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Rating: 
Summary: Engines Afloat, From Early Days to D-Day, Volume 1
Review: Engines Afloat: From Early Days to D-Day, Volume 1: The Gasoline Era by Stan Grayson (Marblehead, MA: Devereux Books, 1999.)Reviewed by Scott M. Peters, Collections Historian, Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, Michigan Stan Grayson's book Engines Afloat, Volume 1, is a great example of industrial history at its finest. The story of the marine engine manufacturers has usually been treated somewhat as a sidelight to the automobile industry, and now they get their due in fine form. Grayson presents wonderfully complete stories of the early pioneers of the engines such as Clark Sintz, the ingenious inventor with unfortunately minimal business sense, for what they really were. Capturing quotations from retrospective views from industry giants adds immeasurably to the starting dates, model introductions and other data. One from C. B. McCuaig of the Buffalo Gasolene Motor Company written in 1917 about the maturation of the industry could easily be adapted to the computer industry today. "He likened the industry in 1910 to a `noisy, bumptious, self-opinionated' youngster who, by 1917, had become `mature, quiet, self-reliant and inclined to take both the present and future seriously.'" What Grayson excels at is establishing the context for the manufacturers, one example being the importance of standardization of parts. Joe van Blerck, one of the important builders with a gift for mechanical excellence, virtually built each of his early engines different from the previous one. The result became a service nightmare for repairing and replacing parts. Among the engine manufacturers is a great geographic diversity that Grayson captures. While most manufacturers were located in the Midwest and East Coast, he covers in detail manufacturers such as Hall-Scott of California, which was perhaps best known for their aviation work but certainly had a large impact on motorboating. Grayson devotes an entire chapter to Gray Motor Company of Detroit, led in its early years by the marketing genius Ora J. Mulford. Mulford, with his passion for motor boats, carried on the business of building excellent marine engines during the roughest years for the industry. Mulford made each race won with a Gray motor an opportunity for the boating press to mention the firm, and advertised the company so intensively to the point that it was recognized as one of the factors in establishing the pleasure boat market. Coverage reflective of the later years of the era emphasizes the constant improvement in speeds achieved and engine durability. The designs become virtually totally enclosed, and the power-to-weight ratios improve dramatically. Grayson's book might be a disappointment to people looking for specific information on how to restore a particular engine, but the importance of the contextual stories he records about the formation and maturing of this most significant industry far outweigh the negatives. The book has a large number of illustrations derived from catalog cuts and charts that can help with identification of the age and possibly the manufacturer of engines. Engines Afloat should find a place on any marine historian's bookshelf. Scott M. Peters January 6, 2001
Rating:
Summary: Engines Afloat, From Early Days to D-Day, Volume 1
Review: Engines Afloat: From Early Days to D-Day, Volume 1: The Gasoline Era by Stan Grayson (Marblehead, MA: Devereux Books, 1999.) Reviewed by Scott M. Peters, Collections Historian, Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, Michigan Stan Grayson's book Engines Afloat, Volume 1, is a great example of industrial history at its finest. The story of the marine engine manufacturers has usually been treated somewhat as a sidelight to the automobile industry, and now they get their due in fine form. Grayson presents wonderfully complete stories of the early pioneers of the engines such as Clark Sintz, the ingenious inventor with unfortunately minimal business sense, for what they really were. Capturing quotations from retrospective views from industry giants adds immeasurably to the starting dates, model introductions and other data. One from C. B. McCuaig of the Buffalo Gasolene Motor Company written in 1917 about the maturation of the industry could easily be adapted to the computer industry today. "He likened the industry in 1910 to a 'noisy, bumptious, self-opinionated' youngster who, by 1917, had become 'mature, quiet, self-reliant and inclined to take both the present and future seriously.'" What Grayson excels at is establishing the context for the manufacturers, one example being the importance of standardization of parts. Joe van Blerck, one of the important builders with a gift for mechanical excellence, virtually built each of his early engines different from the previous one. The result became a service nightmare for repairing and replacing parts. Among the engine manufacturers is a great geographic diversity that Grayson captures. While most manufacturers were located in the Midwest and East Coast, he covers in detail manufacturers such as Hall-Scott of California, which was perhaps best known for their aviation work but certainly had a large impact on motorboating. Grayson devotes an entire chapter to Gray Motor Company of Detroit, led in its early years by the marketing genius Ora J. Mulford. Mulford, with his passion for motor boats, carried on the business of building excellent marine engines during the roughest years for the industry. Mulford made each race won with a Gray motor an opportunity for the boating press to mention the firm, and advertised the company so intensively to the point that it was recognized as one of the factors in establishing the pleasure boat market. Coverage reflective of the later years of the era emphasizes the constant improvement in speeds achieved and engine durability. The designs become virtually totally enclosed, and the power-to-weight ratios improve dramatically. Grayson's book might be a disappointment to people looking for specific information on how to restore a particular engine, but the importance of the contextual stories he records about the formation and maturing of this most significant industry far outweigh the negatives. The book has a large number of illustrations derived from catalog cuts and charts that can help with identification of the age and possibly the manufacturer of engines. Engines Afloat should find a place on any marine historian's bookshelf. Scott M. Peters January 6, 2001
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