This company was founded by Otto E. Szekely in Holland, Michigan, in 1928 to build aircraft and engines.

-In 1932 it changed its name to Szekely Aircraft and Engine Corp. (see also Aviation Holding Co.).

-Two horizontally-opposed engines are known, the 2-cylinder and the 4-cylinder that gave 65 HP at 1,850 rpm. They were engines of the years 1930-1931. Model 4-65.

-Both engines used the cylinders of the engines that really gave relevance to the brand: the 3-cylinder radial SR-3 and the 5-cylinder SR-5.

“Szekerly 3- and 5-cylinder sylhouettes”

-The engines above are specifically the SR-3L and SR-5L (“L” for the L-shaped combustion chambers).

“Szekely SR-3-0”

-The SR-3-0 as we can see, already has valves on the cylinder head with rocker arms. It gave 45 HP at 1,750 rpm.

-Its most efficient operation was between 1,500 and 1,600 rpm.

-The SR-3-45 was similar to the previous one, and it received the approval with the ATC Type Certificate No. 70. It also gave 45 HP.

-It is said that the SR-3-35 was never tested, but it has been seen on a Taylor Cub H-2 aircraft.

-The SR-3L (ATC No. 53) with 30 HP was derived from the very similar SR-3 but with the L-shaped cylinder head, as already said, it would reach 40 HP at 1,800 rpm and it had a displacement of 190 cu in.

-As a curiosity, these engines were affectionately known as “Zekes.” Sometimes they were pronounced “Sakia.”

“The SR-3, with overhead valves”

-Its bigger brother was the SR-5, also L-shaped, with five radial cylinders.

-It gave 70 HP at 1,800 rpm. 315 cu in.

-And there was a “100” model, with 5 cylinders and 100 HP, from 1929.

-The Szekelys could have Stromberg carburetors and Bosch or Scintilla magnetos.

-Another curiosity is that Szekely, before 1928, had the Holland Furnace Co. that was dedicated to manufacturing washing machines and other products when it became interested in manufacturing aircraft engines.

-Several engines of this brand have been recovered.

-We show the new ones and also the old ones, with better resolution.

-Among the vicissitudes of the Szekely brand we have that O.E. Szekely Corp. was founded in 1928.

-Later it would be the Szekely Aircraft and Engine Company, where the first engine, the SR-3, would be built.

-Four years later it passed into the hands of the Aircraft Holding Co.

-Shortly after, the material assets would pass to the Crampton Manfg. Co. and later to the Byrne Doors of Detroit.

-And again, it passed into the hands of the Heath Aviation Co.

“Szekely SR-3”

-The SR3, a three-cylinder radial and the SR-5 with five cylinders.

“Szekely SR-5”

“Szekely SR-5-0”

“Szekely Model 4-65"

-Szekely experimentally built a horizontally-opposed, four-cylinder engine like the one shown in the above illustration, the model 4-65.

-The below shown engines are already known, they refer to engines with “L” chambers, that is, without rocker arms on the cylinder head.

-All of them bear the letter defining the construction method: the SR-3-L and SR-5-L.

“Two views of the Szekely SZ-3-L”

“Szekely SZ-5-L”

From Appendix 6: Engines manufactured by the Aviation Holding Company of Holland, Michigan, USA.

-The engine presented now in this appendix is the SR3-45 seen at the Vancouver Museum in Canada.

“Szekely SR3-45”

-It was introduced around 1931, it gave 45 HP at 1,750 rpm, with 190 cu. in. of total displacement.

-We have, therefore, a low-power engine for a high displacement at low revolutions, capable of using more efficient and larger diameter propellers than its equivalent counterparts.

-We see the two front spark plugs, indicating double ignition using two Bosch magnetos.

-The carburetor was a Zenith.

From Appendix 12: New color photo of an unidentified 3-cylinder Szekely.

“Szekely, restored” (PiP)