4 Cycle Hit & Miss

Serial #171499

1925 Stover Type KC

6 Horse Power Gasoline Engine manufactured by the
Stover Manufacturing & Engine Co., Freeport, IL

5 3/4” Bore X 8″ Stroke – Rated H.P. at 450 R.P.M.
Thanks to the very industrious mind of D.C. Stover, the Stover Manufacturing & Engine Company became a very large and diverse entity, having it’s roots going back to 1862. Many items such as bicycles, windmills and barbed wire were improved upon and added to the large number of items being built by the company. Stover engine designs started to appear in the mid 1890’s. The Stover Type KC was introduced in 1922 and had numbered to just over 3,300 when Stover closed it’s doors in 1942. From 1922 to 1931, these engines were simply rated at 6 HP, but from 1932 on, the rating was changed to a 6-8 HP. This particular engine includes an unusual casting to cover the water hopper. This and a larger than normal drain from the hopper were used to allow remote cooling water to be piped to/from the engine. Also, a larger than normal cylinder oiler and an optional connecting rod oiler are incorporated, all of which allowed the engine to be maintained without stopping it’s operation. This engine has a displacement of 208 cu. in. (3410 cc) and weighs over 1000 lbs. (454 kg)! The flywheels measure 30″ (76.2 cm) in diameter. In 1935, this engine sold for $195 US.
Serial #26856

1911 Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co. "Waterloo Boy"

11/2 Horse Power Gasoline Engine manufactured by the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., Waterloo, Iowa

3 1/2″ Bore X 5″ Stroke – Rated H.P. at 500 R.P.M.

Organized in 1893 as the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Co., the company started life by designing and building tractors. However, due to low sales, gas engines were added to their catalog around 1893-4. Around 1896, the company reorganized as the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., but continued in research and development of farm tractors. The result was the Waterloo Boy tractor, first introduced in 1912. Eventually, in 1918, Deere & Co. bought the company and continued the tractor development which has become today’s John Deere. This Waterloo Boy engine was only produced in 1911, after which it was changed slightly and rerated to 2 HP. The basic engine on wood skids was $32 US in 1911, with the cart adding slightly to the price. The full detailed restoration of this engine can be seen here.

Serial #26856

1912 Root & Vandervoort 'Triumph' Gas Engine

2 Horse Power Gasoline Engine manufactured by the Root & Vandervoort Engineering Co., East Moline, Illinois sold mainly by Deere & Company, Moline, Illinois.

4 ” Bore X 4 1/2″ Stroke – Rated H.P. at 500 R.P.M.
The Root & Vandervoort Engineering Company, incorporated in 1900, built many sizes and configurations of engines from around 1899 until about 1928. During their existence, the company took on many projects including marine propulsion and automobiles while operating under various company names and licenses. Their engine line-up included both vertical and horizontal models and ranged from 1 to 28 HP, the latter having two 63″ (160 cm) flywheels weighing 1,200 lbs. (544 kg) each! This particular engine had, at some time, lost all of it’s original valve mechanism and had been fitted with a replacement valve train consisting of torch cut plate steel. A real hatchet job, but it did work! Having recently been completely overhauled, new castings of the missing parts were obtained and machined, and the engine brought back to it’s original showroom condition.
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