WATERLOO GAS ENGINE RESEARCH CONTINUES

SOME OF THE WATERLOO ENGINES HAVE CASTING DATES

15 JULY 08

Our hobby had an exciting announcement in 2001 when the Waterloo Gas Engine Company serial number list was discovered in the John Deere Archives and published in the November issue of Gas Engine Magazine. Finding the list was a major break-through allowing an owner to finally determine the year of production of his Waterloo engine.

Majestic is just one on the many names found on the Waterloo gas engines. Waterloo was one of the “big four” manufacturers along with Fairbanks Morse, Hercules and International. They used an ingenious and quite successful method of merchandising their product by selling thru dozens of other companies. They were unique using that method.

From the beginning of production of the Waterloo Boy engines in 1906, engines were shipped directly to their customers either from the massive Waterloo, Iowa facilities or from one of their branch warehouses located around the country. Engines would be shipped with the customer’s own personalized nameplate attached. Production at their Hedford foundry also included Associated, Galloway and some other brands The company was sold to John Deere in March of 1918 for $2.1 million. Production of the original Waterloo Boy model continued by Deere until 1921 when sales of Waterloo engines thru their 65+ customer base ceased.

From mid-1919 thru 1925, Waterloo produced the “H” gasoline and “K” kerosene models with minor mechanical changes. In 1921, production of the renowned John Deere Type “E” began and continued thru 1946.

Mr. Frank Eddy, the “Waterloo Expert”, began research on the Waterloo Gas Engine Company many years ago. Our hobby lost a great asset when Frank passed away this year. Over many years, Frank compiled a list of Waterloo customers by simply recording what he saw at the shows he attended. As the customer list grew, so did Frank’s interest in compiling a complete list of every name Waterloo’s were sold under. Many of us knew there were several names. Only Frank knew just how many.

Frank also discovered that a few of the engines had a casting date. I began working with him many years ago to find more casting dates. Dates have been seen only on the 1911 thru 1915 Waterloo engines. Dates are usually located on the sub base under the crankshaft on the side opposite the igniter and are easily viewable thru the flywheel spokes. One casting date has been found on the igniter side of the sub base as well. If you have a Waterloo or see one at a show, check it all over. There may be other locations to be discovered. Contact me if you find a new casting date and I will add it to the research.

You will note from the list that the serial number and casting date generally correspond as would be expected. My theory on casting dates is that the first sub base produced each day was given a date. All sub bases and other parts produced that day, in various HP sizes, were lined up in a field or large warehouse. Some of the parts were able to cure for a few months while others were assembled immediately to fill an order. The more thermal cycles cast iron can experience, the stronger the engine. You will note that one engine was cast and shipped in three days indicating it may have been a rush order.

WATERLOO CASTING / SHIP DATES

Manufacturing Year	Serial Number Series	Engine Serial Number	Current Owner	Engine Casting Date	Engine Ship Date

1906	4902-5279
1907	5280-6184
1908	6185-8341
1909	8342-13550
1910	13551-24145	13993	T. HARRIS		1-17-10
		20210	H. TERPSTRA		9-23-10
1911	24146-39551	26856	S. GRAY		2-11-11(SAT)
		32456		2-12-11(SUN)	. .
		37246	B. NASKE	10-17-11
1912	39592-67080	40871	P. KELLEY	4-11-12(on governor weight)
		54409	D. RAINES	28-8-12(on governor weight)
1913	67081-91672	89178	C. HANCOCK	11-11-13
		89702	G. MARTIN	11-29-13(SAT)
		90057	T. STAHL	12-16-13
		90391	B. HONEY	11-19-13
		90683	B. HONEY	1-14-14
		90717		12- 8-13
		91594	V. NEFF	11-17-13
		91658	G. TYLER	12-2-13
		94635	G. MARTIN	1-3-14
		92094	T. FORSTER	1- 8-14
		96054	R. FENLEY	12-1-13
1914	91673-113017	96648	A. CARTER	4- 2-14
		98555	D. WELTY	4-11-14(SAT)
		99146	R. MARTZ	4-22-14
		99607	R. BAUMAN	3-31-14
		99728	N. BARTHELS	4- 8-14
		100472	J. DRUMM	5- 4-14
		102664		7-14-14
		105246		6-15-14
		106395	L. DAVIS	7- 8-11
		106577	T. HARRIS	8-15-14(SAT)	8-18-14
		106936		?-15-14
		107048	G. MARTIN	1-21-14
		108183	F. EDDY	8-14-14
		108843	K. KAFKA	8-28-14
		109562		9-11-14
		109698	S. FRIZZELL	9-16-14
		111107	B. SANDERS	10-20-14
		111670	R. FENLEY	10-24-14
		112599	J. COPE	8-31-14
1915	113018-126548	113062	D. SUNSDAHL	11-30-14
		113972	G. MARTIN	11-23-15
		114714	D. BROWN	1-20-15
		115727	M. PRIDDY	1-26-15
		116922		11-11-14
		118182	F. DONOVAN	2- 2-15
		119506	A. WILKINSON	9-16-14
		122193		10-10-15(SUN)

Some dates are on the weekend indicating seven-day per week production and shipping. The ship dates on the list were also obtained from the John Deere Archivist. Since foundry furnaces would not be shut down, production continued around the clock.

Waterloo claimed production capability of 100 engines per day in the their massive facilities. Their best year was in 1912 when production averaged 75 engines per day or one every nineteen minutes working around the clock. Including the other companies they contracted with, such as Associated and Galloway, 100 per day probably was achievable. Fairbanks Morse at 200 engines per day in 1918 seems to hold the annual production record. That is at a rate of one every seven minutes.

If your Waterloo has a casting date, contact me using the information provided below.

Thanks for your support in this continuing research.