OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Company Histories BRIGGS & STRATTON - History - 1980s Booklet

PART TWO

Part Two covers pages 6 to 12 of the booklet. Here, the reader learns about:-

- Post-war boom and garden equipment
- B&S name almost synonymous with 'lawnmower'
- Introduction of the die cast aluminium engine
- Patent infringement court case
- B&S Technologies -automotive lock supplier
- One million engines in one year
- The 'SonoDuct' engine
- Worldwide service network
- Presidents of B&S

The 'SonoDuct'
Of particular interest to me was the 'SonoDuct' engine, developed by Briggs in 1958.
The authors tell us that the engine did go into production, - but acceptance was hampered by the fact that a large,
odd-shaped hole was required on the deck to install the engine...

This was an engine specifically designed to reduce engine noise. There was a clear realisation that noise
could be reduced by moving the flywheel to the bottom of the engine. Didn't Victa do that a few decades later?

Here is a picture of the SonoDuct engine fitted to an unidentified lawnmower:-