The Wisconsin Motor Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been manufacturing internal combustion engines since 1909. 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 Engines (previously, Wisconsin Motors) continues to manufacture high quality engines.
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. 1940 V series V4 engines introduced 1965 Ryan Aeronautical bought 50 per cent of Continental Motors CorporationLeyes, Richard A., and William A. Fleming, The History of *North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1999: p.143 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 IncorporatedAutomobile Quarterly, Volume 40, Issue 1, Page 97. 2000 2010 Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. and Wisconsin Motors Sign a Joint Venture September 30, 2017 Subaru Corporation ended production of small engines.
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. 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 . 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.Wisconsin Motor Corporation. New York Herald Tribune (European Edition) (Paris, France), Monday, Feb. 4, 1952 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.
ModelTypePowerDisplacementYearsNotes Asingle1930-1934 AAsingle ABsingle ABDsingle ABSsingle ABSDsingle ABNsingle ABNDsingle AKsingle AKDsingle AKSsingle AKSDsingle AKNsingle AKNDsingle A3single1930-1934 A5single1930-1934 AGNDsingle1957-1991 TEI2 TFI2 THI2 THDI21957-1976+generator TJDI2 VE4V4 VE4D (Military Version)V4 MVE4D (Military Version)V4 VF4V4 VF4D (Military Version)V4 MVF4D (Military Version)V4 MVG4D (Military Version)V4 VH4V4 VH4DV4 70's Case\Bobcat skid-steer, pump MVH4D (Military Version)V4 S-7DSingle S-8DSingle S-14Dsingle1968-yard tractor W2-1250V2 V465DV4 air comp., trencher, swather W1-080single W1-125single Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. W1-145single 197?-198? Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. W1-185single 197?-199? Vertical and Horizontal- mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. W1-390vsingle Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. W1-450vsingle early 1990s Vertical - mowers, generator, tiller, pump, etc. W1-588single
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.Belt Pulley Magazine, September/October 2004. Accessed online September 16, 2018 Between 1945 and 1965 King Midget Cars used a Wisconsin AENL single cylinder engine in their micro car.
Model Type Displacement Power Years Used in Type A Inline 4 1912-1919 FWD 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.
References
External links Publication reprints at VintageMachinery.org Wisconsin Motors at Pitt Auto Electric Co.