| Author |
Message |
    
andrew
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - 06:43 pm: | 
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There is a very original boat and Van Blerck Junior posted for sale at OldBoat.com.
I have other pictures that the seller sent me if anyone is interested... this boat is a time capsule!
Regards,
Andrew
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Bob Johnson
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 03:57 pm: |
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I have never heard of a Van Blerk. It appears to be an overhead cam..but what power, and are parts available? |
andrew
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 07:41 pm: |
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Bob,
The Van Blerck engine company was started by Dutch immigrant Joseph Van Blerck in about 1906. He was a very innovative engine designer. His high horsepower four cylcle engines powered many of the Gold Cuppers in the teens and early twenties.
This engine, the Van Blerck Junior came out in the lated twenties and was really after the heyday of Van Blerck. It was an attempt to catch the mass market and compete with the higher production manufacturers that were overtaking Van Blerck at the time. I had one of the Van Blerck Juniors that I bought from Guy Lombardo's former race boat mechanic!
There is an excellent history of the Van Blerck Engine company that was written by Max Homfeld and published in Gas Engine magazine some years ago. I could email it to anyone that it interested, but it is a big file!
Oh... and to answer your question... there are no parts available, except the carburetor, starter, distributer, and such.
Regards,
Andrew
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Bruce
| | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2002 - 01:18 am: |
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Andrew; I e-mailed Karin with no response.The Ludington section in Speltz spells out the Gray 37
and the Gray 41 as the factory supplied power for Sport ship and Senior models. The JVB is period and must have been an owner specification possibly by Joe or his engineers as Van Blerk was in Philadelphia as was Ludington aircraft. Van Blerks were a favorite of Albany Boat Co. prior to their love of Sterlings.They are a coveted engine in the antique boat collectors crowd. |
gary wales
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 03:50 pm: |
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Just bought a 1915 Van Blerek 15 litre engine in new original condition only thing missing is the generator it is a wonderful advanced engine which is years ahead of its time i bought it at www.prewarcar.com where photos are still on line.If you can supply any information I thank you.
Gary Wales |
Robert.
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:07 pm: |
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Here's a link to the www.prewarcar.com ad for the Van Blerck in the Netherlands and another link to an early Gray in the Netherlands also: http://www.prewarcar.com/parts/info.php?s=p&catid=11&f=0&order=price&rev=0&pgr=35
http://www.prewarcar.com/parts/info.php?s=p&catid=11&f=0&order=price&rev=0&pgr=3
Can we be so rude as to ask, how much!? |
andrew
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:10 pm: |
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Gary,
Wow... that is a wonderful engine! There is a lot of Van Blerck information around... catalogs, ads, articles. I don't know what you have already. Where are you located?
If anyone wants to see all the pictures of this amazing engine, I think this link will get you there...
Van Blerck
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gary wales
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 03:39 pm: |
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Thanks for your help,as far as information I need anything that can help me get it running ,any manuals ,spects,,information,anything at all as I have nothing but the motor less generator on its way to me in Los Angeles.would love to find an original generator to complete the package.
thanks again for any help that anyone can provide.
Gary Wales |
mikko
New member
Username: mikko
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 03:10 am: |
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Very interesting discussion. I' would be interested having the article on van Blerck Engine company. I'am working in martime museum Forum Marinum in Turku, Finland. Here were built some patrol boats for Russian Navy during the First World War and they were equipped with van Blerck 150 hp engines.
Mikko Meronen
mikko.meronen@forum-marinum.fi |
andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew
Post Number: 883
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 - 05:46 pm: |
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Mikko,
I have emailed the article to you.
Keep us posted on what you are doing... pictures, links, comments, whatever. |
andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew
Post Number: 904
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:33 am: |
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Mikko sent in the following:
quote:Thank you for the article!
I'm making research about these Russian patrol boats that were built here and the article on van Blerck gave nice baground information.
We have here in our museum exhibited 130 old boat engines mainly outboard motors but also inboard engines. We have here private collector Jouko Kurri who has about 160 engines and we are exhibiting his collection. He also restores engines to working condition. He is just now working on one Regal engine and Waterman porto outboard.
We have also an exhibition on Turun veneveistämö - Åbo Båtvarf (Turku boatyard) 1889-1954. This yard built motorboats at very early date. First motorboats wre built 1891. First boats were propably equipped with Daimler engines. But few years later many American engines were also imported to Finland. Domestic engine production started in 1902 by John Stenbergs motorfabrik.
I would be interested on some American engines that were imported in early years. Johannes Preetzman was general agent for some American engines in finland he imported Atlanta and Lozier engines. It would be nice if you have some information on these engine brands i couldn't find much on your excellent pages.
Our collector Jouko Kurri has akso an strange outboard marked as T.B.C Helsingfors (propably only importers shield) motor has steering wheel at the pins place.
Best regards
Mikko Meronen
Forum Marinum
Linnankatu 72
20100 Turku
Finland
358-2-2829504
mikko.meronen@forum-marinum.fi
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erik
New member
Username: erik
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, November 14, 2005 - 10:13 am: |
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We are an industrial museum in Norway and have just obtained a motoryacht from 1917. It originaly had a Van Blerck engine. The engine had 40-50 hp, ran on petrol and had 2 cylinders. Can anyone help us with information aboute such an engine? Does anyone have photo or manuals?
(www.museumsnett.no/salhus) |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 904
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 14, 2005 - 09:47 pm: |
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erik
This beautiful engine is a teens two cylinder Van Blerck !
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ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie
Post Number: 632
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 07:24 pm: |
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2 cylinder? |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 910
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 10:51 pm: |
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Yup two cylinders, but two pistons in each- Sorry about that !
Did Van Blerck even mfg a 40-50 Hp 2 cylindered engine in mid teens ?? or would the four cyl above be closer to that power ?? |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 911
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 08:35 am: |
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gary wales
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 07:42 pm: |
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my 19.48 litre -6 cylinder Van Blerck motor is L-6 #2183 can anyone give me any information on this engine?
please |
gary wales
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 10:50 pm: |
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I have a 1000 cu inch plus pre war Hudson Invader PT boat moter with all of the bits I would like to see it in a new home .will trade or sell for best offer,photos on request.
Gary Wales |
GARY WALES
Visitor
| | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:01 pm: |
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1915 VAN BLERCK TWO MAN RACER ENGINE 2183
LOOKING FOR A VRERY LARGE MOTOR TO BE USED IN GIANT TWO MAN CAR,
IF ITS LARGE AND NEAT LOOKING ,CALL OR EMAIL ME.WOULD LIKE A VAN BLERCK H 12 IF POSSIBLE.}}}}
gARY |
GARY WALES
Visitor
| | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2007 - 11:07 pm: |
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PHOTO OF 1915 VAN BLERCK TWO MAN RACER |
Leroy Curtis
Visitor
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 04:19 am: |
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Hi, Gary. I've seen pictures of your completed car on <alt.binaries.automobiles carshows> and I was wondering what was the history behind it, and what were the origins of its running gear. |
handsomemike
New member
Username: handsomemike
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12:17 pm: |
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Wow! I had no idea that Van Blerck engines are so popular! Joe Van Blerck was my grandfather and its good to see his work is appreciated.
Mike Breen |
miro
Senior Member
Username: miro
Post Number: 334
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 01:07 pm: |
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There are two Van Blerk engines in mahogany launches that are located in the Muskoka area. I've seen one right up close and I managed to get some pictures about 5 yeas ago when it was being re-built - it was all in pieces.
But it was put all back together and powers a 32 ft launch called Come and Go.
miro |
Lorna Paden
Visitor
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 12:28 am: |
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Joe Van Blerck was my Great Grandfather and it's wonderful to see his work is so appreciated. I've learned about him through my mother and my uncle. Would love to learn more if anybody has anything they would like to share.
Lorna Paden
lorna.7@sbcglobal.net |
handsomemike
New member
Username: handsomemike
Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 01:00 pm: |
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Does anyone know where one can find van blerck engines for sale and roughly how much they go for?
Thanks! |
bruce
Senior Member
Username: bruce
Post Number: 209
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 08:46 pm: |
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I have a photo copy of a brochure obtained from a member here of the Fay and Bowen Rocket inboard motor. Rated 35 HP at 3200 RPM; It appears nearly identical to the 4 cyl JVB shown above. F&B engine production was moved/sold to Philadelphia Pa. after the company was broken up around the depression. It appears Joe Van Blerk was involved and the F&B Rocket became the JVB Junior model. |
miro
Senior Member
Username: miro
Post Number: 413
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 11:41 pm: |
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To try to answer Mike's question - the VB engines are very difficult to find. Anyone that has a VB - especially one of the earlier engine, usually knows what they have and guard it with great care.
In any case you'd spend BIG $$$ getting one - 6 figures for sure.
Miro |
handsomemike
New member
Username: handsomemike
Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 08:28 am: |
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Miro,
Thanks for the reply! There goes my idea of buying an old wooden runabout and dropping a VB engine in it! Does anyone give a family member discount?  |
