| Author |
Message |
    
petoskey
Member
Username: petoskey
Post Number: 5
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 07:17 pm: | 
|
Hello Thought I would show you my other marine engine while I try to decide what to do with the Roberts I have had this engine for about 8 years. Nice little engine.
I crew up in Petoskey in the summers with my grandpa and grandma that is why I like the engine.
The only history I can find on it is that it was made about 1909 hope you like it Lyle
 |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1926
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 08:20 pm: |
|
*
Lyle
I appreciate the photos of this engine, The Name Petoskey is in my data base with the notes That Phillip Middleditch was the proprietor from 1907-09, he could have been there before and after that time but was known to be there in those years ?
That is a "P" in front of Middleditch on the tag ??
* |
petoskey
Member
Username: petoskey
Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 07:54 pm: |
|
Hello Yes it is a P . Here is a poor copy of the Emmet County Business Directory of 1909-1910 the next year Philip was not listed as Propr. Some ware I found a paper story that he went to Detroit to work for a relative and I can’t find it now and don’t remember the name of the relative
This picture I found in the Library in Petoskey the also had a number of boat builders on Walloon Lake. My mom lived on Walloon so I know a little about it have post cards with Picture to steam and gas engine boats on the lake.
  |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1936
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 08:10 pm: |
|
*
Lyle
Thats a great post, hard to get much information on this eng maker! Knowing for sure that it was Phillip Middleditch leads me to wonder if a well known boat designer/ engine maker etc by the name of Benjamin Middleditch in Detroit may have been his relative ??
* |
petoskey
Member
Username: petoskey
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2008 - 08:31 pm: |
|
I wish I new hard to find anything out, they have a lot of old papers in the library just the time to look Petoskey has a museum but then again the time to look don't get up there like I use to the engine looks just like a Detroit I have had people come up to me a say they wonder what there engine was it is a Petoskey, I ask if it has a tag no then tell them it maybe a Detroit. Would anyone out there have a muffler for a 3 HP need one for the engine Thanks |
johnny
Senior Member
Username: johnny
Post Number: 562
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 - 07:16 pm: |
|
I have did research on the Middleditch brothers, if you go to my website "Detroit Engine Works" and click on the history page then go down about half way you will find a section on Ben & Phillip Middleditch. Here is a small section from my history page.
Benjamin Middleditch was born in 1859 in Amherstburg, Ontario Canada. Ben and his British born wife, Lucy H. Middleditch moved to Detroit in 1880 and started their own general machine shop business. Ben Middleditch became very popular in Detroit as a engineer and manufacturer of machinery and engines. He also bought and sold real estate on the side and made a substantial sum of money doing so. Ben and Lucy Middleditch had two son's who were well educated with college degrees and also attended the military. Lieutenant George O. Middleditch born in Detroit, Michigan on November 20, 1894. George was a pilot for the Royal Flying Corps 44th training Squadron. One day while testing a new plane something went wrong and the plane did a nose dive and crashed. Lieutenant George O. Middleditch died on March 12, 1918. The second son, Leigh B. Middleditch was a second Lieutenant in the field Artillery and was killed in a air battle over the trenches in France.
Phillip Middleditch (Older brother of Benjamin Middleditch) was born in Amherstburg, Canada in 1856. Phillip was the proprietor of a company Petoskey Iron Works located at 315 State Street Petoskey, Michigan. City directories show PIW in the Petoskey area around the 1906-1910 time period. PIW's sold marine engines that looked very close to the marine engines that Detroit Engine Works produced. Benjamin Middleditch helped his older brother design and manufacture the company's first engines. This was a very small company that was only in business for a few years. PIW was also a sales agent for the Alamo Engine Co. The Petoskey Iron Works business was sold around the 1911 time period and the manufacturing of the Petoskey two cycle marine engines ceased. New owners continued in business as a repair shop and agent for Alamo engines. Phillip Middleditch died in 1914.
http://www.antiquengines.com/Detroit_Engine_Works_Menu.htm |
