OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Engines Marino (Histroy for Jack)

To Cyberjack
Hi Jack
Here is another one for you
Where does it fit in ??
Looks the same as the New Marino Fire Fighter
Ian

the iron horse and chore horse

Hi Ian and ODK members,

Always a pleasure to hear from you.
You have asked a very interesting question.

I think the answer may be found in the incestuous nature of companies.
So ... what was the connection between Marino, Coopers and Sunbeam?

In my Statement of Significance on Marino Products in the History Forum, I
included a photo from the Cooper's Agent's Dinner from 1953.
At the same table was C.H. Brooks, Managing Director of Sunbeam in AUS.

The answer lies within licensing agreements.
Dowling is totally responsible for the pump - it's his world-patented self-primer.
The engine is controversial - the majority view is that it is an English Cooper.
I have argued that its heritage may be American - a Johnson Ironhorse design. Maybe.

In any case, Marino's association with Cooper goes back to the very early days,
with Dowling's first major invention, the Drenching Gun.



There seems to be some reciprocal rights with the decade's later Firefighter.
The following, from the Museum of Vic has in its collection a brochure for this machine.
You can view that brochure HERE

Sunbeam was the 'manufacturer' of Cooper products in Australia (by the 1950s).
The last page of the brochure says, "Made and Guaranteed by Sunbeam Corporation Limited
Formerly Cooper Engineering Company Pty. Limited)".

My best guess, then, is that the machine in the photo dates from the 1960s. This is
outside the scope of my article - that covered events to mid-late 1950.

It may be that Marino relinquished rights to the Firefighter by this time, and
Dowling let others do the work. Wherever the answer lies, it must be between Marino
and Coopers. Sunbeam seems incidental to me, at least at this time.

Ian, thanks for the input.
I hope new information will help us explain this vintage machine history.

All very interesting.
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JACK

Hi Gizmo, IanOZ and ODK membetrs,

Gizmo, thank you for the excellent photos of the Marino machine in the PM.
The photos you supply here are sensational.

For one thing, the 'Chore Horse" identifies "Johnson Motors" as
the manufacturer of the engine. No surprises there.

The Johnson generator restoration is fantastic. This is the machine
Marino Products sold to rural Australia in the 1930s and '40s.

Thanks again for this important information.

All very interesting.
------------------------------
JACK