1918 Le Rhone Le Rh

For sale by auction on Saturday 30 November 2013 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170 or 07733290120
The Le Rhône 9J is a nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine
manufactured in France by Gnome et Rhône. Le Rhône 9J engines were
produced under license in Great Britain by W. H. Allen Son &
Company of Bedford. in Germany by Motorenfabrik. Oberursel and in
the United States by Union Switch & Signal of Pennsylvania. In
common with other Le Rhône series engines. the 9J featured highly
visible copper induction pipes and used a single push-pull rod to
operate its two overhead valves. Examples of Le Rhône 9J engines
are on public display in aviation museums with several remaining
airworthy. powering both restored vintage aircraft and authentic
reproductions of such aircraft. Le Rhóne engines were one of the
finest available and were used to power the Sopwith Camel. Sopwith
Pup. Fokker and Thomas-Morse in addition to a number of other
aircraft of the day.

Oberursel manufactured the 110 hp version. allegedly without
authorization in Germany. The Oberursel Ur. II was a straight copy
of the Le Rhône. but the Le Rhône was preferred over the Oberursel
due to the superior materials used in the French version. However. br/>by July 1918 there was a shortage in Germany of castor oil. a
plant-derived lubricant that the rotaries required and because it
possessed lubrication qualities superior to mineral oils of the
day. A new Voltol-based lubricant. derived from mineral oil. was
substituted and was blamed for engine failures on rotary-engined
German fighters such as the Fokker E. V which used the Oberursel
Ur. II. It has been suggested that without proper lubricants. the Le
Rhône rotary would have been equally failure-prone.

This 80 hp Le Rhóne engine has the date stamp of 29th November
1918 as being the date it was accepted by the U. S. army. Factory
Number 0 1456 and S. C. number 66357 are clearly visible on the
identification plate. The vendor purchased the engine a number of
years ago and has not used her in anyway; it does appear to be in
good order with all the cooling fins in unmarked condition. Whether
to be used for the purpose of which it was designed. or as a
decorative piece. this Le Rhóne engine is delightful in every
aspect and will surely create interest among automobile and aero
enthusiasts alike.