Gilbert 07/11 - Fox 09 Who designed them??

This isn't exactly a stunt question, but several of the SSW members had some discussion of this on Isky's board, so I'm posting here. I tried to contact Dan Vincent, but I don't have his current Email address.

I have seen the reference to Fox as the designer of the Gilbert .07 and .11 several times. Maybe because all three were very similar. We also know that the Fox .09 was on the market well before the Gilbert engines; 1959 vs 1964 (or so).

This year at the MECA EXPO in Muncie, Bob Pelfrey presented research on the Gilbert engines. Based on conversations with Hi Johnson's son and the production supervisor at Dynamic, he believes Hi Johnson and Bob Holland were the designers of the Gilbert engines and Fox never had anything to do with them!

There is also a report of a conversation between Bill Effinger and Bob Wilkerson in which Effinger said he designed the Gilbert engines!

My question is, does anyone out there have anything to substantiate Fox as the designer of the Gilbert engines? Anything to backup Holland as the designer of the Gilberts? Any other contacts? Any help would really be appreciated!

I have several .07's and one .11. I got the .11 at a yard sale and it is missing the thrust washer, prop washer and prop nut. I used those items from a Fox .15X to be able to run the .11 if that means anything.

>This isn't exactly a stunt question, but several of the SSW
>members had some discussion of this on Isky's board, so I'm
>posting here. I tried to contact Dan Vincent, but I don't
>have his current Email address.
>
>I have seen the reference to Fox as the designer of the
>Gilbert .07 and .11 several times. Maybe because all three
>were very similar. We also know that the Fox .09 was on the
>market well before the Gilbert engines; 1959 vs 1964 (or
>so).
>
>This year at the MECA EXPO in Muncie, Bob Pelfrey presented
>research on the Gilbert engines. Based on conversations
>with Hi Johnson's son and the production supervisor at
>Dynamic, he believes Hi Johnson and Bob Holland were the
>designers of the Gilbert engines and Fox never had anything
>to do with them!
>
>There is also a report of a conversation between Bill
>Effinger and Bob Wilkerson in which Effinger said he
>designed the Gilbert engines!
>
>My question is, does anyone out there have anything to
>substantiate Fox as the designer of the Gilbert engines?
>Anything to backup Holland as the designer of the Gilberts?
>Any other contacts? Any help would really be appreciated!
>

Ron B.
F4Fguy

Based on the quality, I'd bet on Fox,I can't imagine Effinger ,Holland, or Johnson having anything to do with them.

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I always heard that the Gilbert line was made by K&B for Gilbert. Also that K&B had to be forced to make the motor as cheaply as it looks. Suprisingly the 07 and 11's that I ran were not too bad.
The Fox 09 was really a failure as far as I'm concerned. It had no real power and it certainly wasn't the easiest starter. But I did have one on a 1/2A Wowee and have rebuilt one a few years ago to relive the memory.I used a 6/4 Top Flite prop on it and Sig 35% fuel. That at least brings out the best that the motor has to offer.
Dennis

The Gilbert engines were definitely made by Dynamic (Johnson) and later by Gilbert themselves; never by K&B.

I've read in a couple of MECA articals overs the years that Hi Johnson and Bob Holland were the designers of the Gilbert engines.

Found the artical from 1988 Clarence Lee's Engine Clinic:
Acording to Bill Effinger himself, he was working with Berkeley to develop a line of plastic C/L RTF's and needed a bigger engine.
Effinger laid out the parameters but Hi Johnson and Bob Holland (who also did work on/for Wen-mac, Cox Tee Dee, Cub reeds and more)designed the engine.
Hi Johnson built the .11 at his plant, the .074 was built by the Gilbert people.