history

Originally organized during the 1920s as D.W. Onan & Son, this firm continues as a major builder of engines and engine/generator sets. A recent Onan catalog listing indicates that diesel generator sets ranging up to 750 KW are currently available – a long way from the small home lighting plants originally produced by the company. Although gasoline engines powered the early units, Onan announced a series of small air cooled diesel engines during 1947. The single cylinder model shown here was rated at 6 horsepower and carried a 2 1/2 KW generator. Weight was only 370 pounds.