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Mystery engine

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Can anyone identify this engine?

A friend saw it at a tag sale, bought it and brought it home.

Then of course, he asks "what is it?"

Any ideas? early automobile, airplane, tractor, stationary engine, etc.? Manufacturer?

Thanks.
Tom
 
Early BMW? :jester:
 
Ah yes! From an early BMW combination butter churn and cider press, after the Versailles Treaty of 1919 forbid them from manufacturing aircraft engines.

(any other ideas ...?)
 
John - thanks for the Fairbanks idea. Take a look:

https://www.oldmarineengine.com/history/Fairbanks/aircooled.html

I'm thinking it's a Sheffield:

aircooled_5.jpg
 
Whatever it is (and it sure looks like the Sheffield in the pictures) it's pretty cool looking. Does it run???
 
2 plugs per cylinder in yours. Suggestive of aviation?
 
Hi Keith - doesn't run ... YET! But the guy has rebuilt 100 year old engines for several years.

Sure looks like a Sheffield Motor Car Speeder railroad engine to me!

Mark - in my second post, looks like there are plugs where the second plug would go. I think the rpm would be way too slow for aviation, at least from the videos I've found.
 
Yeah, makes sense (aviation-wise)... even early stuff.
 
Yep - I think someone tried it on a few experimental aircraft:

 
:laugh:
 
I found a reference to it in "American Gas Engines Since 1872" by C.H.Wendel (An actual book, pre-Google). There were 2 Sheffield companies, one in Kansas City MO and one in Three Rivers MI. This engine came from the "Sheffield Car Company" in Three Rivers and was probably used for a railway speeder. Fairbanks Morse started selling Sheffield "handcars" in 1887, became their exclusive selling agent shortly after, and bought the company by 1890. The speeder engine was introduced in the late 1890's and is described as being extremely popular.

Sheffield (as an FM division) developed some light delivery cars in 1908, which were sold under the FM name until 1910 or shortly after.

The flywheel appears to be heavy and fairly small diameter, and looks like it has holes drilled radially for balance. The side opposite looks like it might have had a shrouded fan but it's hard to tell.

Take a look at https://webpages.charter.net/harrisjc/40B.htm - maybe?
 
John - THANK YOU! Excellent info.

Does your book give a specific engine model?
 
NutmegCT said:
Hi Keith - doesn't run ... YET! But the guy has rebuilt 100 year old engines for several years.
Click to expand...

We're going to need a video (with sound) when it runs.
 
Don't know the engine in question, but back in the early times of aviation, just about every engine available was tried on air planes. Some worked, many didn't. As we know, horse power to weight ratio was the key element. Interesting engine though. PJ
 
You guys are amazing. Put together you might make a pretty good walking encyclopedia. I could tell it was an engine but that's about all.
 
Tom, only because of the 2 plugs per cylinder, I would venture a guess it could have been used in a small light aircraft. Only a guess. No place to pull over and park up there. I see no shroud for cooling or attaching points for one, so the cooling had to come from another source. Interesting for sure. PJ
 
I don't know what it is, But I WANT IT!!!! COOL!!!! I'm a sucker for old engines. Especially ones with exposed valve-trains. I'm casually in the market for a hit-and-miss currently.
BTW, You want to meet some guys with a wealth of knowledge on anything obscure, mechanical, and rusty? Head on over to smokstak.com They probably have someone with the owners manual for that engine.
 
Banjo said:
I don't know what it is, But I WANT IT!!!! COOL!!!! I'm a sucker for old engines. Especially ones with exposed valve-trains. I'm casually in the market for a hit-and-miss currently.
BTW, You want to meet some guys with a wealth of knowledge on anything obscure, mechanical, and rusty? Head on over to smokstak.com They probably have someone with the owners manual for that engine.
Click to expand...

Ben - you REALLY need to get down here! Besides all the bluegrass and old time music, there's also a club dedicated to antique tractors and engines. Their show is held in the latter part of May (hint, hint; nudge, nudge!)... https://foothillsantiquetractor.webs.com/about-us

And THIS is why we retired here!
 
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