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| "ECLIPSE" motor company, traverse cit... |
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jboogie
New member
Username: jboogie
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 09:11 pm: | 
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hello all,
i'm new here. i'm a 26 yr. old from ohio who has the old iron bug BAD. anyways......
my dad drug home an old wood hulled gas powered launch with a traverse city eclipse marine engine in it. we are curious if there are many/any other eclipse engines out there. we've never seen one and have been told by a few people that it may be THE only one. we'd also like to know if they were actually built by this company or perhaps farmed out and just re-tagged. i know 100 yrs ago just about any town big enough to have a foundry and machine shop was turning out some type of engine, steam or gas. see photos attached. |
john_archibald
Senior Member
Username: john_archibald
Post Number: 73
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 09:28 pm: |
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Do you have any images of the whole boat?
I'm sure others will answer your Eclipse questions shortly.
Archibald
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jboogie
New member
Username: jboogie
Post Number: 2
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 11:22 am: |
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here are some more pictures.   |
john_archibald
Senior Member
Username: john_archibald
Post Number: 74
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 08:02 pm: |
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The boat is a beauty!
Archibald
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richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1770
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 08:02 pm: |
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Jason- cool Old Marine Engine & boat - thanks for the photos.
This is from memory- my data base is temporarily
not speakng to me ?!
Eclipse is an old marine engine mfgr that was established about 1900 in Mancelona, Michigan and founded under the name "Eclipse Motor & Boat Company", in 1903 the name changed to "Eclipse Motor Company" these early engines had a square crankcase much like a stationary eng.
In 1905 a Mathews Boat was made with an Eclipse engine in it and shipped to the Czar of Russia.
in 1906-7 the crankcase design changed to the conventional design like your eng above and the headless cylinder- the twin and multis were enbloc design.
about 1909 the Company was taken into the Traverse City Iron Works and moved to that Michigan city-- There was also a Traverse City Boat Company That used the Eclipse engines. although the engines were mfgrd for several yrs up to 1913 or so that I know of, Traverse city advertising was minimal if any at all.
I have seen a few of the older style engines and there is most probably some of the later ones around but untill yours all the rest have no tags and no one knows what they are !!
when my Database forgives me for pushing a wrong key (or two)- i'll post some photos and ads !
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Peters
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 12:23 pm: |
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Hi Jason,
Here are a couple of news items on Eclipse:
Eclipse Motor Company
Engine Making Mancelona Famous
The Eclipse Motor Company of Mancelona has received an order from one of the largest boat builders in North Wales, for one of its marine engines. The late General Lew Wallace, author of “Ben Hur,” had an Eclipse engine installed in his boat. Mancelona is being made famous by reason of her gasoline engines.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 3, No. 24, March 18, 1905. p. 10.
The Eclipse Motor Works, of Mancelona, reports the best business for the month of May in the history of the plant. More engines have been shipped so far this year by fully 50 per cent than for any similar period. It is one of the growing industries of the village.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 6, No. 36, June 13, 1908. p. 19.
Scott M. Peters
Michigan Historical Museum |
Peters
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 12:32 pm: |
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More on Eclipse a few years later:
Will Add Several Industries
When present plans mature Traverse City will have several more industries. One deal has been closed whereby the Eclipse Motor Works of Mancelona is to be moved to Traverse City. This deal has been made possible principally through the effort of William F. Calkins of the Traverse City Iron Works, who has purchased the interest of Isaac Rodenbaugh, partner of L.E. Slussar in the motor works.
Mr. Slusser, who will take active charge of the motor end of the new firm, established the Eclipse Motor Works several years ago, but for the last few years has believed that Traverse City would be a more advantageous point from which to ship his product and the facilities better than Mancelona. The product of the Mancelona plant has aggregated about $30,000 each year, but with the increased facilities this will be largely increased in Traverse City. As soon as the plant is in working order, a force of twenty-five skilled workmen will be employed, and this will be increased and expanded and no capital will be spared to bring about this end.
The Edward Payson lock factory has been re-established under the name of The Northern Lock Company and W. F. Calkins has taken a financial interest together with other business men, in reviving the enterprise, and the machinery of this plant also has been moved to the Iron Works plant. Mr. Calkins will give his personal attention to the lock company and it is his opinion that it can be made to pay a profit and furnish employment to forty or fifty men in a short time. While this will be practically a part of the Iron Works, it will be conducted separately under the name of The Northern Lock Company.
Another factory of considerable importance will be built in Traverse City in a short time and will, when established, employ approximately seventy-five people.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 9, No. 25, April 1, 1911. p. 4.
Michigan Industries
L. E. Slusser, head of the Eclipse Motor Works, of Traverse City, says that the company’s plant in the Traverse City Iron Works is now thoroughly equipped and in first-class working order. The force of workmen is busy finishing engines and getting them ready for shipment.
With the improved facilities in Traverse City, the company will be able to handle a much greater volume of business than in the past.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 9, No. 31, May 13, 1911. p. 15.
Buried With Orders
The Eclipse Motor Company, of Traverse City, is buried with orders and is looking for skilled workmen. L. E. Slussar, the manager, says that every engine on hand has been shipped and that he is scouring the country for skilled workmen in order to get out the engines for which he has orders. He says that he could double his force of workmen and then not be able to satisfy the demand.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 9, No. 37, June 24, 1911. p. 17.
Growing Traverse City Industry
Since W. F. Calkins took hold of the lock manufacturing proposition in Traverse City and extended the operations of the Traverse City Iron Works, a very gratifying showing has been made. The lock factory which was started several years ago was not a financial success. The plant has been removed to that of the Traverse City Iron Works, and at this time 20 people are working in that department. Recently the Eclipse Motor Works from Mancelona was established as part of this plant, and up to this time it has been impossible to get a single engine ahead of orders. Business has been good in the original iron works plant also.
In the lock department, 600 locks are being turned out daily. The iron works plant is now employing 45 working people and this number will be rapidly increased.
Michigan Investor, Vol. 9, No. 43, August 5, 1911. p. 19. |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1792
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 01:45 pm: |
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Scott
Always appreciate your history input here, Thanks for taking the time to post information ! |
Peters
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 01:16 pm: |
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My pleasure, Richard.
Found this information in some old notes from the Michigan Department of Labor Annual Reports
(1905, p. 36; 1908, p. 26; and 1910, p. 31.)
When the company was inspected at Mancelona on May 25, 1904, it employed 3 males. On September 25, 1907, it employed 12 males and 1 female, but went back down to 7 males only on October 21, 1909. At any rate, the company was pretty small until it moved to Traverse City.
If I come up with anything else, I will post it. This company was quite unusual in that it operated in an area of the state not readily associated with engine-building.
Best wishes,
Scott |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1799
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 02:21 pm: |
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Scott
My notes say that there was an earlier company name the "Eclipse Motor & Boat Company"
The name changed in 1903 to "Eclipse Motor Company" ??
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Peters
Visitor
| | Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 03:13 pm: |
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Hi Richard,
There are a couple of boat and engine company references in the northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan in this timeframe. Here is what I have to date:
Eclipse Boat Works
Ransom T. Merrill was a long-time boat builder at Walloon Lake, Charlevoix County. About 1903, he and Charles J. Mizer, a local hotelier, formed the partnership of Mizer & Merrill, the company acting as proprietors of Eclipse Boat Works, manufacturers of gasoline launches, row boats and other kinds of boats. Merrill became sole proprietor by 1905. An advertisement in the 1905 Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory reads: “Eclipse Boat Works/Manufacturers of Small Gasoline Launches and Clinker Row Boats/[photo of clinker-type motor boat with one-cylinder engine]/Any Make of Motor Installed. Write for Prices and Specifications./R. T. Merrill, Propr. Walloon Lake, Mich.”
By 1905, Merrill also was proprietor of the Merrill Bath House, with “Excellent Accomodations and Fine Bathing Beach” and Merrill Cottage, which he rented for $7 to $10 per week or $2 per day, overlooking Walloon Lake. The boat shop and the cottage were located “2 doors south of Depot.” Merrill also advertised his boat building under his own name in addition to the Eclipse firm. It is unknown if the Eclipse Boat Works was related in any way to the Eclipse Motor & Boat Company, which operated in Traverse City in 1901.
Sources:
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1903-1904 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1903.) pp. 1699, 1810.
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1905-1906 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1905.) pp. 173, 1863, 1973.
Eclipse Motor & Boat Company
Formed by William M. Fetterley and Brownlow Starbuck, Eclipse Motor & Boat Company was located in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, in 1901. The firm was short-lived, only lasting about a year.
Sources:
Polk, R. L. & Co. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1901 (Detroit, MI: R. L. Polk & Co., 1901.) pp. 1637, 1780.
I suspect the latter firm might have been the original engine builder, and maybe L. E. Slussar and Isaac Rodenbaugh bought them out. I have read about a William Fetterley being a boat builder in Louisiana, but I have no idea if he is the same guy as the one working with Brownlow Starbuck. The plot thickens... Oh, by the way, does anybody know if there was a major solar eclipse in those years, hence the company name(s)?
Scott |
jboogie
New member
Username: jboogie
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 05:28 pm: |
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thanks for all the info gang! pretty neat stuff here. does anyone happen to have pics of their eclpise engines? thanks again for the info.
i'd love to see some old adverts or plant photos if anyone has anything like that....
i don't know about a solar eclispe back then, but it was a fairly common tradename used by a lot of manufacturers just like "peerless" or "superior". most popular is the famous eclipse steam engine line built by the frick company of waynesboro, pa. |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1805
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 09:23 pm: |
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Scott - Good Stuff, a little more light on these old marine engine Co.s.
This is a 1908 article, looks as if the new design headless engs came out in 1907. I can only find a very few ads after 1907 and they all are alike with the twin !
1908
1908
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Peters
Visitor
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 07:56 pm: |
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Hi,
Thanks Richard for the wonderful advertisements. They really add tremendously to the quality of this site and to the body of current knowledge on the engines. The Matthews purchase of Eclipse engines is interesting--why bypass Detroit builders for one in northern Michigan for a supplier? Anybody seen one of their catalogs?
Scott |
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