Dumpster Treasures

By Staff
Published on May 1, 2006
1 / 4
The 60 HP engine.
The 60 HP engine.
2 / 4
Front and side view of the 6 HP?Case.
Front and side view of the 6 HP?Case.
3 / 4
The 40 HP Case.
The 40 HP Case.
4 / 4

J.I. Case Co. of Racine, Wis., is
well-known for their steam engines, tractors and farm machinery.
But, they also made an attempt at the stationary engine market in
1913. Wendel’s American Gasoline Engines Since 1872 touches briefly
on this endeavor. In my collections, I have some factory photos,
also dated in 1913, showing more of these engines. These photos and
more than 100 others were collected from dumpsters at the Case
factory years ago.

Wendel’s book shows the off-side of the 6 HP engine. At first
glance, it is very heavy, complicated and looks expensive to build.
It appears to be a hit-and-miss engine with the governor weight
clamped on one spoke and the mixer on the off-side. It is igniter
fired, has an automatic intake valve and speed control. It had a
closed crankcase with an access cover. They used a dry head, but
what is the use of the inner circle and the pipe plug?

Looking closely at the hopper, you can see where a Case eagle on
the globe decal had been blocked out. Also notice all the
pinstriping. You cannot see the gas tank, but it could be put in
the open space under the cylinder. This seems to be their own
design and they copied no other engine. While the trend was to make
more simple and cheaper engines, this they did not do, and you can
see why this project was abandoned. Would have been nice to be
there when this engine was thrown in the scrap pile!

While the 60 HP is not a small engine, it is an attempt at
putting a production engine into stationary use. I have seven
different views of the 2-cylinder 60 HP engine taken in October
1913. It is the engine used in the 30-60 tractor with a stationary
base. The tractor came out in 1912, so it was just a matter of
using the engine and making a base for it.

In the center is one of two photos I have of the 40 HP engine
for stationary use. This is the same engine used in the 20-40
tractor that came out in 1912. This photo is also dated October
1913.

John Davidson 8250 200th Ave., Bristol, WI 53104;
jdavidson@busynet.net

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388