Introduction
Welcome to Otto Sideshaft’s
Email - Mark Meincke at – sideshaft953@Yahoo.com
This site has been created in the interest of all Stationary Gas Engine hobbyists. I invite every gas engine enthusiast to join me in making the hobby a safe and enjoyable pastime for generations to come. It is through education and sharing that the gas engine hobby will endure. After all, we’re just the curator’s of our collections for a short period of time. My name is Mark Meincke ( alias Otto Sideshaft ) and I live along the south shore of Lake Erie in Wellington, Ohio. Wellington is located about 35 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio. I’m married to Wendy, my wife of 34 years. I have owned and restored hundreds of gas engines in the past 37 years. I researched gas engines for 25 years before I had the notion to write a book about the hobby. I’m now the author of “The Complete Guide to Stationary Gas Engines”. Writing a book about the gas engine hobby was my way of putting something back into the hobby that has given me so much.
Brown Cochran Company
The Brown Cochran Company was located in Lorain Ohio. Brown Cochran was formed through a merger of the Brown Company in Columbus Ohio and the Cochran Company of Lorain in late 1901. The black and white photograph is a copy of an original photograph circa 1905. In the first photograph the Johnson Steel Company can be seen in the background. The Johnson Steel Company bought out Brown Cochran about 1912. The B&W images were taken looking westward. The long side of the building showing the manufacturing signs and windows faced south onto 28th Street. Brown Cochran manufactured horizontal engines in sizes from 4 to 50 horsepower, all being of the sideshaft design. Brown Cochran also manufactured a vertical 3 horsepower engine. The company was deeply involved in the manufacture of refrigeration equipment for ice houses at this time as well. “Brown” engines were heavy, the 6 hp engine weighted over one ton and the 15 horse weighted in at 5000 pounds. They were well built with all engines designed with ported cylinders, hit miss flyball governing, low tension igniter type ignition. The connecting rod was made with box wedge type bearing for taking up on wrist pin bearing wear. 
The carburetor was of the overflow design with one needle valve mounted on its top. The igniter was mounted into the face of the head. The igniter was tripped from the sideshaft. All lubrication was supplied to the bearings and cylinder from drip type oilers. The cylinder casting was made to bolt onto the base with three bolts being used for each side of the cylinder. Brown Cochran engines were identified from the factory with a brass tag mounted to the top of the cylinder.
Inside view Brown Cochran Assembly Room
The color pictures posted here show the original Brown Cochran
building as it appeared in 1995 just prior to being demolished.
”Author Signed”
Total of $24.95 ppd
Send order and payment to:
Mark Meincke – 47981 Hughes Rd – Wellington, Oh 44090
