The Complete Guide to Stationary Gas Engines

The purpose of this book is to provide information on the history, design, function and manufacture of early internal combustion engines of the 19th century. The book covers all the basic systems of these 'flywheel' engines. Many of the puzzling components of the gas engine are thoroughly explained to the reader so that a general knowledge of their workings becomes clear. The chapters cover engine components in detail such as, magnetos, hot tube and sparkplug ignition, cooling systems, timing systems and different engine designs. The reader can also find useful collecting tips such as how to evaluate an engine before purchasing it and what a fair market price might be based on an engine's condition. The book explains how these engines were originally used in industry and on farms and businesses in America and the author shares his extensive research, cataloging over 3600 different engines and their manufacturers, dating from 1885 to 1940.