1913-1920 H/M BY NUMBER

Updated 1-20-2024

Added/modified

This list of hit and miss engines looks at the serial numbers based on numerical order from the time Union Foundry & Machine began operations during September 1912. The list includes Ottawa, Union Giant and Warner engines. The chronalogical order of the Ottawa engines appears to be based on number with the letter generally representing the horsepower, with a few exceptions. The numbering of the Giant and Warner engines continue to be included in this list but do not follow any logical system that has yet been determined. The letter series of the Giant and Warner engines do not correspond to horsepower. The numbering of the Giant and Warner engines does not appear to be chronoligical as some of the Warner engines are numbered much too early.

One advertisement has been seen that includes two different hopper styles, so it's reasonable to assume that there may have been some production of older styles, or at least use of existing parts, after a new style came into production.

The series generally follow A = 1.5 h.p., B = 2 h.p., C = 2.5 h.p., D = 3 h.p., E = 4 h.p, F = 5 h.p., H = 7 h.p., I = 8 h.p., K = 10 h.p., L = 12 h.p., M = 16 h.p. One would expect 6 h.p. to be G series, but all I have run across are either A series or in the same number range as the A series 6 h.p. engines, with one B series. It appears that for some reason, the Warner family did not like the letter G. There are two engines with an X prefix. There are some patterns that can be seen, but they don't help to date the engines:

All numbers less than 1000 are 2.5 h.p. or less
1000-1100 are 3 or 3.25 h.p
All of the 6 h.p. engines fall within the 1437-2497 range, although a single 4 h.p. is mixed in with them

It appears at this time there could be three or as many as four separate serial number lists

Early Ottawa H/M, pre 1913
Union Giant/Warner H/M
Ottawa H/M 1913 up to the 1920 hopper style change
1920 and later Ottawa H/M and throttle governed

When the logsaw came out in 1918, it was rated a 2 1/2 horsepower 500 rpm engine with a 4 ¼" bore and 5" stroke. A 1918 gas engine catalogue with specifications notes that the 2 1/2 horsepower engine had a maximum horsepower of 3.8. In 1920, advertising began to show the logsaw equipped with a 3 horsepower engine that would pull a maximum of 3.6 horsepower. It seems reasonable that the engine specifications remained the same and the engine was merely rerated. Additionally, a single piston is shown in the parts list in the 1918-1920 logsaw instruction book. This list shows logsaws dated 1920 and later as being 3 horsepower. There were limited advertisements in 1921 for remaining three horsepower 1920 model logsaws the company was trying to sell as the new four horsepower logsaws became available.