Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company
The Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been manufacturing internal combustion engines since 1909. In its early years Wisconsin made a full range of engines for automobiles, trucks, heavy construction machines, and maritime use. After 1930 it focused on small air-cooled engines widely used in agriculture and construction machines.
Wisconsin Engines (previously, Wisconsin Motors) continues to manufacture high quality engines.
History
- March 12, 1909 Wisconsin Motor was incorporated by Charles H. John and Arthur F. Milbrath. By 1912 they employed about 300 people.
- 1937 Wisconsin Motor merged with Continental Motors Company but retained a separate identity.[1]
- 1940 V series V4 engines introduced
- 1965 Ryan Aeronautical bought 50 per cent of Continental Motors Corporation[2]
- 1969 Teledyne Technologies bought Continental Motors Corporation
- 1971 Fuji Heavy Industries, owner of Subaru, appointed Teledyne Wisconsin Motor US agents for their Robin engines
- 1992 Teledyne Total Power sold out to Nesco Incorporated[3]
- 2010 Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture[4]
- September 30, 2017 Subaru Corporation ended production of small engines.[5]
Products
Small air-cooled engines
Wisconsin's fame came from its small air-cooled engines, such as AEH (used on generators, garden tractors, skidsteers tractors), AEN, and VF4.[1] In the 1950s they were able to claim they were the world's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty air-cooled engines. All Wisconsin's products were 4-cycle and they had power outputs from 2.4 to 65.9 horsepower (2 to 49 kW). There were single, inline two, V-two, and V-four cylinder models. The engines were designed for outdoor field service in industries including agriculture, construction, marine, oil-field equipment and railway maintenance.[6] There are a wide range of variations in each engine family, including displacement, vertical and horizontal crankshafts, power ratings, and fuel used. Fuels can be gasoline, heating oil, kerosene, LPG, and CNG.
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Howard Gem Rotavator with Wisconsin THD engine
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Wisconsin auxiliary on a White M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
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Snapper Mower with Wisconsin W1-185 engine
Model | Type | Power | Displacement | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A1+1⁄2 | single | 2.4 hp (2 kW) | 28 cu in (0.5 L) | 1930-1934 | |
AA | single | 2.4 hp (2 kW) | 10.9 cu in (0.2 L) | ||
AB | single | 13.5 cu in (0.2 L) | |||
ABD | single | ||||
ABS | single | 13.5 cu in (0.2 L) | |||
ABSD | single | ||||
ABN | single | 13.5 cu in (0.2 L) | |||
ABND | single | ||||
AK | single | 17.8 cu in (0.3 L) | |||
AKD | single | ||||
AKS | single | 17.8 cu in (0.3 L) | |||
AKSD | single | ||||
AKN | single | 17.8 cu in (0.3 L) | |||
AKND | single | ||||
A3 | single | 5 hp (4 kW) | 40 cu in (0.7 L) | 1930-1934 | |
A5 | single | 6 hp (4 kW) | 44 cu in (0.7 L) | 1930-1934 | |
AGND[7] | single | 12.5 hp (9 kW) | 38.5 cu in (0.6 L) | 1957-1991 | |
TE[7] | I2 | 18 hp (13 kW) | 45.9 cu in (0.8 L) | ||
TF[7] | I2 | 18 hp (13 kW) | 53.9 cu in (0.9 L) | ||
TH[7] | I2 | 18 hp (13 kW) | 53.9 cu in (0.9 L) | ||
THD[7] | I2 | 18 hp (13 kW) | 53.9 cu in (0.9 L) | 1957-1976+ | generator |
TJD[7] | I2 | 18 hp (13 kW) | 53.9 cu in (0.9 L) | ||
VE4[8] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 91.9 cu in (1.5 L) | ||
VE4D (Military Version)[9] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 91.9 cu in (1.5 L) | ||
MVE4D (Military Version)[10] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 91.9 cu in (1.5 L) | ||
VF4[11] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | ||
VF4D (Military Version)[12] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | ||
MVF4D (Military Version)[13] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | ||
MVG4D (Military Version)[14] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 148.5 cu in (2.4 L) | ||
VH4[15] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | ||
VH4D[16] | V4 | 30 hp (22 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | 70's Case\Bobcat skid-steer, pump | |
MVH4D (Military Version)[17] | V4 | 0 hp (0 kW) | 107.7 cu in (1.8 L) | ||
S-7D[18] | Single | 0 hp (0 kW) | 18.6 cu in (0.3 L) | ||
S-8D[19] | Single | 0 hp (0 kW) | 20.2 cu in (0.3 L) | ||
S-14D[20] | single | 14.1 hp (11 kW) | 33.1 cu in (0.5 L) | 1968- | yard tractor |
W2-1250 | V2 | 30 hp (22 kW) | 75 cu in (1.2 L) | ||
V465D[21] | V4 | 65.9 hp (49 kW) | 177 cu in (2.9 L) | air comp., trencher, swather | |
W1-080 | single | ||||
W1-125 | single | Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. | |||
W1-145 | single | 4 hp (3 kW) | 197?-198? | Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. | |
W1-185 | single | 5 hp (4 kW) | 197?-199? | Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. | |
W1-390v | single | 7.5 hp (6 kW) | Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. | ||
W1-450v | single | 10 hp (7 kW) | early 1990's | Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. | |
W1-588 | single |
Engines for cars and trucks
New automobile companies bought them for their big cars. The Stutz Bearcat car was available with either Wisconsin's four-cylinder Type A or their six-cylinder engine. Both engines were rated at 60 horsepower. Stutz began to build their own engines in 1917. Pierce-Arrow was among other customers for Wisconsin engines. Wisconsin engines also powered the trucks made by The FWD Corporation.[1] Between 1945 and 1965 King Midget Cars used a Wisconsin AENL single cylinder engine in their micro car.
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1914 Stutz Bearcat
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1917 Pierce-Arrow 48
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FWD military truck WWI
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1917 Type A
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King Midget micro car
Model | Type | Displacement | Power | Years | Used in |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type A | Inline 4 | 389 cu in (6.4 L) | 36 hp (27 kW) | 1912-1919 | FWD Model B 3-5-ton 4x4 trucks |
Engines for construction equipment
Their four and six cylinder engines were used in heavy construction equipment including Bucyrus-Erie and Marion drag-lines and shovels.
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Bucyrus Erie 1917 dragline and 1929 stripping shovel
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1930 shunting locomotive for Finnish Railway
References
- ^ a b c Belt Pulley Magazine, September/October 2004. Accessed online September 16, 2018
- ^ Leyes, Richard A., and William A. Fleming, The History of *North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1999: p.143 ISBN 1-56347-332-1
- ^ Automobile Quarterly, Volume 40, Issue 1, Page 97. 2000
- ^ "Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. October 13, 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "Small Engines Pumps Generators | Subaru".
- ^ Wisconsin Motor Corporation. New York Herald Tribune (European Edition) (Paris, France), Monday, Feb. 4, 1952
- ^ a b c d e f Wisconsin on the Move (sales brocure) (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1969. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VE4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VE4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model MVE4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VF4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VF4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model MVF4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model MVG4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VH4 Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model VH4D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1993. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ Wisconsin Model MVH4D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model S-7D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Model S-8D Repair Manual. Wisconsin Motors.
- ^ Wisconsin Models S-10D, S-12D, S-14D Instruction and Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors LLC. 1993. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ Wisconsin Models 465D, V460D, V461D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 2002. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- 70th Anniversary 1909-1979 Teledyne Wisconsin Motor (PDF). Teledyne Wisconsin Motor. 1979. Retrieved 2020-10-15.