Unknown Over-head valve motor

[pem]

Came across a photo of an unknown(at least to me)motorcycle motor. Over-head valve single circa 1912. Photo was taken in 1912.
I first thought it might be one of Perry Mack's Waverley or Mack singles but I don't think so. I think it might be a completely new motor.
Could be a prototype but of what. Looks like letters cast into the timing case cover but can't make them out.

Any help would be appreciated in identifying this motor. I looked at other motors from the time period with no luck. The round timing case
cover is unique to this motor. I thought I had scene another motor with the vertical protrusion running from the timing case to the bottom of the engine case but no luck.

Dick

[wideglide38]

I lightened up the photo trying see the engine. Not sure if this helps.

[pem]

Thanks William. It sure helped buy not enough detail yet. I tried messing around with different contrast and shadows with no luck either. I've got some ideas and I talked to
Herb who also has some ides. It looks to have a compression release rod and lever. I'll post a pic of the complete motorcycle soon. I first posted just the motor as not to bias our ideas.

Dick

[sirhrmechanic]

Curious whether it's American?

It has some British design cues somewhat reminiscent of JAP singles? But, then again, so do lots of engines. Just my impression. I think it's too early to be a JAP.

Great picture and I have faith that folks here will solve the mystery. But I am stumped!

Cheers,

Sirhr

[pem]

Here's the rest of the motorcycle. Its a 1912 Comet! I'm pretty sure it has the 1912 P.E.M. frame, fuel tank, fenders, handlebars and suspension bits as there was a 1912 P.E.M. registered at the same address where this picture was taken in Milwaukee on 27th St. The rider is Herman Hohensee and he is 16 years old. The P.E.M. was registered to him. Back in 1909 there was a 1909 Comet registered to Jacob Hohensee(brother)at the same address. The Hohensee family was well off and could afford motorcycles. The Comet Motor Mfg. Co. was at 29th & Lisbon Ave. in 1912 which was not that far away.

The Comet motorcycle pictured used the exact same script on the fuel tank as the earlier Comet's. The one big change from this P.E.M. to the Comet was the use of a belt drive. All P.E.M.s and Jefferson's has chain final drive so someone adopted belt drive to the Comet. Why? The rear wheel on this Comet used what I think is a HD rear wheel with the belt pulley attached. Just a guess. I just happened to have my original copy of the 1912 HD Neg. 599 photo nearby while looking at the Comet photo and I swear it is the same type rear wheel.

This Comet photo raises a lot of questions. Whose motor is that? Is it a Comet prototype? Who designed and built it? Frank Kitlitsch Jr. who was the main man at Comet was by the fall of 1912 already working in Jefferson, Wi. as the Superintendent at the Waverley Mfg. Co. Perry Mack was gone from Jefferson by this time and was hard at work back in Milwaukee on his Mack cyclecar motors. Did Frank Kitlitsch Jr. have this motor laying around after the original Comet Motor Co. stopped making motorcycles in 1910? Or is this motor a completely new design?

Dick

[c.o.]

A new trail to follow! Awesome! Sure seems to have a "Milwaukee" influence, don't it?