|
| Meteor or Buchanan 6 cyl Flathead |
| Author |
Message |
    
Keith Billet
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 09:22 am: | 
|
Does anyone have information on the above engines? Years built? Where and by whom? Thanks for any info. |
miro
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 10:42 am: |
|
These engiens were used by the Port Carling Boatworks and by Duke Boatworks in Port Carling Ontario.
The Buchanan Co was located in Orillia , Ont. The engines are based on a Hercules block as were other marine engines ( e.g. Chris Craft)
The engines tend to last almost forever if treated with a modicum of care ( e.g oil change ; don't run 'em flat out for hours and hours)
For more detail or a source of parts , try calling Hugh MacLennan who now owns the Port carling Boatworks 705-765-3833 or Ed Skinner at Duke's 705-765-3141. I suspect that the Orillia Public Library has some historical material on the Buchanan Co.
miro |
andrew
| | Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 10:17 am: |
|
Keith and Miro,
I received an email enquiry just a few days ago from Herk who has a Buchanan Meteor. He was asking about the history of the company, so I'm sure Miro's comments will be helpful. I am not sure where he is located, but he has forwarded these photos of his engine.
Regards,
Andrew
 |
andrew
| | Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 10:31 am: |
|
A little further checking reveals that the Buchanan Meteor was based on the Hercules QXC series block as Miro mentioned. Maintenance manual reprints are available for the various Hercules engines. It appears that they were made from 1951 to 1954 (maybe longer also, but certainly during that period).
Regards,
Andrew |
olarry
| | Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 06:25 pm: |
|
My old book lists the QXC as first year produced 1937.The old ones had base mout magnetos. |
miro
| | Posted on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 06:32 pm: |
|
The pictures indicate that the Buchanan is one of the early ones. Later models had the intake manifold tucked underneath the exhaust manifold. In addition, this head has the plugs right on top of the valves. The later models have the spark plugs on the other side of the engine, on top of the pistons. Looks like a nice,early Buchanan.
miro |
herk wetherill
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 09:04 am: |
|
This post is from Jennifer Murrant in the Orillia Pulic Library: I have researched the Buchanan Marine Engine Company in our files. The
information we have says that the company opened as a machine shop in 1919.
In September of 1929 the F.L. Buchanan Company expanded to allow them to add
8 cylinder engines to the 4 and 6 cylinder engines that they were now
producing. The first engines produced were 3 to 4 h.p. single cylinder
"Bulldog" engines. At the time of the article written in 1955 there were
still a few in service as auxilary power for sailing craft. They
manufactured or sold engines ranging in size from 100 to 300 hp models from
4 cylinder to the more sophisticated V6 and V8. The business was sold
around 1953. The new owners carried on with the design and manufacture of
marine engines for use with an Outdrive produced by Volvo Penta of Sweden.
The last time the business appears in our city directory or phone book is
1969. There is no reference to it after that.
I hope this information is helpful.
Jennifer Murrant |
Glenn Hodgkinson
| | Posted on Sunday, June 27, 2004 - 05:19 pm: |
|
Just a note for anyone interested. Parry Automotive in Orillia, Ontario have the original "build" book for Buchanan engines. Contact Glenn by phone at (705) 325-1345 or via email [email protected] |
|
|
|
|
