WISCONA PEP MOTOR CLUB

By Staff
1 / 17
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
2 / 17
Courtesy of Thomas E. Stranko, 2600 Lafayette Street, Scranton, Pa. 18508.
Courtesy of Thomas E. Stranko, 2600 Lafayette Street, Scranton, Pa. 18508.
3 / 17
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114
4 / 17
5 / 17
6 / 17
7 / 17
Courtesy of Ted Wiseman, 384 Winchester Street, Paris, Kentucky 40361.
Courtesy of Ted Wiseman, 384 Winchester Street, Paris, Kentucky 40361.
8 / 17
Wiscona Pep Motor .Courtesy of L.R. Odland, 562 Torlage Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45431
Wiscona Pep Motor .Courtesy of L.R. Odland, 562 Torlage Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45431
9 / 17
Courtesy of Fred Parker, Blackfoot, Alberta, Canada
Courtesy of Fred Parker, Blackfoot, Alberta, Canada
10 / 17
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
11 / 17
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Courtesy of Andy Kruse, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
12 / 17
Courtesy of Harry Fischbach, Kettlersville, Ohio, 45336
Courtesy of Harry Fischbach, Kettlersville, Ohio, 45336
13 / 17
Courtesy of Fischbach's Museum, Kettlersville, Ohio 45336.
Courtesy of Fischbach's Museum, Kettlersville, Ohio 45336.
14 / 17
Courtesy of Gerry Lestz, Editor.
Courtesy of Gerry Lestz, Editor.
15 / 17
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114
16 / 17
Courtesy of Fischbach's Museum, Kettlersville, Ohio 45336.
Courtesy of Fischbach's Museum, Kettlersville, Ohio 45336.
17 / 17
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114
Courtesy of Richard E. Lagree, 529 East 1st, Newton, Kansas 67114

562 Torlage Drive Dayton, Ohio 45431

Perhaps the greatest and most lasting benefit to be gained by an
active interest in the restoration of antique engines is the
friendships established and the pleasant inner warmth experienced
when a fellow ‘spark plug’ provides a missing part for a
favorite project.

To this end, the Wiscona Pep Motor Club is being established.
There is nothing special about the engine except its relative
rarity, and the whole-hearted spirit of assistance offered by those
few individuals who have one of these engines, in whole or in
parts.

Picture is an unknown engine I rebuilt from incomplete engine
parts I bought at a sale in Germantown, Wiconsin. May-June 1970
issue of GEM has pictures of what I started with under listing What
Is It? I never heard from anyone who had seen an engine like it and
would still like to know the make.

A twin cylinder Pierce engine built in Racine, Wisconsin. I
restored this one

Model B #49 Hagan built in Winchester, Kentucky, which I
restored.

This engine was originally manufactured by Termaat-Monahan
Manufacturing Company, of Osh-kosh, Wisconsin. In 1921 the firm was
sold to the Wiscona Pep Motor and Parts Company, of the same city,
which continued production of the two models, 1-1/2 and 3 h.p.,
until late 1939. There is no information as to how many of each
model were built, but the original firm (Termaat-Monahan) had an
export department in New York City, and it is rumored that most of
the engines were sold in Europe and Canada, and that those in the
United States today were returned for one reason or another. This
would certainly explain their relative rarity. Both models of the
engine were equipped with Webster oscillating magnetos,
manufactured by the Webster Electric Company of Racine, Wisconsin
which is still in business but no longer makes magnetos or has the
parts in stock.

The most distinguishing feature of the Pep Motor is the water
hopper, which is concave on both sides, to facilitate the fitting
of two fuel tanks -one for gasoline-one for kerosene. This engine
was shown twice in the GEM, page 12 of Vol 4, No. 4, and on page 25
of Vol 5, No. 3. For those who may not have these issues available,
the picture below illustrates the unusual water hopper
configuration. Incidentally, this was my introduction to Pep
Motors, and from what you see, I must accumulate and build many
parts for restoration. More information on these engines is
contained in Bulletin 107 of the International Cultivator Company.
It gives parts lists and drawings, operating instructions, etc.
However, my copy of the Bulletin has many poor pages, as it is
probably the 5th or 6th copy of a copy.

The purpose of the Wiscona Pep Motor Club is twofold. First, to
facilitate exchange of information and parts between those
individuals having a complete engine or restoring one, and, second,
to encourage discovery of additional Wiscona Pep Motors, and
stimulate interest in their restoration. Membership is free, and
open to anyone having a sincere interest in these engines, whether
or not one is owned. I will serve as corresponding secretary, and
publish a ‘Newsletter’ twice a year, in which information,
available parts, etc., will be distributed. Currently, I know of
five people having a Wiscona, and sketchy information on three
others. So, please, if you have one of these engines, or know of
someone who has a Wiscona or parts of one, or information about
them, please write or telephone me at (513) 256-3105.

This is a Lawter Motor Plow built by Lawter Tractor Company of
St. Marys, Ohio – 3 bottom. Note, it is a left hand plow, 4 cyl.
motor 18-38 HP, 1915 model. It was demonstrated at the Coop Farm, a
show place in Auglaize County, eight miles from where I live.

Pictured is Van Duzen gasoline engine tractor built at
Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a one cycle, made in 1894. Note where they
put the gas tank for safety

We saw this 25-45 HP Cross motor Case on the property of the
owner, L.B. Ebersol, Leola RD1, Pa., and asked him for a picture
with the unusual railroad crossing sign which serves as an
ornamental mail box standard

The Case was built in 1921, Mfg. No. 35031, and sold that year
to a Mr. Harnish in southern Lancaster County, Pa. It was used for
threshing and baling until the combines took over.

After that it was used for feed grinding on the farm.

In late 1963 the tractor was purchased from Mr. Harnish by A.D.
Mast. In about 1967 Ebersol bought it from Mast and restored it. He
still has the original operator’s manual and parts book.

Ebersol is an honorary lifetime member of the Rough and Tumble
Engineers, receiving his gold membership card at the 1972 annual
banquet. He has been at all the Rough and Tumble Reunions at
Kinzers since it was organized. He has shown this machine there,
and has charge of a few of the Corliss engines at the Reunions.

The RR crossing sign was obtained from the Pennsylvania
Railroad, now Penn Central, when the old models were replaced by
new types. It holds three mailboxes, and is a surprising sight to
see along a quiet country road. Autoists look in vain for
locomotives in the adjoining cornfield.

A Huber one cylinder tractor built by Huber Mfg. Co. of Marion,
Ohio in 1898. They built lots of different models in their time.
Note where the gas tank is for safety

These pictures are of an A-Frame we built to help us with the
loading of our engines. It is made out of two by fours with saw
horse brackets, it has a chain hoist that attaches to a roller
which greatly simplifies the loading of heavy engines, as long as
your wife can keep her fingers out of the chain while it is in
motion, as it can draw a lot of blood, thus making for a very
unhappy wife and a night in the garage with the engines.

My boy William unloaded the two cylinder vertical John Deere by
himself. He weighs about 85 pounds and the John Deere probably
weighs about 500 pounds.

Picture is of my son, Tony Lagree, with an engine belonging to
Jerry Toevs of Goessell of Kansas. I believe this engine is called
a Famous.

Here is a picture of my latest project; a badly rusted marine
engine. The ornate cast brass name plate says: Truscott Boat Manuf.
Co. St. Joseph, Mich. U.S.A. Serial No. 1347.

I need any and all information that your readers might have on
this engine. No horse power rating is given but it’s a two
cycle, and the piston is 4.9 inches in dia. It seems to have the
remains of both high and low tension ignition. It has a piston
water pump driven by a cam on the crankshaft.

I am a newcomer to this hobby, and to GEM but I enjoy it very
much and have learned a lot about these fascinating old engines
from it.

These three pictures were taken by Sally Weber of Winchester

1922 Model N, 12-24 Waterloo Boy tractor owned by Hisle Lutes of
Winchester, Ky. This picture was taken by Hisle. All pictures were
taken at the 1973 Steam and Gas Engine Show held by the Central
Kentucky Steam and Gas Engine Assn. at Paris, Kentucky at their
reunion last July, 1973

Pictured is an old ‘Clectrac’, made by the Cleveland
Tractor Company, with the Maple Tree that grew up through it.
Pictured at the Barr Colony Museum in Lloydminster, Sask.

  • Published on Jul 1, 1975
Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388