30cc Over Head Valve Marine Engine by Florent Socall, MI, circa 1939
Most of the members of the Model Engineering Club in Detroit MI were machinists, tool and die makers, and engineers who worked in the automotive industry in the area. The Detroit News sponsored the club and one of the requirements was that all members must build their own boats and engines to qualify for competition.
Florent Socall designed and built this unique 30cc, 4-cycle, air-cooled over head valve engine to power his model boats. It has a cast aluminum crankcase, gear box, and head with a machined steel cylinder. It burns gasoline on spark ignition and supports an oil tank for internal lubrication; the rockers and valves must be lubricated manually before operation.
An item of interest is the photographic timer mounted to the crankcase and linked to the carburetor. Releasing a tether boat at full throttle often resulted in cavitation and no speed. Mr. Socall modified the timer to hold the throttle on idle and when he released the boat he simultaneously tripped the timer which steadily increased the throttle from idle to full throttle within 5 seconds, thus preventing the possibility of cavitation.
See More Model Boat Engines at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets/72157641089388694/
See More 1-Cylinder Engines at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/albums/72157656174064422
See Our Model Engine Collection at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets/72157602933346098/
Visit Our Photo Sets at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets
Courtesy of Paul and Paula Knapp
Miniature Engineering Museum
30cc Over Head Valve Marine Engine by Florent Socall, MI, circa 1939
Most of the members of the Model Engineering Club in Detroit MI were machinists, tool and die makers, and engineers who worked in the automotive industry in the area. The Detroit News sponsored the club and one of the requirements was that all members must build their own boats and engines to qualify for competition.
Florent Socall designed and built this unique 30cc, 4-cycle, air-cooled over head valve engine to power his model boats. It has a cast aluminum crankcase, gear box, and head with a machined steel cylinder. It burns gasoline on spark ignition and supports an oil tank for internal lubrication; the rockers and valves must be lubricated manually before operation.
An item of interest is the photographic timer mounted to the crankcase and linked to the carburetor. Releasing a tether boat at full throttle often resulted in cavitation and no speed. Mr. Socall modified the timer to hold the throttle on idle and when he released the boat he simultaneously tripped the timer which steadily increased the throttle from idle to full throttle within 5 seconds, thus preventing the possibility of cavitation.
See More Model Boat Engines at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets/72157641089388694/
See More 1-Cylinder Engines at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/albums/72157656174064422
See Our Model Engine Collection at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets/72157602933346098/
Visit Our Photo Sets at: www.flickr.com/photos/15794235@N06/sets
Courtesy of Paul and Paula Knapp
Miniature Engineering Museum