HEINRICI
This small hot air engine was made in Germany about 1890.
It operates on the Stirling Cycle in which an external heat
source, such as the gas burner in the base, causes hot and cold air to
bounce between two concentric pistons to produce power.
It is inefficient but very easy to operate so these hot air
engines became popular for a short time.
It could have powered an industrial sewing machine or some other
small machine. It was so
much easier to use than a small steam engine which require a boiler.
CROSSLEY MODEL J
This engine was built by Crossley Bros. of Manchester, England, and
produces 3 hp. It is circa
1910 but the J evolved from the earlier Crossley slide valve engines.
This engine has hot tube ignition and hit and miss pendulum
governor. Note the gas bag
regulator behind the engine which is typically English.
It powered three small looms in Stirling, Scotland.
DOMESTIC
This 4 1/2 hp engine was built in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1905.
It is the earliest known to exist and one of 13 that were built.
It shows similarities to later Domestics but has many unique
features. Note the huge
tappet roller on the rocker arm and the solid brass connecting rod.
It operated a woodworking shop in Ft. Loudoun, Pennsylvania, and was removed
in the early 1950s.