1908 ??? Thor motor and carb

[Ross]

Hi folks. Thanks to Cory I was able to score this very nice Thor motor and exceptional carburetor. The serial number is shown (when Cory posts for me) You'll notice it is 8.6405 It has a distinct dot after the 8. Am I to assume it is an 08 serial number 6405 Any help or comments are welcome. The nickle on the carb is excellent. It was from a basement where it sat since the 1930's on a shelf.

[c.o.]

I'm glad to see you got your hands on it Ross! It sure is sweet!

















Sorry 'bout the sideways pics.. Photobucket is screwing with me!!!

[Ross]

Thanks Cory. Hopefully someone can start by giving me the correct year.Off to bed as it is after midnight here. I'll check back tomorrow.

[c.o.]

At first I really thought it resembled the engine in Bruce Linsday's bike (1908)....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carphot...n/photostream/

Then I noticed that the left case looked a little different on your engine Ross...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carphot...n/photostream/

It has the raised verticle lines similar to this engine... (scroll down the page) http://bringatrailer.com/2011/11/02/...ng-collection/ (advertised as an '08) but this engine looks altogether different.

This one is supposed to be a 1909.... http://www.yesterdays.nl/thor-1909-p-731.html

Maybe it's a late transition 1908???

[EricOlson]

Here's one that just popped up on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1908-...#ht_500wt_1182 It appears to have an R before the dot instead of a number. Not sure that this is really any help, but it sure is fun to look at more old engines!

[Ross]

Hi Eric, I saw that one on ebay and I too wondered about the R. Cory those pictures of BL's bike are great. Haven't had time to dig into my research files to study Thor engines but I am still hoping a Thor expert will tell the serial number story. Clearly it's a DOT after the 8.

[c.o.]

Eric, I see that the listing has a few possible years. In my estimation it is later that '08.

Ross, I'm gonna dig through some literature tonight... maybe some info will surface.

[c.o.]

I decided to take a spin through the forum to see what showed up and stumbled across this video...
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bbo...ight=1908+Thor
At the 2:05 mark the number shows up. Ya gotta be fast to catch it!!! So here's a still to take the frustration out of nabbing it!!! It looks like an M to me.



Anyway this is supposed to be an '08 but has the later style top end. I think it could be possible Ross that your engine may be older. It's just a hunch and seeing as there isn't anyone speaking up yet I think I'll see if I can round up somebody to weigh in on this!!!! I gotta admit though it's a hoot trying to figure this out!!!

[c.o.]

Ad from 1908... looks about right. Now if we can just get a numbers confirmation!

[Ross]

Cory the fellow I bought it from called it an 1906. But I could tell he wasn't sure. I wasn't going to mention that but maybe that will help in the search to figure out the serial number.

[talbot-2]

1910 Thor Engine on a 1910 Minneapolis

This thread prompted me to take a closer look at the Thor engine number on my 1910 Minneapolis. The engine number is "S.XXX". For some reason, I never noticed the "dot" between the "S" and the "XXX". The cylinder head fins on Ross' Thor engine are different from the cylinder head fins on the Thor in Cory's photo and the cylinder head fins on my Thor engine. Is Ross' engine earlier or later than 1908 - 1910 ???

[Ross]

I'm beginning to think it is a very early example of a Thor.

[c.o.]

The only thing that has me thinking it's not earlier is the drive side. I'm really leaning to 1908. I believe the writing on the earlier cases was cast into the case itself. The engine you have Ross looks like it has a tag??? It's nice to see you weighing in talbot-2!

[c.o.]

Here's an earlier example from a 1905 Light. (Photo credit goes to Tod Rafferty's Classic American Motorcycles)



This is a quote from Gregory Walter's Thor site.... http://209.204.252.20/thorhistory.htm

"From what we can see Thor did not change their design from 1903-1905. In a 1908 parts book they show a picture of the original 1903 design and call it a 1903-05. They also show a different Model for 1906-07, which uses the same design with numerous changes. The same model was updated in 1908 and sold as a model "7". This same design was until early 1909. "

[Ross]

Good pictures Cory. Someone must have the answer to the serial number mystery. Why does my engine begin with an 8 then a dot then four digits when other examples begin with a letter.