Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company

The Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, manufactured internal combustion engines between 1909 and 2018?. In its early years Wisconsin made a full range of engines for automobiles, trucks, heavy construction machines, and maritime use. After 1930 it focused on small air-cooled engines widely used in agriculture and construction machines.

Wisconsin passed through the hands of a number of owners and production at their Tennessee plant ended in 2018???.

History
  • March 12, 1909 Wisconsin Motor was incorporated by Charles H. John and Arthur F. Milbrath. By 1912 they employed about 300 people.
  • 1937 Wisconsin Motor merged with Continental Motors Company but retained a separate identity.[1]
  • 1940 V series V4 engines introduced
  • 1965 Ryan Aeronautical bought 50 per cent of Continental Motors Corporation[2]
  • 1969 Teledyne Technologies bought Continental Motors Corporation
  • 1971 Fuji Heavy Industries owner of Subaru appointed Teledyne Wisconsin Motor US agents for their Robin engines
  • 1992 Teledyne Total Power sold out to Nesco Incorporated[3]
  • 2010 Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture[4]
  • September 30, 2017 Subaru Corporation ended production of small engines.[5]

Products

Small air-cooled engines

Wisconsin's fame came from its small air-cooled engines, such as AEH (used on generators, garden tractors, skidsteers tractors), AEN, and VF4.[1] In the 1950s they were able to claim they were the world's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty air-cooled engines. All Wisconsin's products were 4-cycle and they had power outputs from 2.4 to 65.9 horsepower (2 to 49 kW). There were single, inline two, V-two, and V-four cylinder models. The engines were designed for outdoor field service in industries including agriculture, construction, marine, oil-field equipment and railway maintenance.[6] There are a wide range of variations in each engine family, including displacement, vertical and horizontal crankshafts, power ratings, and fuel used. Fuels can be gasoline, heating oil, kerosene, LPG, and CNG.

  • Howard Gem Rotavator with Wisconsin THD engine
  • Wisconsin auxiliary on a White M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
  • Snapper Mower with Wisconsin W1-185 engine
ModelTypePowerDisplacementYearsNotes
A​1 1⁄2single2.4 hp (2 kW)28 cu in (0.5 L)1930-1934
A3single5 hp (4 kW)40 cu in (0.7 L)1930-1934
A5single6 hp (4 kW)44 cu in (0.7 L)1930-1934
AGND[7]single12.5 hp (9 kW)38.5 cu in (0.6 L)1957-1991
THD[7]I218 hp (13 kW)53.9 cu in (0.9 L)1957-1976+generator
VH4D[8]V430 hp (22 kW)107.7 cu in (1.8 L)70's Case\Bobcat skid-steer, pump
S-14D[9]single14.1 hp (11 kW)33.1 cu in (0.5 L)1968-yard tractor
W2-1250V230 hp (22 kW)75 cu in (1.2 L)
V465D[10] V465.9 hp (49 kW)177 cu in (2.9 L)air comp., trencher, swather
W1-080 single
W1-125 singleVertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-145 single4 hp (3 kW)197?-198?Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-185 single5 hp (4 kW)197?-199?Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-390v single7.5 hp (6 kW)Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-450v single10 hp (7 kW)early 1990'sVertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc.
W1-588 single

Engines for cars and trucks

New automobile companies bought them for their big cars. The Stutz Bearcat car was available with either Wisconsin's four-cylinder Type A or their six-cylinder engine. Both engines were rated at 60 horsepower. Stutz began to build their own engines in 1917. Pierce-Arrow was among other customers for Wisconsin engines. Wisconsin engines also powered the trucks made by The FWD Corporation.[1] Between 1945 and 1965 King Midget Cars used a Wisconsin AENL single cylinder engine in their micro car.

  • 1914 Stutz Bearcat
  • 1917 Pierce-Arrow 48
  • FWD military truck WWI
  • 1917 Type A
  • King Midget micro car
ModelTypeDisplacementPowerYearsUsed in
Type AInline 4389 cu in (6.4 L)36 hp (27 kW)1912-1919FWD Model B 3-5-ton 4x4 trucks

Engines for construction equipment

Their four and six cylinder engines were used in heavy construction equipment including Bucyrus-Erie and Marion drag-lines and shovels.

  • Bucyrus Erie 1917 dragline and 1929 stripping shovel
  • 1930 shunting locomotive for Finnish Railway

References
  1. Belt Pulley Magazine, September/October 2004. Accessed online September 16, 2018
  2. Leyes, Richard A., and William A. Fleming, The History of *North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1999: p.143 ISBN 1-56347-332-1
  3. Automobile Quarterly, Volume 40, Issue 1, Page 97. 2000
  4. "Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  5. https://subarupower.com/products//
  6. Wisconsin Motor Corporation. New York Herald Tribune (European Edition) (Paris, France), Monday, Feb. 4, 1952
  7. Wisconsin on the Move (sales brocure) (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1969. Retrieved 7 Oct 2020.
  8. Wisconsin Model VH4D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1993. Retrieved 7 Oct 2020.
  9. Wisconsin Models S-10D, S-12D, S-14D Instruction and Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 1993. Retrieved 7 Oct 2020.
  10. Wisconsin Models 465D, V460D, V461D Repair Manual (PDF). Wisconsin Motors, LLC. 2002. Retrieved 7 Oct 2020.
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