Help wanted to idenify this motor
I am a member of a local museum which has inherited a large collection of old cars, parts and related automobilia, and we have one mystery motor on a display stand that no-one as yet has been able to identify. It is an early T-Head four cylinder, with cylinders cast in two pairs of two. Some of the ancillaries are missing and the only real clue is a stylised 'S' cast in the front cover and on top of the cylinders. It looks a bit small for one of the Americans that were quite common back in the 1900s and 1910s, as I know Studebaker, Stutz and a few others used similar designs they all appear to be bigger. Someone suggested it could have been a Sunbeam but I contacted an expert in a Sunbeam club and he thinks not. I also tried posting it on PreWarCars.com but got no joy there.
Any ideas?
Chris Martin
I would contact the guys at Jay Leno's Garage in Burbank Ca. Jay and his group are probably the best at identifying odd stuff. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/
I would contact the guys at Jay Leno's Garage in Burbank Ca. Jay and his group are probably the best at identifying odd stuff. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/
Thanks, good idea, I will try them too.
C.M.
I wondered if it was a Simplex(as in Sheffield Simplex)but that is a long shot based on it being the only other 'S' I could think of from that period/roughly same type configeration.
However with a tenuous search related, found the above.
whatever, hotrodmerc, great interesting JLeno link
I had already tried to eliminate any I could find beginning with S, and I think it looks a bit small for the type used by American makers like Studebaker and Stutz who both used T-Head fours at one time. The Sunbeam is out, and Sheffield Simplex used a different style of double S logo, but, by coincidence the Powerhouse Museum here in Sydney has one and by another coincidence the Model T Ford club, of which I am a member, is planning a trip there soon. I will see if I can sneak a look at the engine.
C.M.
Sorry for late post - saw it some time ago and forgot to post reply
The logo looks similar early Steyr (Austria) port. Thay and their associated daughter companies have been in the business for a long time (and still are!). Perhaps their corporate archives people may be able to help
John C
TR6 PI round the world
Sorry for late post - saw it some time ago and forgot to post reply
The logo looks similar early Steyr (Austria) port. Thay and their associated daughter companies have been in the business for a long time (and still are!). Perhaps their corporate archives people may be able to help
John C
TR6 PI round the world
Thanks John, you are right I think. The engine has since been sold, and I believe as a Steyr, but I did not get all the details. I will check at the next committee meeting and get back.
Chris M.
