Hornsby Akroyd Engines

[Bob Geyer]

Welcome to the Stack from out California way,

Thanks Harry for the Down Under Forum. I recently aquired a Hornsby Akroyd type motor. After looking around the Stack and the net for research info, I found the Down Under Forum very helpful. I would like to express special thanks to Inter Bloke and Merv C for your time and valuable information.

Regards,

Bob Geyer

[Russell Gilbert]

G'day Bob, mate what kind of Akroyd engine did you get?? I'm a little partail to the Hornsby line of engines and have a number of them myself.
regards Russell

[Bob Geyer]

Russell,

Well, it seems that I'm not exactly sure who the maker is. The motor is almost a dead ringer for the Hornsby Akroyd pictured on page #123 of Wendels BYB. I can tell you that the engine is a hot bulb, with an 11 inch piston, 2 inch connecting rod and a 3 1/2 inch crank shaft. The serial number is #2782. That is, if the serial numbers are in fact the stamped numbers and not the cast numbers. The big question is, is it English ( Hornsby ) or American ( De La Vergne )? I've been getting some great info from a couple of the other fellas down under. If I can identify where the serial numbers should be and cast or stamped, that would be a great start. Any quess as to HP? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Bob

[Michaely]

Bob, if your engine is an English one then that serial no. is very early. Around 1898. The engine shown in the BRB/BYB is of the earlier type which I believe was replaced by the Improved Ackroyd engine in 1900/1901. Anyway - Ray Hooley is the man to talk to. The pic is my engine which is much later #10925 of January 1906.


Mike

[Bob Geyer]

Mike,

Mike, fabulous engine you have. These engines seem to have a look all their own. Thank you for the info on dating and Mr. Hooley. Can you please tell me where your serial numbers are and if they are stamped or cast? Any quesses on HP for the 11 inch piston?

Regards,

Bob

[Bob Geyer]

Gentlemen,

Mystery solved. It appears that the Hornsby Akroyd / De La Vergne is in fact a De La Vergne, manufactured under license from Hornsby, in New York New York. Thanks to Mr. Ray Hooley, I understand that Hornsby allocated a block of serial numbers to De La Vergne in 1897. These numbers ranged from 2251 to 3000. The serial number of our engine is #2782. It is a 9.5 HP engine. I again must thank Merv-C, Interbloke, Michaely and Russell Gilbert from the DOWN UNDER FORUM for there patience in viewing pictures, providing pictures, anwering questions and providing leads that made this possible. A very special thanks to Mr. Hooley for his quick response and valuable information.

Best Regards,

Bob Geyer

[Patrick M Livingstone]

Hi Bob,
here is a 9.5hp 'girder-frame' Hornsby-Akroyd portable. It may help in comparison to your engine.

[Patrick M Livingstone]

Here is another 9.5hp Hornsby-Akroyd portable. This one has a full crankcase.

[Patrick M Livingstone]

This 1901 20hp Hornsby-Akroyd is at Lake Goldsmith.

[Bob Geyer]

Patrick,

Thanks for the pictures. The girder frame engine is outstanding. The pictures of the 1901 Lake Goldsmith engine provided new information on the casting numbers on the cylinder, valves and rockers as well as other parts and accessories. I e-mailed the info you requested in your PM to your e-mail address with some photos.


Thanks again.


Bob

[Wayne Timms]

Hi Guys,

I thought I would post this here since it is on Akroyds. Whilst at Coolsprings I was speaking to English and American collectors. The conversation at the time was about Akroyd using an inverted Spiel engine to experiment his ideas on. Most of the collectors were not aware of this.

Unfortunately I can't remember in which book this is written, but I do have a copy of a German patent from May 1889 taken out by Herbert Akroyd Stuart in Bletchley, England, showing several line drawings of an inverted Akroyd. I have included a picture of one of the drawings from the patent below.

I have also attached a picture of the inverted Spiel engine, for comparison.

Has anyone else come across this information ? I would really like someone to jog my memory and remind me where this is written.

Best regards,
Wayne

www.bluefuel-whitesmoke.com

[Bob Geyer]

Wayne,

Go to Google search and type in the words, ( Herbert Akroyd Stuart and Spiel ). It will give you a return, and it will be the first listing, ( Compression-Ignition Engines: The History and Developement of Heavy Oil Engines ) with a section on Future Progress.The author is D. R. Pye, the year 1931 and the Publisher MCB UP Ltd. this may be the publication you are looking for.

Regards,

Bob

[Wayne Timms]

Hi Bob,

Thanks, I haven't heard of that book.

I have found the reference that I originally read it in, which is 'Internal Fire' by Lyle Cummins, page 286. I had thought it was in this book but I just couldn't find it.

Regards,
Wayne

www.bluefuel-whitesmoke.com