In 1908, William Horricks of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, purchased a 4 HP Fairbanks-Morse marine engine, Type D, No. M5197 to power a horse-drawn binder.
After poser binders came to the farm, this engine was used on grain elevators until about 1925. When Bill’s son John moved to the farm, it sawed wood and pumped water until rural power arrived about 1945.
The engine sat neglected until 1995. The crankshaft and connecting rods were bent. Water had been in the cylinder for many years. The block was cracked and the commentator had rotted away completely. Restoration then began and was completed in 1998.
The engine looks and runs like new and was displayed in August of 1999 at the 100th anniversary of the Horricks family at their original farmsite.
Don would like to hear from other owners of this type of Fairbanks Morse engine.
Contact Don Horricks at R.R. #2,Site 40-Box 1 Boyle, Alberta, Canada T0A-0M0.
