History Were Roots Super Chargers in use in the USA before WW2? Perhaps on a Model A Ford?

G'day Guys,

We are having a technology debate in our local car club and I am hoping you guys can help me settle it.

I was wondering if anyone here has evidence of a Rootes type supercharger being used in the USA before WW2? It would be even better if it was on a car that competed at Bonneville or Similar.

Cheers

Stewart

 

When most people hear "Roots blower" they think of 71 series GMC and they have been around since the 1930s.

 

Agreed, what I am looking for is evidence of that type of blower used on an american car preferably a Ford as early as possible.

 

Well of course Hot Rods didn't run at Bonneville before the war. I believe i have seen pre war Roots blown Mercedes cars. Believe Duesenburg race cars and Millers had roots blowers. Don't know about Ford cars on the lakes

 

Funny, was just wondering this morning when GMC blowers were first reliably used in drag racing and LSR cars.


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I think Barney Navaro ran one pretty early at the dry lakes

 

Look up the Tom Cobb special. Barney Navaro would be a good one to look up too.

 

Thanks Guys,

I probably should have been more clear to start with, we are having a disagreement about cl***ing of cars.

The cl*** eligibility officer is contending it is fine for UK cars to have roots type blowers because they were used in UK racing before WW2, but it is not ok for American cars (in this case an A model Ford) because it is not an in period modification.

Thanks heaps for the info I will get googling now.

Cheers

Stewart

 

I just found this.

Apparently two guys Carl Green and Sam Rose built a Roots Supercharged T model for the 91 Inch Formula for Indy in 1926 (though I am not clear if it ran or not) and also they ran it in the Detroit 100.

If anyone has more info that would be great.

https://books.google.com.au/books?i...Supercharged Ford A Model Before 1939&f=false

Cheers

Stewart

 

Stutz offered a Roots blower about 1929 or 1930. Don't know how many were built but a few still exist.

The basic design was invented in Connorsville Indiana in the 1850s so it is definitely American.

Other than the Stutz all American supercharged cars I am aware of, used a centrifugal blower. This went for Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg and Graham. The centrifugal blower dates to WW1 era aircraft engine experiments at Wright Field and elsewhere.

To be authentic you should use a centrifugal blower which are more efficient anyway. McCulloch made centrifugal blowers as an accessory for Fords in the 30s although not for Model A, just for Ford V8s.

One of the regulars here installed a 30s Graham blower on a Ford 4 cyl flathead tractor engine for the Race of Gentlemen. He was impressed by its performance, and put up a good show against larger more sophisticated compe***ion.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/supercharged-banger-modified-now-has-a-v8.850340/

 

The Stutz supercharger, a $1500 option on a $5000 car. For comparison, you could buy a new Model A sedan for $500.

http://home.townisp.com/~alsancle/StutzSuperCharger.html

This article compares the Stutz to the Mercedes supercharger, the Blower Bentleys used a similar arrangement.

 

Thanks Rusty

 

Not sure on the Deusy, but Millers used centrifugal blowers.

I have a some pictures of a 1926 Bugatti, and a '34 Alfa Romeo with roots type blowers and the Miller centrifugal.

 

Spaulding Brothers 1940-41 Lakes T roadster.

21 stud flatty, Riley heads, twin ford carbs, Mercedes Benz Roots style blower.

 

There's a pic of the Spalding blower motor in the "T" in Don Montgomery's "Hot Rods as they were" book. It states; The blower was used post war on Don Blair's Modified.

 

Post war.

 

If the question is are roots blowers period correct for pre-war american hot rods, I would agree with the above. The stuff on Blair and Navarro is well do***ented.

 

Thanks Heaps guys.

This article may interest some.http://theoldmotor.com/?p=99626

Not a hotrod but a roots blown model T racing at Indy in 1926

 

bentleys ran roots blowers, front mount. first james bond car...

 

@Marty Strode wrote a good magazine article on this subject.

 

Most indy cars were blown prior to the early thirties "junk" formula. But thats not really what you asked.