Help identifying old 2 cylinder motor - Johnson Motor Co. - Model 0 -

[JJK78-951]

Good evening everyone,

I bought a few old motors a few weeks ago and am having a hard time finding information on one of them. 2 were old single cylinder hit-miss motors made around 1915, but this last one I am unsure of.

It is a 2 cylinder motor and the only identifying marks I can find on it are on the carburetor and simply says "Johnson Motor Co., South Bend, Ind. Model 0" as you can see in the picture. To the left of that there is a Patent number stamp but I cant make it out. I have researched Johnson Motor Co. some and found that the Johnson brothers started making motors in the early 1900's but most of the information I have found otherwise is about the Johnson outboard motors starting around 1922. Most of those are stamped so I don't even know if this is a Johnson motor or not, or if someone just pulled the carb of a Johnson. Either way I thought it was pretty cool so I had to have it!

It has a little wooden stand, is about 12 inches tall and weighs around 30 pounds or so. Has Champion spark plugs with screw on connectors for the leads and all hardware are just flathead screws.

Any information/help would be appreciated!!
THANKS!
J

[herr_oberst]

Don't know what it is, but it is really cool. Good snag. Simpler times...

I assume those two "j" shaped tubes at the top and bottom of the cylinders are for lake water?

[JJK78-951]

Yeah I love old stuff! Not sure what those J pipes are for but if it is an early outboard that is definitely an option.

I'd love to get it running again as it turns over freely and even sounds like it has a bit of compression still, just gotta figure out what it is!

Thanks!
J

[wdfifteen]

I don't see a governor so I assume it's a marine or automobile engine. Johnson was a manufacturer of boat engines and it seems logical that this is associated with them. I love this kind of industrial archaeology, do it all the time. I'll see what I can come up with.

[on2wheels52]

" is about 12 inches tall and weighs around 30 pounds or so"

So it is much smaller than I was thinking it was. It is not an impulse(?) motor, correct? I'm really on the fringe of these kind of things, have seen a few running. Hope you can get it going.
Jim

[JJK78-951]

Thanks for the responses! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

So it is much smaller than I was thinking it was. It is not an impulse(?) motor, correct? I'm really on the fringe of these kind of things, have seen a few running. Hope you can get it going.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I'm not familiar with impulse motors but based on a quick google search I assume you are not talking about electric motors.


I think i'll take it off the stand and see if I can find anything on the bottom tomorrow~

Thanks!
J

[wdfifteen]

^^
what is an "impulse" motor?

[cashflyer]

Have you tried asking here: The Antique Outboard Motor Club Website - AOMCI.org

[herr_oberst]

Found this carb on this site -looks similar:

But it's identified as an A- 25... The mystery deepens!

Johnson Outboards - The Early Years

[intakexhaust]

Hope he's still around but give a call to the owner, Dick... insist and don't talk to anyone else at this company. Eccentric but extremely knowledgeable and I'll just leave it to that.
Dick's Marine in Fox Lake, IL - Marine Equipment & Supplies: Yellow Pages Directory Inc.

(ps. I'll have to post a pic of a 1/4 of a Model T eng. apparently used in a marine application. In my bros. shop. Identical -T- timing gear, rod, piston, valves, etc.. Crankcase is cast identical looking to the four cyl. but of course is just a one cylinder. Have never seen anything like it or in Ford archives.)

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

(ps. I'll have to post a pic of a 1/4 of a Model T eng. apparently used in a marine application. In my bros. shop. Identical -T- timing gear, rod, piston, valves, etc.. Crankcase is cast identical looking to the four cyl. but of course is just a one cylinder. Have never seen anything like it or in Ford archives.)

That sounds like an Easthope engine. The Easthope brothers got their start by doing just this.

[on2wheels52]

The term I should have used was hit and miss engine. Different than what h_o is dealing with. I'm not sure what hat I pulled impulse out of.
Jim

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

That sounds like an Easthope engine. The Easthope brothers got their start by doing just this.

Thanks and good thinking. Any good sight that may show it? The casting is remarkably just as if it was a single cyl. of the 'T' motor. The internal components are Ford - uses a T rod, piston, valve's. Not sure of the timer.

(sorry- Hope not to derail the curiosity of the Johnson -O-)

[JJK78-951]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Have you tried asking here: The Antique Outboard Motor Club Website - AOMCI.org

THANKS! I'll check it out!

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Found this carb on this site -looks similar:

But it's identified as an A- 25... The mystery deepens!

Johnson Outboards - The Early Years

EDITED:
Deepens indeed! Yeah that definitely looks like it, and the picture does show model 0 on it! Who knows, at this point the carb is my only lead though as it has no other markings :/ Looks like it is time to research the A-25!
Thanks!

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Hope he's still around but give a call to the owner, Dick... insist and don't talk to anyone else at this company. Eccentric but extremely knowledgeable and I'll just leave it to that.
Dick's Marine in Fox Lake, IL - Marine Equipment & Supplies: Yellow Pages Directory Inc.

(ps. I'll have to post a pic of a 1/4 of a Model T eng. apparently used in a marine application. In my bros. shop. Identical -T- timing gear, rod, piston, valves, etc.. Crankcase is cast identical looking to the four cyl. but of course is just a one cylinder. Have never seen anything like it or in Ford archives.)

Thank you, Hopefully the website cashflyer suggested nets some results, if not i'll give him a call!


I definitely appreciate all the responses. I got home tonight and took the motor off of the stand but unfortunately nothing new to report

I searched it high and low and the only markings are on the carb, that's it. Here are a few more pictures to keep things interesting~

Thanks!!
J

[EarlyPorsche]

The smokestak forum should be your go-to for those.

[unclebilly]

That is not an Easthope engine as I suspected it may have been.

[GWN7]

Is there a rope sheave on the flywheel? No gas tank. Is there provisions for a tank to be mounted? Inlet line to the carb? You said Champion plugs? What model?

Those types of carbs only work in the orientation shown, so that motor was designed (or adapted ) to work like it is on the stand. It appears to have a handle between the cylinders. So I'm thinking as a drive engine for a pump not as a outboard engine.

I have a J25 1.5 hp

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Is there a rope sheave on the flywheel? No gas tank. Is there provisions for a tank to be mounted? Inlet line to the carb? You said Champion plugs? What model?

Those types of carbs only work in the orientation shown, so that motor was designed (or adapted ) to work like it is on the stand. It appears to have a handle between the cylinders. So I'm thing as a drive engine for a pump not as a outboard engine.

I have a J25 1.5 hp

Guessing from the looks and age, carb configuration seems like an inboard that would mount to the keel/ keelson. But then again, surely would be a little engine for that application. A stationary powerplant normally would have a crankcase casting with a heavier or more structured mounting boss for flat surfaces.

I see that the A25 was a mid 1920's but opposed twin (Light Twin and Waterbug models), whereas the mystery motor is not.

[intakexhaust]

Is that some sort of reducer on the shaft end? Looks like it reduces to a very small diameter. Added later? If so, curious why and what was it used for?

[GWN7]

The cylinders on the twins are generally a lot further apart. That's why I'm leaning to something converted to a pump.