Charging Set, 300-Watt Variations

[Mike K]

I have seen a few 'Chorehorse like' generators, that are a variation of the Canadian WW2 military version, these 'different' sets were made by PIONEER Chicago USA. The USA wartime Pioneer version has two outputs, the usual 12V DC and a second 240V AC outlet. I think these USA Pioneer models have a slightly larger engine bore than the Canadian sets. A club member , Bevan F. had one of these USA Pioneer sets and it was used on a few club trips, charging batteries.

Official nomenclature for the Pioneer set: Power unit DC/AC 250 watts No.1 [American] [1A ]

From the Smokstack forum:

I have one that I bought in April 1970. I got it from Hughes Trading North Coburg , Melbourne. I still have the receipt ! Mine is a 12volt D.C. and 240 volt A.C. I was told that they were used on tanks. It had a cast iron base that was the petrol tank. If yours has the same type of petrol tank, it needs to cleaned out well and painted with petrol resisting paint. I had a lot of problems with fine rust stopping it from running. You should start it with a 12 volt battery. Mine needs the 12 volts to energize the winding, if it hasn't been used for some time. When I was using it the crank shaft snapped in half. I was unable to get another one from Hughes Trading. I made up a straight shaft and used the cast base. The cylinder, piston and head were removed. A pulley was fitted on to the shaft and was then driven by another engine. I still have it all but not used it for many years. I think I could still have the cylinder,piston and head.

Spotted on Epay https://www.ebay.com/itm/195622723669

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19604447633...gAAOSw-elcOCUU

[David Dunlop]

Hello Mike.

I hope your summer weather is finally arriving.

I think another US Army supplier of similar equipment might also have been Homelite. I recall seeing one in a local surplus shop in the early 80’s, but recall little else about it.

David

[Colin Alford]

David,

Despite the branding change from Johnson Motors to Outboard Marine and Manufacturing Co. of Canada Limited, my understanding is that these Canadian produced Charging Sets were all made in the same facility in Peterborough. They certainly used the same part numbers.

Mike has introduced an interesting side note. The Pioneer GEN-E-MOTOR gaskets in his eBay link have the same part number (53-54) as those used on the Chore Horse (some sort of license agreement???)

[Colin Alford]

David,

It appears that there were two different canvas covers. One for units without the frame guard, and another for units with the frame guard.

There are different part number formats evident in the parts lists. It would appear that during most of the development of these sets the part number format was xx-xx with up to 3 digits left of the dash, and up to 4 digits right of the dash. The later development (which also appears to be the militarization of the design) uses a 6 digit part number format.

With both canvas covers having 6 digit part numbers, I suspect that they were developed for military contracts. The parts list shows canvas covers applicable to all CHI-395, and CHI-396 models ( though not for-397 (office lorry) type).

I presume that a canvas cover was supplied with all military contract units.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Colin Alford

David,

It appears that there were two different canvas covers. One for units without the frame guard, and another for units with the frame guard.

I have a NOS canvas cover for the frame guard type chorehorse.

Many years ago Aussie disposals stores had NOS chorehorse starting ropes with the wooden handle.

[James D Teel II]

Originally Posted by Colin Alford

Mike has introduced an interesting side note. The Pioneer GEN-E-MOTOR gaskets in his eBay link have the same part number (53-54) as those used on the Chore Horse (some sort of license agreement???)

That the part numbers are the same makes perfect sense when you think of different manufacturers making the same item. It doesn't matter who makes it as long as it is the same. Also, that cut out on eBay falls in the same scheme. I'll probably pick one up as a spare, though they rarely go out.

Edited to add: I made an offer to the eBay seller of the cut outs and picked one up at a fair price.

[Mike K]

My OMC chorehorse had a run after many years . I bought it NOS in the shipping crate including the tool/spares boxes and all of the ancillaries. Wish now that I should have taken the opportunity to buy the large stock of NOS chorehorse parts that Bill D. had back in the day.