Wayne Grenning's Engine Collection
1909 --- 5 Horse Power Otto Special Electric Lighting
This engine was used to belt drive a dynamo
from the flywheel. It was originally installed in the power house of a wealthy estate in the midwestern US.
The construction of this engine was different from other Otto Engines in that it was built with a
full sub-base. Very few Otto engines left the Philadelphia factory with this option. Extra heavy duty
flywheels and a special sensitive governor were also installed. Note: When this engine is operating at
rated speed (450 RPM) and then shut down, the massive 46" flywheels will continue to rotate
the engine through compression for almost 2 minutes before coming to a rest!
1922 --- 1 1/2 HP Thermoil HVID "Diesel"
The 1 1/2 HP HVID engines are amongst the rarest made. This particular engine
was manufactured by the Cummins Engine Works in Columbus, Indiana and sold through
Sears and Roebuck Co. This was the first commercial engine they made. Cummins was not immune to the
problems the early HVID engines had and almost went bankrupt as a result.
1917 --- 2 1/2 HP HVID
(Pronounced "VEED") Thermoil Diesel
This is one of the first HVID engines to hit the market
and was sold by Sears and Roebuck in 1917. Very few of these survived
as most were ravished with catastrophic mechanical failures or returned
under warrantee. These could be fueled by any heavy distillate (kerosene to crude oil).
Later versions of the HVID engine were made much more substantial and became
reliable. Unfortunately this happened at about the same time as their obsolessense.
The last HVID engines were made about 1929
1910 --- Fairbanks Morse 2 HP Type "T"
This Electric Lighting engine was outfitted on a factory base with 0.9 KW
32 Volt DC Dynamo. This engine is of the throttling governor type and incorporates extra heavy
flywheels, direct drive to the dynamo, enclosed crankcase, centrifugal water pump, dual fuel (kero or gas),
heavy duty lubrication system and a make and break ignition. An engine this size was most likely used
for the electrical needs of a small farm or building.
This photo was taken almost 20 years ago when Yours Truly was in high school repairing lawnmowers
to make enough money to support the very addicting old iron habit.
Other engines in our collection (photos will be posted in the future)
1) 2 1/2 HP Flutted Hopper Aeromotor w/webster magneto
2) 4 HP Bulldog w/ webster magneto
3) 3 HP Ottawa
4) 1 1/2 Domestic SS w/Wico ignitor