16 FEB 02

 

Dear Majestic Owner,

 

   The Majestic Gasoline Engine Company was owned by the Hartman Company of          

Chicago, Illinois which began business around 1855. From beginning production of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company “Waterloo Boy” engine in 1906 until March of 1918, their engines were shipped directly to the customer from the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in Iowa or from one of its branch warehouses with the Majestic name, color and serial number applied. (See American Gas Engines-Page 220). Production was probably done at the Hedford foundry which also made Associated, Galloway and several other brands. By 1917, the Hartman Company line of  “majestic farm necessities” included cream separators, saws, concrete mixers, corn shellers, sprayers, fanning mills, cooking kettles, washing machines, cultivators, plows, hog oilers, egg incubators and grinders for feed, coffee and tools all with one year to pay and with no interest.  

   

  The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company was sold to Deere and Company in March of 1918 for $2.1 million. Because of the change in ownership, production of engines for the 64+ customers like the Hartman Company soon ceased. The original “Waterloo Boy” model continued to be produced by Deere thru 1920.  In 1921, Waterloo introduced the “H” gasoline and “K” kerosene models with many mechanical changes. In 1923, production of the renowned John Deere type “E” began and continued through 1946.

 

   Perhaps because of the Waterloo sale, around 1918 the company became a division of Hastine Enterprises, owner of the National Dairy Machine Company which produced the National Cream Separator, with LeRoy I. Baker, Sr. as Manager. Engines were then machined, assembled and tested by the Majestic Engine Works at South Ninth and New York Streets in Goshen, Indiana. Castings in 2 to 14 HP from Waterloo patterns were produced at a foundry in Wabash, Indiana.  

                                                                      

   It seems that an arrangement with Waterloo was maintained to supply crankshafts and perhaps other parts used in assembly at Goshen. It is being found that Waterloo serial numbers continued to be used on engines produced at the Goshen/Wabash operation. These are the Majestic serial numbers in the #180000 and #200000 series that mesh with Waterloo serial numbers without duplication.

 

   Engines were shipped from the Goshen factory to supply houses around the country. LeRoy Baker, Jr. remembers as a young man helping with inventory of finished engines in stock. Engines were crated and stacked on end and his job, being a boy of small stature, was to crawl in between the rows and check serial numbers. The company was in business until 1925 with Herbert Ransom as the Manager at its closing.

 

  The earliest engines from the beginning of production in 1906 had an “H” before a four-digit serial number; probably for “Hartman”. As serial numbers progressed to five digits, the “H” was dropped. An I. D. tag is usually found on the Waterloo produced engines                                                                                        thru 1920. In 1921, with the #180000 and #200000 serial numbers, engines were shipped from the Goshen factory usually with no tag. Production seems to have continued at the Goshen through 1925. In 1926, the Fantus-Majestic Company of Chicago, Illinois sold the remaining inventory at half price.

 

   Years of searching have yielded the list of Majestic owners. Please do the following::                                  1. Check your I.D. tag, crankshaft end on igniter side, by the oiler and even on the igniter head inside the cylinder for a SERIAL NUMBER.                                                             2. Check for a CASTING DATE on both sides of the body under the crankshaft. Casting dates are viewable through the flywheels. Check all over the engine for a casting date. 

3. Please return your H.P., serial number, casting style and any casting date to aid in the research. Casting dates are important in historical research.

 

   Reproductions of the original decal are available for your restoration. An 87-page copy of the 1915 and 1917 Majestic catalog is also available for the cost of copying.               If you find another Majestic not on the list, have the owner contact me please.

 

Color Red – IH Red #50                   * Webster Magneto Bracket:A303K142A(2 thru 9HP) 

                    PPG 700019                                                                                                                       

NAPA 90R-224                                                                                1915 Price                                      DUPONT 93-2564-H           *Webster Magneto: AK for 2+3+ 5 HP-    $9.80                                                                                 

                    Carquest DAR70184-H                                        AL for 7+9+14 HP-  $11.95

 

HP       Bore     Stroke  Flywheel           RPM                Weight          1915 Price

2            3½*      5            18               400-575             420                $49.65

3            4½        6            22               350-475             530                $56.75

5            4½        9            26               300-400             775                $89.50

7            5½        10          36               280-360             1300              $122.50

9            6           12          36               275-325             1610              $177.50

14          7½        14          42               250-300             2500              $269.50

 

*Early 2 HP models: 4” bore                                                                                                          

                    A303K8A or A303KZ8A Bracket                                      James W. Priestley      

                    AMM Magneto                                                          117 Lind Street

                                                                                                        McMinnville, TN 37110

                                                                                          (931) 473-7775 (after 6:00 P.M.)        

                                                                                 E-mail:  [email protected]