The Ubiquitous Schebler Model D Carburetor

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A. Day Jr. 40021 Ben Morgan Road, Leonardstown, Maryland 20650

In my opinion the Schebler Model D Carburetor was probably the most widely used of all the old time carburetors on marine engines. While Henry Ford made more than 15,000,000 carburetors for his Model T not many of his carburetors seem to have been used on marine engines. In a December 1921 article in Motor Boat it showed that 85% of the marine engine makers in the USA supplied Schebler as their standard offering.

It should be noted that there were a number of 'knock-offs' that were essentially Model D's. Michigan Wheel, Monarch Valve Company, Generator Valve Company, Acorn, etc., offered almost identical units to the Model D. Whether they had any agreements with Schebler regarding licenses, etc. is unknown. In any case none of them ever achieved the widespread use and production life of the Model D. It is my understanding that Schebler stopped making the Model D in the late 1930s, however, Canadian marine engine makers such as Lunenburgh Foundry went on making them up until recent years. The highly polished finish on the Model D regrettably seems to have ended around the early 1930s. Currently available New Old Stock Model Ds from that period typically have a rough sand cast finish.

There were a number of marine carburetor makers in the first third of the twentieth century. Most did not remain as marine carburetor makers, as the rapidly developing automobile industry was a much more attractive market. Kingston and Krice were two companies that made excellent marine carburetors and most marine engine makers would supply a customer with the carburetor they preferred. On the other hand, large marine engine makers such as Ferro made their own carburetors. Other companies such as Belle Isle used a unique carburetor which was more like a float feed mixing valve than a carburetor. This unit was possibly of their own design. Belle Isle only lasted from 1908 until 1912, yet a few of their engines still survive, though most don't have their original carburetor.

MODEL 'D'

One point that needs to be made is the typical small boat marine engine that up until the practice of converting automobile engines began to dominate the marine engine market, really had very simple carburetor demands. For example, small boat marine engines were operated basically at two speeds. Dead slow for docking and fishing, wide open throttle with the engine speed controlled by the size of the propeller for moving the boat at or close to its hull speed. With the widespread conversion of automotive engines to marine application often the carburetor that applied to the automotive application became the carburetor of choice.

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