"Imperial Gas Engine Co., 60 Clementina St., S. F. Marine and stationary gas and gasoline engines. One, two, three and four-cylinder, from 4 to 150 H. P." (Quote from 1910.)

      "The Imperial motor, which is in much vogue on the Pacific Coast, is made by the Imperial Gas Engine Co., of 58-62 Clementina Street, San Francisco, Cal. It is a heavy-duty marine engine of simple design, built by skilled engine builders from the best obtainable materials. In the Imperial all valves are made vertical. interchangeable and in removable cages. The unscrewing of two nuts makes it possible to reach any valve almost instantly. The valves are mechanically operated and positive in action. The designer of this motor is Mr. E. R. Moffitt, who has been actively engaged in the gas engine business on the Pacific Coast for the past twenty-two years. He was associated for a long time with the Union Gas Engine Co. and later with the Standard Gas Engine Co. and has brought the experience of many years and long experimenting into perfecting the Imperial. The company has issued a complete description of their motors, which will be sent anywhere on request." (Quote from 1907)

      "Announcement has been made in San Francisco of a big merger between two of the heavy duty engine manufacturers, the Atlas Gas Engine Co. of Oakland, and the Imperial Gas Engine Co. of San Francisco. The business of these two companies has been consolidated, and a new company known as the Atlas Imperial Engine Co. has been formed in their stead. The new company is capitalized for $1,000,000, with A. Warenskjold, as president; E. R. Moffitt, first vice president; L. J. Holton, second vice president; L. M. Moberry, secretary, and M. E. Wright, treasurer. John Lorimer will be superintendent of the plant.

      Mr. Warenskjold and Mr. Lorimer were the original founders of the Atlas company in 1903. Mr. Warenskjold was the designer of the Atlas engine and has served as president for several years, while Mr. Lorimer has been in charge of mechanical operations. Mr. Moffitt is one of the oldest factors in the gas engine industry of the Pacific Cast and was one of the founders of the Imperial company, of which he acted as president. Mr. Holton has been heavily interested in Imperial, while Mr. Moberry has been associated with the Atlas company as secretary since 1906. Mr. Wright was vice president and secretary of the Imperial company prior to consolidation.

      The Imperial plant and machinery will be moved to Oakland and the facilities of the old plants combined under one roof at the Atlas factory, where both the Atlas and the Imperial heavy duty gas engines will be manufactured as well as the new Atlas Diesel engine.

      An addition 75x250 feet will be added to the Atlas plant to take care of the new requirements and special machinery will be installed for the manufacture of the Atlas Diesel engine. Orders for which are in excess of the present facilities for manufacture and which promise to be even greater as soon as the company begins to make its first installations. One of the big Atas Diesels is now being manufactured for installation in the King County ferry boat at Seattle and inquiries for the new engine are coming from all over the Coast and from the Orient.

      The Atlas engine will continue to be handled by the Atlas Gas Engine agency, Nilsen & Hanna, Seattle and the Imperial will be handled by the Sunset Engine Co., 809 Railroad Avenue, of which H. W. (Dad) Starrett is president and Fred Hoyt, secretary.” (Quote from 1916.)

Information Sources

• Motor Boat Magazine, V4, 10 Sept., 1907, pg. 39
• Handbook of Manufacturers in and about San Francisco, V1, 1910, pg. 62
• Pacific Motor Boat and Motor Ship, V8, Sept., 1916, pg. 41
• The Complete Guide to Stationary Gas Engines by Mark Meincke, 1996 page 130