Sparta Economy Engine News

By Staff
Published on December 1, 1996
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20601 Old State Road Haubstadt, Indiana 47539

Once again the subject is back to more information about Economy
Gasoline Engines made by the Holm Machine Manufacturing Company at
Sparta, Michigan. When production began at Sparta in mid 1909, the
foundry was not up and running yet. Castings were being made by an
outside supplier at Grand Rapids some 15 miles to the south. They
were shipped by rail to Sparta for machining and eventual assembly
into completed engines. The model A was their first production with
some 1200 units being made by early 1910. Currently, ten of the
model A engines are known to exist including four of the 2 HP, four
of the 4 HP and 2 of the 6 HP size.

HP

Bore Stroke

RPM

Flywheel Dia

Ship Wt

Price

2

4

8

375

22

550

$46.95

4

4. 5

9

350

26

750

$79.45

6

5. 5

10

325

30

1050

$109.75

8

6. 5

12

300

36

1450

$168.95

10

7. 5

14

270

40

2150

$243.45

Five sizes were produced, as shown in the chart above. Even
though most Sparta Economy engines were equipped with the Witry
patent fuel system, a switch was made to the Essex brass fuel mixer
by the end of the run.

When Sparta Economy engines were introduced, they had the
identification tag as shown below. All were of the ‘Improved
Model’. One can only assume that they were improved over the
‘Waterloo Economy’ that Sears had been selling the previous
year.

Luckily, an original Sparta Economy engine owner’s manual
and instruction book still exists. It has lengthy instructions and
explanations, numerous illustrations, parts pictures and parts
lists. The cover is shown at left.

Sparta Economy engines are still turning up. Just as this
article was being prepared, a call came from Illinois about a
recently acquired 4 HP model CX serial number 30221. The next
article will be about the model B Sparta Economy engines.

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