ANSONIA – Jerry Marker, owner of J & M Ranch, north of Greenville, became the owner of a heavy-duty engine that was used to power the Village of Arcanum Model VH Engine-Series 20-1931 when he purchased the property on US Route 127.
“It was used to power the Village of Arcanum,” said Marker. “It was used to run their generators for the power to generate electricity for the village. I believe it went in in the 1930s, and it came out in around 1970-1980.”
“I want to fix it up, and hopefully we can have it operable and take it around to shows and show people how some of the villages were powered,” he added.
To supplement the old, established line of slow-speed, heavy-duty engines, a moderately high-speed 9″ x 11″ engine, designated model VH, was developed by DeLaVergne in 1930. It was manufactured in 3, 4, 6, and 8-cylinder configurations and rated from 120 horsepower to 400 brake horsepower at speeds of 600 and 750 rpm. The first engine to be built, serial number 1507, was in the four-cylinder configuration.
The model VH was designated as a series 20 engine. A total of four 3-cylinder, eight 4-cylinder, 13 6-cylinder, and one 8-cylinder model VH engines were constructed.
This was the first DeLaVergne engine to be equipped with the precision-built modern constant stroke type high-pressure fuel injection pumps and multiple orifice fuel injectors as pioneered and manufactured by Robert Bosch in Europe. Subsequently, the United American Bosch Corporation was formed and, beginning in 1934, commenced to produce these precision fuel injection pumps and injectors in its plant at Springfield, Mass., for domestic Diesel engine manufacturers, which, up to this time, were required to make their own injection equipment.
Bruce Hetzler, VP of NK America, Inc., a global logistics and transportation service provider, supplied the equipment and employees to load the massive engine onto a trailer for transportation to Indiana for repairs.
“Jerry contacted us and was very interested in trying to get this machine back up and running,” Hetzler said. “We wanted to help him out since we are local in the community, he is a friend, and we wanted to do something for the community. Jerry wants to get it up and running and take it to shows, so we want to help out.”
When the project is completed, including radiators, catwalks, and more, Marker said the engine will be loaded and transported on a 50-ton trailer.
Rob Tummers of Wiley Water Systems, Inc., Union City, IN, provided the truck to deliver the engine to Indiana for refurbishing.
