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Antique Engine Database
Union Gas Engine Company
Union marine engines of 1893 featured an interesting vee-design, something rather unusual at this early date. Despite its design, this particular engine used a governor and carburetor similar to the Union horizontal models. By 1893 Union Gas Engine Company had discontinued the Regan engine, following instead their own patented designs. These included the R.J. Rolfson patents, No. 498,447 and 509,828 of 1893. In all, the Union Engines of 1893 were protected by seventeen different patents, some of Union’s own inventiveness, with others acquired from the purchase of Pacific Gas Engine Company, and still others from the work of D.S. Regan. The Pacific vertical engines were first built by Barrett adn Daly in 1889, emerging as union’s answer to marine engine design. Union horizontal engines of this period were available in sizes from 6 to 25 horsepower. Globe Gas Engine Company of Philadelphia built the same engien simultaneously.
history
The California Orchard & Farm Magazine of August 1, 1892, carried an illustration of the Regan Vapor Engine as built by Union Gas Engine Company of San Francisco. Calling it “The Pioneer Gasoline Engine,” Union went on to note that “All others are Imitation.” Chances are that this was one of Union’s first gasoline engne advertisements – their Trademark No. 74,866 of May 5, 1914 noted that “Union” had first been applied to internal combustion engines in August, 1892. Prior to this time however, Union had abviously been building the Regan engine, since the advertiement cited above noted that “Over eight hundred of these popular engines are in use on the Pacific Coast.” Union Gas Engine Company and Regan Vapor Engine Company gave newspapers of the day some interesting copy through a long and biter lawsuit initiated by the Regan people. Further reference to the case may be found under the Regan Vapor Engine Company heading.
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