Since gas engine cycles became well standardized at four, few
inventors have shown many designs calling for less. But now there
has appeared in San Diego an inventor who believes that his
one stroke engine is liable to revolutionize transportation. “Expert engineers have inspected James Picketts’ new
device,” said the “Pacific and Atlantic” scribe whose
caption accompanied his syndicate’s photograph, “and think
that Pickett is right; his engine may revolutionize
transportation.”
We have not consulted the Patent Office on this
statement, so some more designs may be abroad or else buried; but
it’s the first to our knowledge. From some San Diego reader we’d be glad to get a description
of the workings of this engine. No doubt Picketts is known to
the old-timers in the somewhat abbreviated “Machinery Row”
of that city.
Stanley Wilcox sent us a picture of Picketts and his engine from the January 1925 Tractor
& Gas Engine Review. Stanley would like to know if anyone has
ever heard of such an engine, so write him if you have any
information — Anna Mae.
Auto Sparker Inquiry
Does anyone have any information on the “Auto-Sparker”
used on IHC engines years ago? It was used to provide current for
the make and break systems in use at the time. It would seem to me
that it would have to have direct current output with very little
ripple; they were friction-driven engines with their drive pulley resting against
the engine flywheel, and no timing was necessary. It would be about ten cycles per second at
engine and magneto speed of 600 RPM. The reason that the magneto
must be timed correctly with the points is so that the current
output is maximum when the points separate, otherwise it might be
crossing the zero line at the time and little or no spark would
result.
Cutter Made in 1900
Ed Jansen has an
old ensilage cutter, which was manufactured in 1900. He recently showed it, his old
tractors, and other farm machinery at the seventh annual
Agricultural Power Progress Show in Pinckneyville, IL. The show is
sponsored by the American Thresherman Association, Inc.
