General Information

Serial #

5275.36

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CAST IRON/ BRONZE/ SYNTHETIC PART

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

59.5 cm

Width

58.0 cm

Height

47.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Marine Transportation

Category

Motive power

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

STEWART

Country

Canada

State/Province

Prince Edward Island

City

Charlottetown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Nova Scotia

Period

Unknown

Canada

CANADIAN MADE IN AN AREA NOT NOTED FOR MANUFACTURING. Canada has known a number of companies that have specialized in marine engine building. Bruce Stewart & Co. served as the central component of Charlottetown's industrial complex, and by 1915, they were experiencing remarkable success with their flagship product, the imperial gasoline engine. In 1893, Bruce Stewart and Company was established through the collaboration of Bruce Stewart, a skilled machinist with experience at the MacKinnon & MacLean foundry, and Andrew McNair, an engineer who had arrived on the Island to work for the Steam Navigation Company's Northumberland. Together, they set up a foundry and machine shop, expanding their operations to include the production of steam engines and heavy machinery. Their high-quality engines were distributed throughout Canada. They continued to be involved with ship construction and repairs into the 1950s In August 1908, Bruce Stewart and Company arranged for the local press in Charlottetown to witness the unveiling of the province's first gasoline engine, which boasted a power of eight horsepower. The following spring, they made an announcement that they had ventured into the production of marine engines. Drawing inspiration from the design of an American engineer, they proposed three models: a single-cylinder 4 horsepower engine, a double-cylinder 8 horsepower engine, and a triple-cylinder 12 horsepower engine. By August of that same year, the “Imperial Motors” were available for sale in the market. By 1917, Bruce Stewart and Company had expanded their manufacturing capabilities and were producing a total of seven different models of engines. These models varied in horsepower, ranging from 4 to 30 horsepower. The larger models were specifically designed to be used in larger vessels such as schooners, tow boats, and other heavy-duty working boats.

Function

Unknown

Technical

More than a century ago the Bruce Stuart Company began manufacturing a range of gasoline engines. At first, land-based versions were produced but the potential market for small marine engines was ripe for this island based company and they stepped up to the challenge by offering a line of seawater cooled engines. These two-stroke engines were used in the small boats of the inshore fishery on the Atlantic Coast.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

BRASS PLATE READING: 'THE IMPERIAL/ BRUCE STEWART & CO. LIMITED/ H.P. 4 NO. 5275.36/ CHARLOTTETOWN - CANADA/ GASOLINE MARINE MOTOR'

Missing

WATER JACKET CRACKED & BROKEN

Finish

PAINTED GREEN ENAMEL/ BRONZE COLOURED PARTS/ WHITE SYNTHETIC

Decoration

DECAL ABOVE MFR'S PLATE (POSSIBLY NOT ORIGINAL)