Patrick Knight successfully identified my engine in issue #155 page 12 and, since then, I have been searching for any further information on these generating plants.
These units first appeared around 1912 and were phased out by 1920 with the company opting for the Z model engine and a belt driven generator. Manufacture was undertaken by Fairbanks Morse Electrical Manufacturing Co., Indianapolis, an entirely separate identity to FM and Co. of Beloit which is more commonly known today. According to existing records, the Indianapolis company was taken over by the Beloit-based Fairbanks Morse company in 1918. Literature so far has only shown that Mor-lite, sometimes known as the VD model, was advertised under the Beloit FM banner.
James Wardle and Co., Adelaide, were agents for Fairbanks Morse and traded between 1914 and 1920. In September 1917 an article appeared in the Adelaide Register in regards to a display at the Royal Adelaide show by Wardle and Co., of a Morlite generator that attracted quite some interest. Of note, all three engines I currently know of in Australia have originated from South Australia.
The engine is an L head design with a 3 inch bore and 3¾ stroke producing approx. 1 hp at 800rpm. The flywheel is a hefty 16” diameter x 2¼ wide with in built fan blades to provide cooling air for the radiator enclosed in the tin box almost directly above. The carburettor is fed by small cam-operated pump just behind the flywheel from the in-base fuel tank holding gasoline. Regulation of the speed was via electric control solenoid governed in direct proportion to battery condition. Ignition, via the spark plug is located in the head,and a set of points attached to the end of the camshaft timing the coil. The fully enclosed crankcase with a small oil sump provided the bearings and internal gears with ample lubrication in a dust free environment. The generator produced 32 V and a maximum of 16 amps, and the unit took up a space of 24 inches x 36 inches x 43 inches high.
The unit had some quite ‘modern’ features for its time; push button starting, a bell that would sound if the batteries required charging to alert the need to start the engine then shutting itself down once the batteries had become fully charged. A fully enclosed crankcase with no external oiling required and spark plug ignition. The unit was quite compact, assisted by the use of the cooling arrangement and direct drive generator.
From the way the brochure is set out, the sales pitch is aimed at the ‘Lady of the house’, making her life easier, safer and, with the starting/stopping features, making it simple to operate, with no regular oiling required, just topping up the petrol and water. The reason FM & Co. decided to discontinue these units from production is unknown, maybe a lack of sales, or even the demand for larger units by 1920.
My fellow restorer, Graham, and I have what can only be described as ‘remains’ of three of these units, and we are looking for other collectors who may have or know of a more complete unit to assist us in our endeavour to restore at least two of these units to something close to the photos and drawings we have. If anyone has information that could assist, or perhaps are in a similar situation with their unit, please contact me at:
magoos2@dodo.com.au or call 0488 916 979.
Information sourced from Bulletin 41a, Fairbanks Morse and Co. 1915, Adelaide Register 1917. *Allan McGrice
