Franklin,
with Continental and Lycoming, was one of the "big three"
of horizontally-opposed engines in the late 1930s and early
1940s. Franklin became an "also ran" after World War
II.
History
1893: H.H. Franklin Manufacturing is
formed.
1902: The first Franklin automobile is
sold. It has a four cylinder air-cooled engine.
1934: The Depression bankrupts Franklin
1937: A group of Franklin engineers buy the
assets of H.H. Franklin Co. and form Air Cooled Motors
Development Co. Engines are marketed under the Franklin
name.
1945: Air Cooled Motors is acquired by Republic
Aircraft to produce engines for its RC-3 Seabee.
1948: Tucker Industries buys Air Cooled
Motors from Republic to develop a liquid-cooled engine for the 1948
Tucker.
1961: Tucker sells Air Cooled Motors to
Aero Industries which renames the company Franklin Engine Co.
1975: Rights to Franklin engines are bought
by the Polish government which begins production of PZL-Franklin
engines in Rzeszow.
