Wizards weren't marketed at Western Auto until 1940. Can you find a model number so we can figure out what you have. In 1940, Mercury made a 2.5HP model under the Wizard label for Western Auto with the model number WA2.
If I am not mistaken, the only real difference between the WB2 and the KB1 is that the Wizard version was painted gold and had Wizard decals, and the Mercury model was painted dull aluminum.
Dull aluminum seems to be the color of Kiekhaefer
made prewar Thor, Sea King, Wizard and Mercury models...postwar Wizard WD3,WD3S,WD4 and WD4S seem
to be a bright gold color while Mercury retained the
the dull aluminum color even when they gained green
tops....I have not seen original or restored prewar models painted gold...yet! In any case a nice find
and not a difficult motor to revive even if you have
to scout up some replacement parts. Sometimes it is
best to gently clean up an older motor to showcase
the originality...a gently used original motor is a rarity worthy of a gentle cleaning and mechanical restoration...at club meets there is a judging class of "Best Original Antique"... sometimes the winner in
the class has not even been cleaned up let alone
polished.
Louis
