History of the Universal Motor Company – 2
Universal Rules the Waves
In 1926 Mr. Termaat resigned, and Horner Fahrney became president. Under his direction the Universal product line was expanded and a 4 cylinder, 149.3 cu in, 37 kW / 50 hp @ 3,000 rpm marine engine called the Super Four 4 cylinder inline - Model LSG (6 volt generator) / LSGR (2.28:1 reduction gear, left hand propeller rotation) LSGM (magneto?) / LSGMR (magneto?, reduction gear) was introduced. It was advertised as "a great model for cruisers, runabouts, fishing boats" and was available with or without a "Universal built-in reduction drive". The Super Four was still in production in 1948. Starting in 1928 it was fitted with 2 carburetors, which increased power output to 55 hp.
Universal Super Four
Universal Super Four bottom view - note: external oil lines, Atomic Four style oil filter, & centre main bearing
In 1928 the Universal Motor Company's first 6 cylinder engine was introduced. Designated the Victory Six (model designation VH) it had a displacement of 260 cu. in. and was fitted with Stromberg 0-3 carburetors (discontinued in the late 1930s). The Victory Six produced 70 hp at 3,000 rpm. It was only manufactured in 1928, and then discontinued.
Victory
Six and one of its Stromberg carburetors
(from the collection of
Jan-Erik Bothén, Sweden)
1928 Wright Business Directory advertisement
The original plant on Ceape St. in Oshkosh was increased in size 3 times over the years, until in 1927 the company’s 1552 Harrison St. plant was constructed. The Harrison St. plant had a floor area of 66,000 sq ft and employed 250 staff. It was equipped with the latest machine tools, as well as 2 Sprague electric dynomometers. Their 1947 address was displayed in Universal advertisements as 317 Universal Drive, Oshkosh, which may have been a separate advertising or sales office.
Universal Motor Company, 1928, 66,000 square feet / 250 employees, the largest marine engine plant in the world at the time
Universal lighting plants were fitted in the ship used by US Navy Admiral Richard Byrd on his first expedition to the Antarctic in 1929, and in the US Navy dirigibles Akron (built in 1931 crashed in 1933) and Macon (built in 1933 crashed in 1934).
Universal 2 cylinder generator
Universal
Type N engine set up as a water pump
thanks
to Hugh Durgin for photos of his engine (
soilscientist@myfairpoint.net
)
In 19?? the Fisherman (Model WM / WMG / WMGR) 1 cylinder / 67.6 cu in / 8 hp @ 1,200 rpm was introduced. This engine was fitted with a splash lubrication system, and a "Cuno Timer" ignition. The Cuno Timer was an aftermarket contact breaker / condenser ignition module which was fitted by several engine manufacturers instead of magneto ignition. The Fisherman was still listed in the 1940 catalogue, and is listed in other sources in 1948.
Universal Fisherman
In 1930 the Blue Jacket 4 - Model ?? was introduced.
In 1933 the Blue Jacket 4 was redesigned and renamed the Model FA (direct drive) / FAR (reduction drive).
Universal Bluejacket Four
Also in 1933 the Blue Jacket line was expanded with the addition of the Blue Jacket Twin, a 2 cylinder inline, 10 hp @ 2,000 rpm, 49.5 cu in / 12 hp - Model AFT (magneto) / AFTL (6 volt generator), and a 6 cylinder model called the Blue Jacket Six, 6 cylinder inline L head 60 hp - Model AMS (direct drive) / AMSR (reduction drive).
Universal Bluejacket Six
Later a redesigned Blue Jacket Twin with 12 hp was introduced. It was the same 49.5 cu in engine upgraded to 12 hp, with the same model numbers (AFT / AFTL) as the earlier 10 hp version.
Universal Blue Jacket Twin
A new 4 cylinder engine called the Blue Jacket Racer - Model AD (direct drive), 99 cu in, 52 hp @ 4,500 rpm, was still in production in 1940
Universal
Bluejacket Racer Model AD
(thank you to Gary - advertiser on
www.oldmarineengine.com)
A larger Blue Jacket Racer (Model BR), 129.9 cu in, 75 hp @ 4,500 rpm was built around the same time. All Blue Jacket engines except the Model AD were still in production in 1947.
Universal Bluejacket Racer (4 cylinder, 75 hp)
In 1933 another 4 cylinder engine called the Utility Four (Model BN - 6 volt generator / BNM - magneto / BNR - 6 volt generator, left hand propeller rotation / BNMR - magneto, left-hand propeller rotation) was introduced. The Utility Four was a 4 cylinder inline / 95 cu in model which developed 25 hp @ 2,500 rpm, and was designed for "cruisers, runabouts, and auxiliaries up to 45 feet". In 1939 a new "shortened" version of the Utility Four was introduced at a cost of $US333. 2,700 Utility Fours were built between 1933 and 1940. The marine reversing gear fitted to this engine was a Joes Gears, manufactured by the Snow & Petrelli Manufacturing Company in New Haven, Connecticut. The Utility Four was advertised at the 1940 New York Boat Show as having been used as the auxiliary engine in the 36 foot yawl Iris on a voyage from New York to Naples and return in the summer of 1939. 12,000 Utility Four engines were purchased by the US navy and other countries from 1943 to 1950 for use in lifeboats. The Utility Four was used extensively all over the world during World War 2 to power lifeboats for the ships, barges, and tankers of many navies and merchant marine fleets.
Universal Utility Four
Lifeboat fitted with Universal Utility Four
Lifeboat Universal Utility Four (from the collection of Mary & Doug Brandenburg, Lincoln City, Oregon, USA)
Universal Utility Four (from the collection of Martin van der Meulen, Netherlands)
Universal Utility Four running on test bench
In 1935 Horner Fahrney died, and Ralph G. Kleiforth, who had been General Manager since 1933, purchased the company.
In 19?? the Super 8 model brought out in 1927 was discontinued.
A Universal engine was fitted to drive the generator on the ship used by the British-Canadian Arctic Expedition during their expedition to the north magnetic pole in 1936. (Between 1936 and 1940, the British-Canadian Arctic Expedition completed most of the geographical investigation of Foxe Basin in what is now Nunavut.)
The Cruiser Eight 8-347, (Model GCE / GCER), 8 cylinder 347 cu in, 110 hp (later 125 hp) @ 3,000 rpm was introduced in 1931, and produced at least until 1936.
The Cruiser Six (Model HCS / HCSR), 6 cylinder 260 cu in, 90 hp @ 3,000 rpm, reduction gear optional, was in production by 1937. It was listed in the 1939 catalogue at a price of $US745, the same year it and the Cruiser Eight were first available with an optional new "double ignition system".
Universal Cruiser Six
In 19?? the first Flexifour (Model FAM / FA / FAMR / FAR), 40 hp @ 3,500 rpm 4 cylinder engine was introduced. The Flexifour was still listed in the 1945 catalogue. Later versions of the original Flexifour were smaller and lighter than the original design.
Universal Flexifour ad
Universal
Flexifour
(used with permission of Ernie Darrow -
www.erniesengines.com &
www.oldmarineengine.com)
In 1939 the
Universal Retractable Drive was introduced. It was a retractable
lower unit similar to an outboard lower unit mounted on a geared
lifting rack which allowed it to be retracted vertically up into the
hull, and was designed to allow fishing boats to pass over seine nets
without fouling them on the propeller.
All 1939 Universal engines were painted Universal green. In that year "aluminum equipment offering a third reduction in weight", fuel oil/kerosene models of the Fisherman and Utility Four, and all-brass carburetors were options. Opposite rotation engines were available at no extra cost when purchased in pairs (for twin engine boats).
The Economy Four (Model ECO / ECOL), 25 hp @ 2,500 rpm was listed in the 1940 catalogue. Similar to the Utility Four in size, it was based on the Utility Four, but was lighter and cheaper because it was not fitted with a marine reverse gear or an electric starter.
Universal Economy Four
The All American Six (Model AMS / AMSR), 6 cylinder 148.5 cu in, 60 hp @ 3,500 rpm was listed in the 1940 catalogue, and was produced until at least 1951.
The Sea Lion Six 6-260, (Model LHS / LHSR), 6 cylinder 260 cu in (Packard, Chrysler, Buick ?), 110 hp @ 3,400 rpm was introduced in 1940. This engine was based on the Cruiser Six, but was fitted with a larger manifold and carburetor that produced an extra 20 hp and 400 rpm.
Sea Lion Six
The Sea Lion Eight, (Model LCE / LCER), 8 cylinder 347 cu in, 141 hp @ 3,400 rpm was introduced in 1940. This engine was based on the Cruiser Eight, but was fitted with a larger manifold and twin carburettors to produce an extra 16 hp and 400 rpm.
Universal Sea Lion Eight
Several Universal models were adapted for use by the US government during World War 2 and used to power on-board marine water distilleries which converted salt water into fresh drinking water, and to power pumps for loading and unloading barges holding high-octane aviation fuel. Universal engines were supplied to the Mexican, Russian, and Cuban navies as well as to the US army and navy.
The Model M3000-MS, a 2 cylinder marine lighting plant based on the Bluejacket Twin, was listed in the 1947 catalogue
The Model M?000-M, 4 cylinder marine lighting plant, was listed in the 1947 catalogue.
The Model 15000, 20000, and 25000 Watt (HCS-IND), AMS, 12500W (AFS-IND), BFA, 6000W, 9000W 6 cylinder lighting plants were listed in the 1947 catalogue.
Universal Motor Company advertisements in Rudder magazine circa 1947 proclaimed that "Universal Sales and Service are Everywhere - Coast to Coast... and Around the World", "Above All - Dependable", "World’s Largest Builders of 100% Marine Motors", and "Universal 100% Marine Motors".
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