Seeking details on mystery engine
I am looking for some help identifying and learning more about the engine shown in these photos.
Thank you in advance,
Scott Allen, scotta@protomatic.com
Readers, contact Scott with details on his mystery engine at the email above. Loop me in as well and I’ll share the information in a future Flywheel Forum. Thanks! — Editor
Factory turned public housing
The December/January 2023 story about binder engines included the address of the Fairbanks, Morse & Co. building in Chicago. The building is still there with the name of the company in stone. Built in 1908, today it serves as a condo/apartment building. It’s nice to see it is a survivor.
When I was growing up in Chicago, the best thing you could have on your mini bike or go-cart was a Fairbanks Morse centrifugal clutch. Little did I realize it was a hometown product.
Phil West, Glenview, Illinois
Thanks for sharing photos of this beautiful historical structure. It makes me wonder what types of mechanical treasures can be found hidden beneath the new interior walls or perhaps in the building’s basement. — Editor
Help obtaining books
Where can I obtain the two books that the late Lee W. Pedersen used to advertise in Gas Engine Magazine? His classified ads last appeared in early 2020. He had just passed away when I attempted to order them, so I never received the books. The first is Magnetos and Magneto Service, by Jack Beater. The second is Magneto Ignition, Fundamentals of Design and Service, by Fairbanks, Morse & Co. Thank you in advance to whomever can help me obtain copies of these books.
Craig Fiedler, craig.fiedler65@gmail.com
Greetings Craig! I searched the internet and found Magneto Ignition, Fundamentals of Design and Service on Amazon, a limited number of copies, for $30 plus shipping. I am not able to find the first title you listed, perhaps a fellow enthusiast can help with that. Good luck getting your hands on these books! — Editor
F&J engine backstory
It seems that in the year of 1927, a 4hp engine with a serial number of 163296 was built in the Fuller & Johnson factory in Madison, Wisconsin. Time passed and it was found in the village of Sherbrooke, Greysboro County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The owner was unknown. Around 1942, it was bought by Mr. Roland Bautilier who was a commercial fisherman living in Port Bickerton.
He built a skid system on which he mounted an arbor with a disc saw and belted it to the F&J. The purpose was to saw firewood for the family home and enough material to build his fleet of lobster traps. Then it was safely stored in his barn.
Upon his passing, it was taken across the street to his son’s home. A neighbor acquired the arbor and saw, but the F&J was tucked away in a baby barn. In 2010, I met up with Roland’s grandson who said he still had the engine but he wanted a high price for it. I paid it but could not tell my wife when I brought it home.
The grandson had never heard the engine in use and didn’t know how it was operated. All he knew was it was Grandad’s old saw engine. Slowly I did a thorough check and found it in excellent condition. It had a broken rocker arm but the pieces were in the hopper with the starting crank. When the cylinder head came off, there were screwdrivers and wrenches peeking out of the waterways. The valves, piston, rings and bearings were OK. It mainly needed a rocker arm repair, a temporary fuel tank and a wagon to make it portable.
Erwin Kaiser, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Wow, Erwin, that’s quite the interesting tale. I hope the price remained unknown to your wife or perhaps she fell in love with the engine and wasn’t upset about what you spent. It’s great to know the backstory behind historical relics such as this one. Thank you for sharing! — Editor
Please send your questions and comments for Flywheel Forum or your contact information for GEM Experts to Gas Engine Magazine, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609-1265 or email editor@gasenginemagazine.com.
Originally published as “Flywheel Forum” in the June/July 2023 issue of Gas Engine Magazine.
