An Engine for Every Engineer

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Though the Big Forty was not officially introduced until 1909, the company's 1908 catalog included pictures of a Big Forty engine plowing. It is worth noting that Gaar-Scott adopted the practice of building new engines for a few years before adding them to the firm's yearly catalog. It was probably a wise decision – one that gave Gaar-Scott ample time to get the bugs worked out of a new design before it was offered to the public.

In 1910, Gaar-Scott began building the Montana Special, a 25 HP engine based on the Big Forty. It had many of the same features as the Big Forty, such as steel gearing and wheels, and cylinders mounted toward the front. Instead of having compound cylinders, it merely used 7-inch-by-11-inch double-simple cylinders. Another departure from the Big Forty design was the pin-type clutch was replaced by a friction clutch with four shoes, instead of the two clutch shoes used on other Gaar-Scott engines. The clutch, though, could be locked in place with pins if intended for heavy traction work only. By 1912, demand increased enough for this engine to be officially added to the firm's yearly catalog. Also on offer were 20 HP and 22 HP doubles, based closely on the Montana Special.

In 1912, the annual Gaar-Scott catalog contained a large variety of engines: the rear-geared single- and double-cylinder engines, the older side-geared single- and double-cylinder coal- and wood-burning engines, and Universal boiler side-geared plowing engines. Nonetheless, the diversity of the Gaar-Scott line was about to be decreased dramatically, and the 1912 catalog hinted at this sad fact by stating “the old Gaar-Scott line and the Advance Line of Battle Creek, Mich., have become part of the well known Rumely line. Through our united efforts each of the old lines is strengthened and a broader, and more standardized line created with increased facilities for manufacture, sale and distribution.”

After 1912, Gaar-Scott dropped all production on its older side-geared models with the exception of a few Universal boiler engines, and concentrated efforts on building the rear-geared plowing engines only. From surviving examples of later model engines, it appears the rear-geared plowing-gear engines sold quite well.

Unfortunately, it was not long before Rumely Products, which had purchased Gaar-Scott at the end of 1911, began reeling from the effects of becoming too large too quickly. B y 1915, Gaar-Scott engine production ceased for good. Though Rumely Products ended production of the Gaar-Scott line, engines and machinery were still offered in 1916 advertisements in The American Thresherman. I have heard there were still advertisements depicting Gaar-Scott equipment as late as 1918. It must have taken a while to sell off the remaining stock of Gaar-Scott inventory.

Acknowledgements

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print