Pump Station Engine

[grouchaux]

Need some expert help with identifying this engine spied inside a defunct Jefferson Parish, Louisiana pump station. The pictures are the best that can be had without trespassing. From what I can tell, it looks like it has four cylinders and has "CHICAGO PNEUMATIC" cast into the base. Can anyone perhaps familiar with these big verticals give me an idea of the model and specs on this engine? Perhaps even some history on this one (if that's not asking too much)? Thanks in advance.

[Jim Tremble]

Repost for photo quality.

Jim

[Bud Tierney]

The name was vaguely familiar; ordinary air compressors and rock drills were on my lists, but turns out they're in business-all over the world, per list of countries on their site cp.com
History that mentions engines is on energymachinery.com; says acquired rights to mfr Benz diesels in 1927, now build their own: no real engine descriptions, but didn't dig any further. Apparently developed engines to drive their large compressors etc.
Also built the "Giant" truck 1911-22 or so, but they weren't really giant, no more than 5Ton per Mroz.
Many hits under "chicago pneumatic engines", may be better desc of old engines there. Good luck.

[JKWidener]

Are you sure its not an Air Compressor? I know that same company still makes compressors of all sizes today.

[grouchaux]

I'm not sure that it's not an air compressor, but the exhaust pipe out the roof made me think it was an engine. Did CP make combination air compressor - engine types like this?

[David M. Lyon]

There is one page of information in C.H. Wendel's book AMERICAN GASOLINE ENGINES VOLUME 2, PAGE 63.
says they were built starting in 1925 under license from M-W-M Benz of Germany...They used either a 14 x 21, or a 10 3/4 x 13 3/4 bore & stroke, and were built in 2,3,4,5,& 6 cylinder models

[Bud Tierney]

Didn't notice the first time, but that history on energymachinery.com is headed "From 1901 to the Fifties".Says needed engines to drive their compressors, etc.
Says in 1912 or so started building "horiz 2cycle Semi diesel Oil Engine", which was built until 1925 (not 27, my error) when rights acquired to Benz diesels. Some posts here re' their engines.
Says diesels plant builds today ( 1950's sometime per heading) different, range from 3 to 8 cyl, 85 to 1650 HP, driving gens, cotton gin mach'y, ice making mach'y, compressors, etc.
Didn't dig any further to find when (if) engine production halted.

[Eric M.]

This is probably a large natural gas engine. I know of a 225 horsepower 3 cylinder natural gas Chicago-Pneumatic at the Gold King Mine in Jerome, Arizona.

[grouchaux]

Actually I think it might be a Diesel -- reason being there's an EPA file out there regarding a former underground Diesel fuel storage tank and I have viewed the location of where it formerly was. Don't guess anyone here worked with Jeff. Parish or the N.O. S & W.B.?