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| Grand Rapids Launch and Engine Company |
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Message |
    
miro
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 09:13 pm: | 
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This boat was shown this past week at the ACBS Toronto Chapter presentation at the Toronto International Boat Show - during the worst possible winter weather - but I went anyway - ahhhh - those warm summer days, putting along in an old wooden boat . . . .
I especially like the reversing prop
Miro
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Steve OBrien
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 01:37 am: |
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Crikey, there doesnt seem to be much holding the boat together! |
miro
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 05:44 am: |
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The boat is the usual lapstrake and steamed rib construction resulting in a very round chine. The unusual feature is that the floor boards and the ceiling are directly on top of the ribs. You'll note the bulkhead goes up further than most. It is bolted to the hull in 6 places. I lifted the bottom boats to see underneath.
I suspect that this boat was a leaky boat because there isn't much to absorb the vibration of the engine and over a couple of seasons of running the fasteners would be loosened - I've seen that with other lightly built boats.
The sign indicated that the boat and the engine were from 1903 - relatively early. If you look at boats about 10 years later, you'll find much beefier construction for the engine mountings.
miro |
Scott Peters
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 11:46 am: |
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Drool, drool!
Here is a bit about the manufacturer--I don't know much else about him other than he made a lot of box manufacturing equipment and briefly ventured into bicycle hubs.
Grand Rapids Gas Engine and Yacht Company
As perhaps the personal private interest of industrialist Willis J. Perkins, the Grand Rapids Gas Engine and Yacht Company of Grand Rapids was a firm directly linked to Perkins & Company. The two firms shared a building with this firm at 70-132 N. Front, later changed to 60-122 N. Front. The company primarily made gas and gasoline engines for stationary, electric lighting and marine purposes, and also produced pleasure launches as a specialty.
Grand Rapids Gas Engine and Yacht Co.�s �Monarch� engines, advertised with their lion�s head trademark logo, became a popular engine in early powered small craft.
The company was first mentioned in 1895 and lasted until ____. Willis J. Perkins lived across the street from the plant at 95 N. Front, and the company�s office was at 96 N. Front.
Like other Grand Rapids gasoline engine manufacturers of the mid-to-late 1890s such as Monitor Vapor Engine and Power Company and Sintz Gas Engine Company, the Grand Rapids Gas Engine and Yacht Company saw the potential for using boats as test beds for the gasoline engines of the era.
Sources:
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1895-96 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1895.) pp. 850, 1731.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1897 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1897.) pp. 856, 1722.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1901 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1901.) pp. 890, 1780.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1903-1904 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1903.) pp. 906, 1810.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1905-06 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1905.) pp. 1155, 973.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1907-1908 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1907.) pp. 1041, 2330.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1909-1910 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1909.) pp. 935, 2318.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1911-1912 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1911.) pp. 917, 2167. |
sinbad
New member
Username: sinbad
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 06:14 am: |
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Calling Scott Peters. I have a Sintz gas engine built in Grand Rapids. It would not require much to get it running. Do you have information, literature or suggestions that may help. I have more photos ?  |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 813
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 05:22 pm: |
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Sinbad
Very interesting engine, do you have a close up photo of the name tag, and one of the front of the flywheel ?? Thanks Richard |
scott_peters
Member
Username: scott_peters
Post Number: 4
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 08:32 pm: |
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Greetings Sinbad,
I don't have any Sintz literature, but you might want to check the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, or possibly the Detroit Public Library/Burton Historical Collections or National Automotive History Collection. Sintz merged with Michigan Yacht & Power Co. in Detroit after moving there.
Good luck!
Scott |
shaynesintz
New member
Username: shaynesintz
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 11:47 am: |
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I stumbled upon an article after my grandmother's death on my Dad's side of the family about the Sintz engine co (and some patent issue associated with the Sintz design). Does anyone have any more information regarding the Sintz Engine Co and it's history/acheivements? I do believe there were are VERY limited number of Sintz's in the country at the time (I'm the last one - time to have kids!), but would like to confirm direct heritage or not. Any direction would be appreciated. Also: Any interest in parting with the Sintz engine from above? I'm very mechanically inclined and would love to get it running. |
solarrog
Senior Member
Username: solarrog
Post Number: 254
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 11:53 am: |
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I have also heard of the Sintz propeller.
I have a variable pitch Sintz prop on a C14 Waterman outboard. very interesting in deed |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1509
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 02, 2007 - 05:53 pm: |
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*
Shayne
Write down all of the family names on the sintz side as far back as you can go. open this site and fill in the info -- let us know what you find ?
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Clark The inventor of the Sintz engine and the make and break ignition of which he failed to patent, and his two sons Claude and Guy all were involved in marine engines and different Companies .
http://www.ancestry.com/?o_xid=22775&o_lid=22775&o_xt=22775 |
sinbad
Member
Username: sinbad
Post Number: 26
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 12:57 am: |
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Hello Shayne
I still have this engine (painted red, above) and it could be made available . It is in exceptionally good original condition for its age (Within a year or so of 114) and would only require a repair to the waterpump/ignition tripper brass casting, some electrics to produce a spark and adjustments to the oilers. It turns over and has compression.
From the little information I can can gather the only other confirmed Sintz motor to be found is exhibited in the Penobscot Maritime Museum at Maine, US. It appears to be a smaller and possibly slightly younger model. than to one above which is 1.6 litres swept volume.
I believe that it would have been imported into New Zealand before the First World War as standard equipment in a Grand Rapids Gas Engine and Yacht Company boat for the personal use by the principals of an Auckland company, Campbell Motors, who imported Willys vehicles and others. It would most likely have been removed from the boat at some time, perhaps for re-motoring with a more modern engine and left for 80 to 100 years in a corner of the workshop under a canvas cover !!
Dennis Hart (Sinbad)} |
shaynesintz
New member
Username: shaynesintz
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 12:23 pm: |
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Dennis:
Thanks for the response. At the moment, I'm unable to make any sort of offer (paying for a wedding at the moment), but remain interested. Any offer would likely come next year. Please let me know if you receive any offers in the meantime and I'll be in touch.
Warm Regards,
Shayne Sintz |
sinbad
Member
Username: sinbad
Post Number: 27
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 05:01 pm: |
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Will do Shayne. If you hear of any other Sintz motors of this ilk that exist please let me know as I require electrical, plumbing and lubrication details.
Many thanks. |
johnny
Senior Member
Username: johnny
Post Number: 113
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 08:28 am: |
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Richard,
Here is the link to where we discussed this engine once before on this forum and there are some more photos and also the patent for this engine. I believe the ignition may have been covered under the engine patent.
p://www.oldmarineengine.com/discus/messages/3454/7598.html#POST18178 |
johnny
Senior Member
Username: johnny
Post Number: 122
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 02:28 pm: |
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Here is some more info on Sintz Engines and others. A few books written by author Michael M. Dixon. Read the preface below the table of contents in the first link.
http://www.mervuepublications.com/motormen.htm
http://www.mervuepublications.com/index.htm |
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