywheel or on name plate"

Not sure why my engine has two sets of different numbers? Maybe someone switched out the cylinder from another parts engine? Who knows.

Robert I will be in touch with you about the catalogs. Thanks for the reply.
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Blair Goss
Senior Member
Username: bgoss

Post Number: 108
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 06:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I just took a look at ours. The '80' appears to be stamped under the little bit of paint that remains.

As I walked around the engine with my head half-cocked, I began to wonder...is there a chance that instead of '80', the stamp is '08' - as in 1908? Any thoughts?
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 184
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 - 07:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blair,

I think your number is 80 or 30 because my Detroit marine engine has a number stamped in the same exact place as yours and is a single digit number 7. If looking at my engine just as your photo is oriented the 7 is upright. I do know that Detroit Engine Works loved to use number systems and code names for their engines. I will try to post a photo of my number here in the next day or so. I just noticed on the outer diameter of your output shaft of your engine there appears to be a 80 or 08 stamped. Am I correct or not? It may be a 08 who knows..
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Blair Goss
Senior Member
Username: bgoss

Post Number: 117
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Sunday, July 05, 2009 - 08:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

John, I took another look at the output shaft. It is actually a cast number rather than stamped. Number is 9BC. Thanks again for your help.
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Jim Parrott
Senior Member
Username: jim_parrott

Post Number: 198
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 08:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have this 2 HP Detroit type engine serial number 16 stamped on crank and flywheel. It has the two piece fuel injection and flyweight governor controlling the spark.

There is no indication that it ever had a tag on it. Any tagged engines out there like this, and if so are they tagged Marine or Stationary? Also any tips on removing single layers of paint?

Jim




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miro forest
Senior Member
Username: miro

Post Number: 1016
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 09:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jim - that's a great score - nice engine and looks to be un-abused. plus it has a really nice 2 spigot oiler.
Marine engine don't have governors - don't need 'em.
Is there a thrust bearing on the output shaft?
If not then, likely a stationary engine.

That paint looks like it ought to be preserved - still in good condition considering its age. I wouldn't mess with it.
Miro
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Jim Parrott
Senior Member
Username: jim_parrott

Post Number: 199
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Monday, December 17, 2018 - 06:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Miro,

It was a little rough, needed a cylinder sleeve, timer work, oiler glass, and general sorting. This is my only injected engine and am happy with the way it runs.

It does have a thrust bearing, but I think most of the single flywheel Stationary Detroit�s with water pumps do. It would work fine as a Marine by simply tightening the governor spring adjustment not shown in the picture.

There is some black paint I would like to remove to expose the original green green paint underneath.


Jim
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Jim Parrott
Senior Member
Username: jim_parrott

Post Number: 200
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Monday, December 17, 2018 - 08:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Miro,

A short video for your viewing pleasure.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H7lgaR069bU

Jim
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miro forest
Senior Member
Username: miro

Post Number: 1017
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Friday, December 21, 2018 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sure looks nice chugging away -
Miro
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William Schaller
Senior Member
Username: billschaller

Post Number: 700
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - 08:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

One of my goals is to get a detroit fuel injected motor going, and then trying to get it to run on weird fuels. Like alcohol, lamp oil, whale blubber, bear grease, etc.
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 600
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 08:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jim, Thank's for posting the pic's of your Detroit engine. It's only the second or third Detroit marine style engine with the early two piece fuel feeder I have seen. Not to many around, very nice original looking engine. I watched the video and by the way your engine is running I'm guessing that you have the governor spring really tight so the governor can't work & the timer appears to be fully advanced. I have a few of these Detroit engines with the make & break ignition like yours and they normally sound just like a Maytag washing machine. Fire & coast, Fire & coast. Your engine is just chugging right along, no coasting. Sounds really nice. Hard to say if your engine was originally a marine or stationary engine but I would guess that it was a marine/stationary factor conversion engine. Don't think they would have wasted the extra cost of putting a governor weight on the engine if it was a marine engine.
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 601
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 09:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have only seen the vertical web on the engine mounts on the early marine engines 1906,1907 models. However seems as though most of the early marine engines did not have the vertical web. So I'm guessing that at some point they must have had a few of the mount's crack and added the vertical web modification. All of the later model Detroit engine's with the square inspection cover have a much wider engine mount flange with no vertical web.

On the subject of the number of holes in the flywheel. I have original DEW marine catalogs, CEC marine catalogs, DMCSC catalog and advertisement that show they all had flywheels with 3,4 and 6 holes in them. So I don't think the number of holes in the flywheel really tells us anything. The different number of holes were done in certain years but we don't know what years.
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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 602
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 09:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 603
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 09:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 604
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 10:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A few photo's of Detroit Engine Works early engines with the vertical web on the engine mounts & six holes in the flywheel.











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John Davis
Senior Member
Username: johnny

Post Number: 605
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2019 - 11:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blair Goss,

I think you will find that your engine was manufactured by Detroit Engine Works. I'm fairly sure that DMCSC (Sandow) and Columbia Engine Co. Did not start selling engines until around 1910-1911. Detroit Motor Car Supply Company was around as early as 1902 manufacturing car parts & accessories but did not sell stationary (Sandow) farm engines or marine engines until later. If someone finds adverts or literature that shows either company was selling engines earlier then 1910 please let me know so I could add this info to the Detroit website. I have original literature that shows Detroit Engine Works sold engines as early as 1906. I believe your engine was manufactured before 1910 due to having the small threaded pipe plug inspection hole and the narrow engine mounts with the vertical web. Don't think you will find the small threaded pipe plug or narrow engine mounts on a Sandow or Columbia engine.
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Jim Parrott
Senior Member
Username: jim_parrott

Post Number: 206
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2019 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bill and John,

The above video was one of the first runs since sorting the engine. The governor does kick in when accelerated above the idling range. I have since readjusted the fuel level and tightened up the throttle friction. It now has a nice show engine idle for a single flywheel engine.

One of these days, I�ll try some alternative fuels and see how it works out. I�ll just try whatever I have laying around the shop.

Jim

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