In the last issue, we talked about the late Stover open crank flywheel engines. As a follow up, we’ll discuss the late horizontal closed crank flywheel engines, better known as the CTs.
As near as we can tell, the “C” stands for closed crank and the “T” is the actual type, not to be confused with the early 4 HP open crank T. There is a column in the record books for “type of engine.” This column lists the CT type engines as TA through TD – we find no CTs listed in the actual shipping records. This can cause a little confusion because the serial number is usually preceded by the T designation but the same ID tag will show the CT with the horsepower listed.
The CTs were made in four sizes: the TA (CT1) engines were 1-1/2 to 2 HP, the TB (CT2) 2 to 2-1/2 HP, the TC (CT3) 3 to 3-1/2 HP, and the TD (CT4) 4 to 5 HP. These engines are variable horsepower but the records only list the lowest number. The first CT1 was introduced in 1928 with the last being the CT4 coming on line in 1930.
All the CTs were manufactured into 1942 when Stover ceased production. CT total production numbers are as follows: CT1 – 12,972 units, CT2 – 25,145 units, CT3 – 9,917 units and CT4 – 4,001 units. The engines were available with a throttling governor for kerosene or hit-and-miss for gasoline. C. H. Wendel’s excellent book on Stovers (Power In The Past 3) tells us that the late Lester Roos spent 600 hours studying the Stover records. We can thank Lester and Chuck for these production numbers.
In my opinion these are some of the prettiest engines Stover made. They use the classic “coffin” shaped water hopper and attractive 6-hole disc flywheels with Stover embossed on the sides. The engines were painted green with red and yellow pinstriping. Many of these engines were sold to other companies and were painted different colors. Sears, Roebuck & Co. used a customized CT with a teardrop shaped 3-hole flywheel. These engines were painted red. The CT engines were well built and reliable.
The Hungarian connection
Stover engines were sent all over the world and some of them are still out there. Usually the Stover records are fairly descriptive regarding the foreign companies to which the engines were shipped. However, we recently looked up a 1 HP K model Stover for Andy Fucsko in Hajdúszoboszló, Hungary. Turns out the engine was shipped to the John Deere Plow Co. on Oct. 24, 1911. John Deere had warehouses or distributors all over this country but no location was listed for this engine. I told Andy I had no idea how his engine got to Hungary.
Being a typical American, I’m not too good at foreign languages and can’t speak a word of Hungarian. Luckily, my friend Andy writes decent English and he got us through the confusion. It turns out that the John Deere dealer in Hungary was Hahn Arthur & Co.
But wait, the story gets better. Hahn Arthur imported the first Ford car into Hungary with the hopes of becoming a Ford dealer. Alas, no one would buy the cars. Arthur did discover that he could sell John Deere farm equipment and that’s how Andy’s engine got to Hungary. Hahn Arthur was the John Deere distributor for Hungary. A translation of the name plate on the front of Andy’s engine reads “General Agency Hahn Arthur and His Co. Ulloi Street Budapest City.” There is a smaller plate below the Arthur plate that says in English “Made in USA.” Luckily, the serial number is stamped on the engine because the Stover or John Deere plate is gone.
Andy found the engine in a manure pile in the town of Nyírség so it took some work to get it running. He learned that it had been used with Alpha Laval equipment.
Thanks for the information, Andy.
Stover records
We have provided information on more than 250 engines since we started this column and will continue to do so if you send or e-mail your Stover engine serial number to me.
Until next time, keep your plugs dry and your igniters oiled.
Contact Joe Maurer at 797 S. Silberman Rd., Pearl City, IL 61062 • (815) 443-2223 •toadhill@aeroinc.net
