Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1917 Aerothrust › Re: 1917 Aerothrust
Having both participated in and witnessed transactions involving these motors, all I can add to any speculation of final selling price on this one is that its "unpredictable"….having said that, I’ll vouch that the best chance the average Joe has of picking one up at an "acceptable" cost is either a fresh discovery purchased form a non-collector, or buying from a motor collector acquaintance with whom you can strike a reasonable deal.
This one is labeled as a "PORMO" which was the name Aerothrust used to describe their "portable motor". The early versions were built in Chicago, but this one was built after they moved to La Porte, Indiana.
To the best of my knowledge, PORMO engines were intended to be sold as stationary engines, ostensibly for farm, industrial, or home-owner use. They had a heavy belt pulley mounted onto the power end of the crankshaft, and transferred rotary power via a flat belt to from the crankshaft to whatever machine or apparatus that needed to be used.
Obviously, the auction motor is set up for marine use, so it’s either been converted to mount on on the transom and had the heavy flywheel/drive pulley removed in favour of the wooden propeller, OR it could have been tagged as a PORMO at the factory but instead set up and sold as a boat motor, OR it could be a replacement powerhead. At any rate, it appears to be the wider beaver-tail style prop. These were available both with and without the prop guard cage.
Hope this helps.
Best, PM T2
He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...