| Author |
Message |
    
richarddurgee
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 12:17 am: | 
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Soper marine Engine, Bucksport, ME.
Looking for any info on this Company or it's engines ?? Thanks Richard |
SCOTT SOPER
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 08:38 pm: |
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REPLY AND QUESTION TO RICHARDDURGEE. MY LAST NAME IS SOPER AND ALTHOUGH I LIVE AT THE TIP OF TEXAS NOW I WAS BORN IN BANGOR AS WAS MOST OF MY FAMILY FOR AT LEAST 4 GENERATIONS. I WAS SUPRISED TO SEE YOUR INQUIRY AS TO SOPER MARINE ENGINES IN BUCKSPORT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT BUT HAVE E MAILED RELATIVES BACK HOME. MY DAD IS 80 AND LIVES IN HAMPDEN. WILL KEEP YOU ADVISED. OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY INFO IN THIS DIRECTION IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SCOTT |
richarddurgee
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 02:47 pm: |
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Scott
Thanks for reply, while researching old marine engines and trying to put a date of mfg on them I have seen the Soper name. in appendix A of Stan Grayson's book "Old Marine engines" he lists Soper
in Bucksport, Me. They are not listed in any of the engine maker indexes, so were a small co. or possibly put their name on an eng mfg'd by another
mfg'r as many did in those days.
Please check family history and let us know of findings and possible pictures. To have Old Marine Engine DNA in ones blood is a badge of honor on this site !! Richard Durgee |
hellonwheels
Visitor
| | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 11:28 am: |
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I actually own the Soper farm in Bucksport and my ex-husband's mother was a Soper. We were told the story once regarding the Soper marine engine a long time ago by Herbert Soper(my ex's grandfather). According to him, his cousin (?) built the engine but did not go through the patent process and it ended up being copied by someone else. The discussion came about after we received a call from a man that had purchased a boat with a Soper engine in it. Sorry, I wish we had written the story down for future reference. |
doug11k
Advanced Member
Username: doug11k
Post Number: 44
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 08:12 am: |
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A friend recently sent me a copy of a nostalgia column from the Bangor(Maine) Daily News ... 100 years ago from Feb. 14, 2008. I will print item out in another post if it is unreadable at this size.
 |
doug11k
Advanced Member
Username: doug11k
Post Number: 45
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 08:22 am: |
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From Bangor Daily News February 14, 2008 ... 100 years ago
BUCKSPORT - The boatbuilding factory of Walter R. Soper is one of the busy places in town. He has just completed a wood-sawing machine, equipped with a 4 1/2 horsepower Olds gasoline engine for Francis Ginn, who has the same operation in the village. They also have about completed a 20-foot power boat, equipped with a 2 1/2 horsepower Soper gasoline engine, for Freeman Hutchings, which he will use the coming spring and summer for his fishing business down the bay. |
richarddurgee
Senior Member
Username: richarddurgee
Post Number: 1618
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 09:02 am: |
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*
This Soper Marine Engine was on display at the 2006 mystic Show !
* |
searcher
Senior Member
Username: searcher
Post Number: 226
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 12:52 am: |
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Hellonwheels - I am researching Maine made engines but have not gotten to the Soper yet. I would very much like to talk to you about what you know of the Soper family. Please e-mail me if you are willing. Just click on Searcher (in blue and underlined beside this message) and my e-mail address will be there. Thanks. |
kb1mhr
New member
Username: kb1mhr
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 09:12 am: |
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Walter Soper was my great grandfather, we know he was building and selling the "Soper power dory" in Bucksport with his brother Frank and have a copy of an add from 1909. In addition to the inboard motor he also invented an ouboard engine but there were issues with patents. After leaving Bucksport he was employed in Lynn Ma at a window factory as an engineer and has a number of patents relating to the machines used to make the windows. Unfortunately Walter died young leaving three young children for his Wife Brenda Ginn to raise,I have been told that he was exceptionally inteligent and was from Orland Maine. I am searching for as much information as I can regarding Walter and the family and am very interested in anything related to this.
Rob Soper |
DLWillson
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 03:10 pm: |
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To anyone who is interested
Walter Soper was also my Great Grandfather...I am the grandson of his son Hollis. I inherited many if not all of Walter's patents and original slides of the engines he built...and a number of other inventions. I also have photos albums of the old Bucksport buildings...the farm and waterfront shops of some sort. I have a lot of information that I am just sorting through....but if I can be of help I would be happy to. |
