Silent Valve Engine From The Early 1900’s For Sale

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Silent Valve Engine From The Early 1900’s:
$3500.00

What I believe we have here is a prototype engine from the early 1900’s. I say prototype because there are no production numbers stamped anywhere. Only timing marks. The engine is not seized, it will rotate. However, I believe it was taken out of service prematurely due to the broken mounting locations. It has provisions for a manual crank handle and mounting holes for a magneto. The intake manifold, carb & magneto are missing.

Inventor Edwin L. Russell designed a rotary valve engine and began submitting applications to the U.S patent office around the beginning of the 20th century. His patent was granted in 1918 for only the valve configuration. His business model was to license the valve train to multiple manufacturers. Evidenced by a Driggs Seabury ad that advertised a “Silent Valve Driggs.”

The only way we were able to identify this engine was from an article written in “The Automobile Journal” dated in 1912. In that example, the engine rotating assembly looks to be for an automobile application, as it has a bell housing for a flywheel & clutch. The example that I found has no bell housing. I sight this fact for theorizing that it was probably either a boat or aircraft engine. The theory I think is most plausible would be for a prop propelled Ice sled. My internet friend Aaron Loveless found this info from the website below. He came up with the ice sled theory. I found it in a storage unit sale in Palm Desert, CA.

Silent Valve Engine From The Early 1900’s

$3500.00