Briggs & Stratton Corporation is an American manufacturer of gasoline engines with headquarters in
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa (; known informally as Tosa; originally Wau-wau-too-sa or Hart's Mill) is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 48,387 at the 2020 census. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, and is a pa ...
.
Engine production averages 10 million units per year as of April 2015. The company reports that it has 13 large facilities in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territor ...
and 8 more in
Australia,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...
,
China,
Mexico
Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...
, and the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. The company's products are sold in over 100 countries across the globe.
History
In 1908, inventor
Stephen Foster Briggs and investor
Harold M. Stratton started an informal partnership to capitalize on the growing automobile industry. Eventually Briggs and Stratton settled on manufacturing automotive components and small
gasoline engine
A petrol engine (gasoline engine in American English) is an internal combustion engine designed to run on petrol (gasoline). Petrol engines can often be adapted to also run on fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas and ethanol blends (such as '' ...
s.
In 1919 Briggs & Stratton purchased the manufacturing rights for a small, simple two-seat vehicle with a gasoline engine called the
Smith Flyer
The Smith Flyer was an American automobile manufactured by the A.O. Smith Company in Milwaukee from 1915 until about 1919 when the manufacturing rights were sold to Briggs & Stratton and it was renamed to Briggs & Stratton Flyer.
History
T ...
from the
A.O. Smith Company in Milwaukee. The Flyer had a small gasoline engine mounted on a fifth wheel, or motor wheel. Briggs & Stratton made engine improvements that raised the horsepower and renamed the vehicle the Briggs & Stratton Flyer. The
Guinness Book of Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
lists the Flyer as the most inexpensive car of all time, selling at US$125 to US$150 (equivalent to $2020 to $2430 in 2021). In 1925 they sold the rights to the Flyer to Automotive Electric Services Corporation. Briggs & Stratton kept the motor that had been the heart of the motor wheel and adapted it to power other applications such as reel lawn mowers and small equipment such as washing machines.
The company went public on the
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed ...
in 1928.
During World War II, Briggs & Stratton produced generators for the war effort. Some pre-war engines were made with aluminum, which helped the company develop its expertise in using this material. This development, along with the post-war growth of 1950s
suburbs
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include Commercial area, commercial and mixed-use development, mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a ...
(and lawns), helped secure Briggs & Stratton's successful growth throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Stephen Briggs went on to purchase
Evinrude and
Johnson Outboards
Johnson Outboards was an American manufacturer of outboard motors founded by the four brothers Louis, Harry, Julius and Clarence Johnson.
History
The original company that made Johnson inboard motors and outboard motors was the Johnson Brothers ...
and start the
Outboard Marine Corporation
Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) was a maker of Evinrude, Johnson and Gale Outboard Motors, and many different brands of boats. It was a multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 corporation. Evinrude began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1907. OMC was based ...
. Frederick P. Stratton Sr. (the son of Harold Stratton) served as Chairman of Briggs & Stratton until his death in 1962 (Harold also died that year). Frederick P. Stratton Jr. served as Chairman until his retirement in 2001.
In 1995, Briggs & Stratton sold the automotive component business. The resulting company is Strattec Security Corporation.
In 2000, the company acquired its consumer generator business from the Beacon Group and formed Briggs & Stratton Power Products. The Beacon Group had previously purchased the Consumer Products Division of Generac Corporation (now
Generac Power Systems) in 1998. In 2005, the company added
Simplicity Manufacturing Inc, and
Snapper, Inc, to the Briggs & Stratton Power Products line.
Murray, Inc, one of its largest customers, collapsed owing the company $40 million, and to minimize the loss Briggs & Stratton purchased the name, marketing rights and product designs of that company. In 2008, Briggs & Stratton announced it would be acquiring the
Victa
Victa is an Australian manufacturer of outdoor garden equipment, including petrol and electric lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, and chainsaws. They manufacture these in petrol & lithium-ion powered variants. However, Victa remains most well known fo ...
Lawn Care business from GUD Holdings Limited Australia for
A$23 million.
In 2019, Briggs & Stratton announced they would be closing their engine factory in
Murray, Kentucky
Murray is a home rule-class city in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of Calloway County and the 19th-largest city in Kentucky. The city's population was 17,741 during the 2010 U.S. census, and its micropolitan area's popu ...
, with production being moved to their
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff is a medium city in Butler County in Southeast Missouri, United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. The population was 16,225 at the 2020 census. The Poplar ...
facility.
On July 20, 2020, Briggs & Stratton filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, whet ...
.
KPS Capital Partners
KPS Capital Partners is an American investment company that manages KPS Special Situation Funds, a family of investment funds. KPS specifically invests out of two funds raised in October 2019: KPS Special Situations Fund V ($6.12 billion) and KPS ...
purchased a majority of the company stake for $550 million.
On September 22, 2020
KPS Capital Partners
KPS Capital Partners is an American investment company that manages KPS Special Situation Funds, a family of investment funds. KPS specifically invests out of two funds raised in October 2019: KPS Special Situations Fund V ($6.12 billion) and KPS ...
closed on the acquisition of Briggs and Stratton. This sale waives the $900 million that Briggs owed going into bankruptcy.
Acquisitions, agreements and joint ventures
* Farymann Diesel GmbH (1979–1984) – Based in
Lampertheim
Lampertheim is a town in the Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany. In 1984, the town hosted the 24th ''Hessentag'' state festival.
Geography
Location
Lampertheim lies in the southwest corner of Hesse in the Rhine rift at the Biedensand Conser ...
(near
Mannheim
Mannheim (; Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (german: Universitätsstadt Mannheim), is the second-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg after the state capital of Stuttgart, and Germany's ...
) in Germany, this was the first foreign acquisition Briggs & Stratton had ever made and was a poor fit with the company's acknowledged expertise in high volume, low cost production. They officially completed the acquisition on May 29, 1979. Despite investing in new production methods, Briggs & Stratton never understood the very low volume, highly customized nature of the air-cooled diesel engine market. After considering adding Italy's
Lombardini to increase its presence in the diesel market, as well as a failed attempt to develop its own designs, Briggs & Stratton accepted defeat and sold the company to a private investor for a minimal amount to avoid further liabilities. Since the energy crisis had not affected the US market's preference for gasoline engines, enthusiasm waned rapidly at management level for diesel engines.
* Daihatsu Briggs & Stratton (DBS) – In an effort to stave off Japanese competition during the 1980s, Briggs & Stratton entered a 50/50 joint venture with the
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
subsidiary
Daihatsu
, commonly known as Daihatsu, is a Japanese automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest surviving Japanese internal combustion engine manufacturers. The company's headquarters are located in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture.
Historically, Daihatsu was ...
Motor Company in Japan. Located in
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the north ...
( from
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
, Japan), construction on the then- plant began in December 1986 and was completed in April 1987. This joint venture was notable for the manufacture of vertical and horizontal crankshaft engines from 12.5 to under the Vanguard brand. Today the plant employs roughly 100 people on two shifts and manufactures Vanguard V-twin engines ranging from 14 to . By the end of 2017, Briggs & Stratton is planning to move the production of Vanguard V-twin from Japan to USA
* The
Mitsubishi
The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries.
Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group historically descended from the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company which existed from 187 ...
Agreement – The Vanguard line initially consisted of three single-cylinder engines and several V-twin engines. The V-twins, made by DBS, had sold very well but the single-cylinder engine models, originally produced at Briggs & Stratton's
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Menomonee Falls is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States, and is part of the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area, Greater Milwaukee area. The population was 35,626 at the 2010 census, makin ...
plant, didn't fare so well. Briggs & Stratton needed to solve this problem, so, following discussions with several Japanese engine manufacturers, it entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. of
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
, Japan. Briggs & Stratton produced only certain parts for the engines, while Mitsubishi was responsible for overall production and shipping. The completed single-cylinder engines were shipped directly to customers worldwide. Briggs & Stratton had exclusive marketing rights for the resulting products only in North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand. MHI had exclusive marketing rights (under their own brand name) in Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. In other countries both companies competed with the same product under their own brand names which led to considerable friction, and together with escalating production costs in Japan, caused this otherwise successful relationship to fail. Briggs & Stratton commenced marketing alternative U.S.-made single-cylinder engines under the Vanguard brand in early 2007.
* The
Komatsu Zenoah Venture – In May 1987, Briggs & Stratton entered into an agreement with yet another Japanese company, executing a 10-year contract with the Komatsu Zenoah Company of Tachikawa, Japan. Under the terms of the contract, Komatsu would manufacture a
2-cycle
A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of t ...
, 4 hp (3 kW) engine, in which Briggs & Stratton would purchase and distribute in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Said Fred Stratton, "This venture was not successful, because the rising price of the
yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar (US$) and the euro. It is also widely used as a third reserve currency after the US dollar and the ...
made the engine too expensive in the U.S."
* The
Toro Agreement – In 1999, Briggs & Stratton made a license agreement with The Toro Company of Bloomington, Minnesota. to produce the Toro
R*Tek piston ported version of their E series
2-stroke engine
A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of t ...
(AKA Lawn-Boy DuraForce) for use in Toro Snow Throwers. The engine was a 141cc 2-cycle that produced from 4 hp to 6.5 hp at 3700 to 4000 rpm on a 50:1 gas & oil mix. A higher power 7-HP model was made (Engine Model# 84330) for use in heavier duty machines such as the single stage Snow Commander (2001-2008) & 2 stage Power Max 726TE/6000 (2004-2008); the extra horsepower was obtained using transfer ports in the piston and cylinder wall, and this model ran at the same operating speed as the 6.5 hp engines (4000rpm). Production stopped in 2011.
Innovations
*The aluminum engine – This was introduced in 1953 as a means of having a lighter-weight engine for applications such as rotary lawn mowers. It was improved five years later in 1958 with the introduction of the Kool-Bore (all aluminum) and Sleeve-Bore (aluminum, with a
cast iron
Cast iron is a class of iron– carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impu ...
cylinder liner).
*Easy-Spin Starting – This
compression release
A compression release mechanism works to ease the starting of internal combustion engines by allowing them to spin up to starting speed without having to work against the pumping action of the pistons. It does this through a release valve that is i ...
, implemented as an extra hump on the intake lobe of the
camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft that contains a row of pointed cams, in order to convert rotational motion to reciprocating motion. Camshafts are used in piston engines (to operate the intake and exhaust valves), mechanically controlled ignition systems ...
, was introduced in 1961 to reduce the effort required to start an engine. In 1982, a new U.S.
federal safety regulation required lawnmower blades to stop spinning within three seconds of the operator letting go of
the handle. The least costly, most common way of complying with the new regulation was to put a flywheel brake on the mower engine, to stop the engine (and therefore the blade) immediately when the handle was released. Briggs & Stratton engineers found engines with the Easy-Spin camshaft were unacceptably difficult to restart after being braked to a quick stop. The Easy-Spin lobe hump was moved to the exhaust valve, but this reduced engine performance. The intake-side Easy-Spin remained in use on Briggs & Stratton's engines larger than those used on mowers subject to the brake requirement, but was discontinued in 1997 due to tightening
emission regulations.
*The Synchro-Balanced Engine – This 1966 innovation was designed to attenuate vibration caused by the
reciprocating mass
Engine balance refers to how the forces (resulting from combustion or rotating/reciprocating components) are balanced within an internal combustion engine or steam engine. The most commonly used terms are ''primary balance'' and ''secondary bala ...
of a single-cylinder engine. The design was a series of counterweights opposing the crankpin.
*The Twin Cylinder Engine – This engine was introduced in 1977 as a means of competing with Briggs & Stratton's rivals, particularly Japanese firms like
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...
who were cutting into traditional Briggs & Stratton markets by producing lawn mower engines (and later, complete lawn mowers). These first models were rated 16 hp (11.9 kW) and displaced 40 cubic inches (656 cc), but were joined in 1979 by 42 cubic inch (694 cc) models rated at 18 hp (13.4 kW). The original price for the version was $70 lower (at US$228) than their single-cylinder cast-iron version bearing the same power rating.
*Industrial/Commercial (I/C) – This series of engines, initially ranging from 3 to , was introduced in 1979 as Briggs & Stratton's answer to high quality commercial-duty engines produced by competitors. These engines include heavy-duty features such as
Stellite
Stellite is a range of cobalt-chromium alloys designed for wear resistance. The alloys may also contain tungsten or molybdenum and a small, but important, amount of carbon.
History
Stellite is a trademarked name of Kennametal Inc. Prior to tha ...
exhaust valves, upgraded bearings, cast iron sleeved cylinder bores and high-capacity air cleaners.
*The Briggs & Stratton Gasoline/Electric Hybrid Car – In 1980, at the tail end of the
energy crisis
An energy crisis or energy shortage is any significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In literature, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, in particular, those that supply n ...
, Briggs & Stratton developed the first gasoline-electric
hybrid automobile concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
. "The Hybrid" was designed by
Brooks Stevens
Clifford Brooks Stevens (June 7, 1911 – January 4, 1995) was an American industrial designer of home furnishings, appliances, automobiles, and motorcycles, as well as a graphic designer and stylist. Stevens founded Brooks Stevens, Inc., headq ...
, had six wheels and was powered by a twin-cylinder 16 hp (11.9 kW) Briggs & Stratton engine and a large bank of 6v
lead-acid electric batteries. Only the second axle was driven, with an extra rear axle added to support the weight of the batteries.
*Magnetron Ignition – This
solid-state ignition system introduced by Briggs & Stratton in 1982 eliminated the
points
Point or points may refer to:
Places
* Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States
* Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
* Points ...
-and-
condenser system, the performance of which steadily degraded between required periodic maintenance service. Magnetron was made available for
retrofitment to Briggs & Stratton engines made since 1963. Competitor
Tecumseh
Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy an ...
had made a
capacitor discharge ignition
Capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) or thyristor ignition is a type of automotive electronic ignition system which is widely used in outboard motors, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws, small engines, turbine-powered aircraft, and some cars. It ...
setup since 1968 for their
cast iron
Cast iron is a class of iron– carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impu ...
engine models, expanding its availability and making it standard equipment on vertical shaft engines powering lawn mowers in late 1976, five years before the advent of the Briggs Magnetron. Defunct competitor Clinton Engines commercialized a
piezo "Spark Pump" ignition without breaker points in the early 1960s.
Logo history
The Briggs & Stratton
logo
A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordm ...
was always a masthead, but it has been changed several times over the course of the company's 80-plus years.
*Pre War logos (1931–1943) – This logo started off with a diamond shape and read Briggs & Stratton and its home city of MILWAUKEE, WIS., U.S.A. below it; in the middle, it had the words 4 CYCLE on the top mast and the words GASOLINE MOTOR and phrase MADE IN U.S.A. on the bottom mast. About 1934 Briggs & Stratton added the more familiar shape of a diamond split across the center with a banner.
*Gold Logo (1948–1963) – This logo had the name BRIGGS STRATTON and its home city of MILWAUKEE, WIS., U.S.A. below it; in the middle, it had the words 4 CYCLE on the top mast and the words GASOLINE ENGINE and phrase MADE IN U.S.A. on the bottom mast.
*Gold Logo (II) (1963–1976) – Although similar to the last logo, this had differently arranged wording: The name BRIGGS STRATTON was written in a new logotype, however, this design also included the horsepower rating above the gold logo in the white field, its city of location was in the middle as before, only this time the patent numbers were eliminated (if you look at a
decal
A decal (, , ) or transfer is a plastic, cloth, paper, or ceramic substrate that has printed on it a pattern or image that can be moved to another surface upon contact, usually with the aid of heat or water.
The word is short for '' decalco ...
on a production engine) from the bottom portion of the mast. There were some engines produced until 1977 that used the prior logo from 1948.
*The Red, White, and Black Logo (1976–present) – This is the company's current logo. The logo has the name BRIGGS STRATTON in black letters on the white midsection of the masthead. The words 4 CYCLE ENGINE are on the red top portion of the mast and the city line MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, U.S.A. is written on the black bottom portion of the mast. Although the logo hasn't been changed much since then, the wording on the top and bottom sections of the mast were removed in 1985, although the company continued to use these two sections with the respective wordings ORIGINAL (red section) and SERVICE PARTS (black section) until 1989.
Models
Cast-iron models
* 5 (cast iron) (1950–1957)
* 5S (cast iron; suction carburetor) (1949–1957)
* 6 (cast iron) (1952–1957)
* 6S (cast iron; suction carburetor) (1949–1957)
* 8 (cast iron) (1949–1957)
* 9 (cast iron) (1949–1962)
* 14 (cast iron) (1948–1963)
* 19 (cast iron) (1957–1965)
* 19D (cast iron) (1963–1965)
* 23 (cast iron) (1949–1957)
* 23A (cast iron) (1956–1965)
* 23C (cast iron) (1961–1963)
* 23D (cast iron) (1963–1965)
* 191400 and 193400 (cast iron) (1965–1966)
* 200400 (cast iron) (1966–1974)
* 231400 (cast iron) (1965–1966)
* 233400 (cast iron) (1965–1991)
* 243400 (cast iron) (1965–1991)
* 300420 (cast iron) (1966–1971)
* 301430 (cast iron) (1971–1972)
* 302430 (cast iron) (1972–1977)
* 320420 (cast iron) (1969–1971)
* 325430 (cast iron) (1971–1972)
* 326430 (cast iron) (1972–1991)
Letter series
Cast iron block,
flathead
Flathead may refer to:
Peoples
* Flathead people, one of three tribes of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation in Montana.
* The Flathead, or Flathead Indian (or Amerindian) tribe more formally known as the Confed ...
, with gravity-feed float carb unless otherwise noted
* A 1933–1948
* B 1934-1948
* F "Full Power" (suction carb overhead valve) 1921-1922
* FB "Full Power" (suction carb overhead valve) 1922-1925
* FC "Full Power" (suction carb overhead valve) 1924-1925
* FE (suction carb overhead valve) 1925 only
* FG (overhead valve) 1927 only
* FH (suction carb; overhead valve) 1925–1933
* FHI (float carb overhead valve) 1929 only
* FI (overhead valve) 1927–1933
* FJ-1 (aluminum parts) 1929-1937 used exclusively on military generators
* FJ-2 cast iron non-military version of FJ-1 (1930-1932)
* H (1933-1940)
* I (1938–1949)
* K 1933-1940
* L (suction carb) (1930-1933) Used on washing machines
* M (1930-1933)
* N (1940–1954)
* P (F-head) (1920)
* PB (F-head) (1924-1935)
* Q (1925-1933) First flathead model
* R (1929-1933)
* S (1920?)
* S (1930-1933) Suction carb
* T (1930-1933)
* U (1940-1945) Suction carb
* WA (1930-1932)
* WI (cast iron; suction carb) (1938–1957) (industrial version of WMB)
* WM (cast iron; suction carb) (1936–1941) (WM, standing for Washing Machine)
* WMB (cast iron; suction carb) (1938-1957) (improved WM)
* WMG (cast iron; suction carb) (1937-1942) (WM with a generator)
* WMI (cast iron; suction carb) (1936-1941) (industrial version of WM)
* Y (cast iron; suction carb) (1931–1940)
* Z and ZZ (1931-1948)
Many variations and submodels were available on the basic series mentioned above. Some variations include:
* gear reduction (gears bolted to the back of the engine to slow the speed of the PTO shaft) first offered in 1934, on models A B K and Z later on I U N and WI. Designated by an "R" after the basic model, then a 2, 4, or 6 to designate the reduction ratio.
* high speed models (higher intake capacity to run higher rpm) available on the A B K M R and Z series. designated with an "H" after the basic model.
* lightweight models (some aluminum parts to save weight) available on the A B I K R and Z series. Designated with an "L" after the basic model
* inboard marine engines (special base, no governor, thrust bearing on PTO side) available on models A B H I K N and Z. Designated with an "M" after the basic model. Some models also had forward neutral and reverse transmissions. These engines have an "T" or "G" after the "M"
Aluminum models
* 6B (horizontal shaft) (1955–1959)
* 6BH (vertical shaft) (1953–1958)
* 6BHS (vertical shaft; suction carburetor) (1953–1958)
* 6BS (horizontal shaft; suction carburetor) (1955–1958)
* 8B (horizontal shaft) (1955–1958)
* 8BH (vertical shaft) (1953–1958)
* 60100 (horizontal shaft) (1958–1991)
* 80100 (horizontal shaft) (1958–1977)
* 80200 (horizontal shaft) (1960–1991) (horizontal shaft) and 190700 (vertical shaft) (1969–1997)
* 90000
* 97000 Europa OHV (vertical shaft)
* 100000
* 110000
* 120000
* 130000
* 140000 (horizontal shaft) (1958–1966)
* 170000
* 252410 (horizontal shaft) and 252700 (vertical shaft) (1977–1991)
* 280000
* 310000 OHV
* 400000 Twin Cylinder
* 420000 Twin Cylinder
* 460000 Twin Cylinder
Industrial and commercial models
* 81300 and 81400 (horizontal shaft) (1979–1985)
* 82200 (horizontal shaft; Quiet Power) (1982–1994)
* 82300 and 82400 (horizontal shaft; Quiet Power) (1982–1994)
* 114900 (vertical shaft; Quiet Power) (1982–1991)
* 131200 (horizontal shaft) (1979–1985)
* 132200 (horizontal shaft; Quiet Power) (1982–1994)
* 131900 (vertical shaft) (1979–1989)
* 132900 (vertical shaft; Quiet Power) (1982–1995)
* 192700 and 193700 (vertical shaft) (1983–1994)
* 195400 (horizontal shaft) (1979–1994)
* 221400 (horizontal shaft) (1979–1985)
* 255400 (vertical shaft) (1984–1994)
* 281000 (vertical shaft) (1981-1991)
* Briggs & Stratton/I/C 283H07-0399-E1 (050923AZ) (16-hp) (vertical shaft)
Outboard motors
Briggs & Stratton/I/tC 130g32-0059-h1
Karting engines
* World Formula 16 HP OHV
*
Animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Kingdom (biology), biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals Heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, are Motilit ...
6.5 HP OHV
*
Raptor
Raptor or RAPTOR may refer to:
Animals
The word "raptor" refers to several groups of bird-like dinosaurs which primarily capture and subdue/kill prey with their talons.
* Raptor (bird) or bird of prey, a bird that primarily hunts and feeds on v ...
5 HP
flathead
Flathead may refer to:
Peoples
* Flathead people, one of three tribes of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation in Montana.
* The Flathead, or Flathead Indian (or Amerindian) tribe more formally known as the Confed ...
Two-cycle engines
* 084300 (Horizontal shaft) (1999-2011) Made under license for Toro as the R*TEK 141cc E Series Snow Thrower
* 062030 (Horizontal shaft) (1980-1993)
* 095700 and 096700 (Vertical shaft) (Years Unknown) Made under a contract with Komatsu Zenoah
See also
*
Eshelman
Eshelman was a marque of small American automobiles (1953–1961) and other vehicles and implements including motor scooters, garden tractors, pleasure boats, aircraft, golf carts, snowplows, trailers, mail-delivery vehicles and more. The ...
*
John I. Beggs – former Chairman
Headquarters, manufacturing plants, and testing facilities
Briggs & Stratton builds over 9,000,000 engines in the USA each year. The company employs over 3,000 employees in six states. Wauwatosa, WI, is home to the company's headquarters and R&D center. Manufacturing plants are located in Poplar Bluff, MO; Auburn, AL; Statesboro, GA; and Sherrill, NY. The company also has a proving grounds and testing facility located in Fort Pierce, FL.
References
Further reading
* Rodengen, Jeffrey L. ''The Legend of Briggs & Stratton''. Ft Lauderdale, Fl: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1995.
External links
*
Briggs & Stratton SEC FilingsArticle on Small SI Engines
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Companies based in Wisconsin
Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Companies traded over-the-counter in the United States
Diesel engine manufacturers
Engine manufacturers of the United States
Manufacturing companies based in Wisconsin
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
1908 establishments in Wisconsin
American companies established in 1908
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020
Manufacturing companies established in 1908