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Largest Crankcase Engine Built in 1903
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Largest Crankcase Engine Built in 1903

For mechanical geeks like us, this video shows what is thought to be the largest running single cylinder four-cycle open crankcase engine in existence. Built by the De La Vergne Engine Works in 1903, this 125 HP, 40 ton engine was on display at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

After the World's Fair, it was installed at W.F. Norman where it was used for almost seventy-two years. The engine powered a line shaft that machines were run off of. It was later replaced with electric motors at the end of its service life. The engine was sold to the Withers family in 1976 and can be viewed every Labor Day Weekend at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion show grounds.