Among the most successful early engines marketed in the United States were those designed and built by aviation pioneer and inventor Glenn Curtiss in his factory in Hammondsport, New York. Early Curtiss engines were designed to power motorcycles. More than 10,000 of these V-8 engines were manufactured, most of them for use in Curtiss JN-4 Jenny trainers.

After World War I, thousands of OX-5s and Jennies were sold to the public at a fraction of their original cost to the government. In addition, during the 1920s, Waco, Laird, Curtiss, Fairchild, Alexander, Travel Air, and many other firms developed civil aircraft powered by the OX-5 engine. The availability of a well-proven, inexpensive engine in such quantity was a mixed blessing -- it allowed many people to fly who could not afford a more expensive engine, but manufacturers of more modern power plants suffered.

In addition, during the 1920s, Waco, Laird, Curtiss, Fairchild, Alexander, Travel Air, and many other firms developed civil aircraft powered by the OX-5 engine.