Thread for alternative engines
- Thread starter Ludwig II
- Start date
Ludwig II
Well-Known Member
Mr.B.
Well-Known Member
Here you go, built just a few blocks away from my house...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmd7k33JWE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams-Farwell
-Kirk
Intrepid Wheelwoman
New Member
Wow! that is absolutely amazing. There certainly were plenty of innovative engineers back in the 1900's
Mr. B,
Thanks for posting the link to the 1906 Adams-Farwell with the rotary engine in the rear. I remember seeing this car around 1980 when it was in Bill Harrah's museum in Reno. People will say how innovative and radical the Tucker of 1948 was, but don't seem to remember the truly unusual concepts from the early days of the automobile.
Thanks for posting the link to the 1906 Adams-Farwell with the rotary engine in the rear. I remember seeing this car around 1980 when it was in Bill Harrah's museum in Reno. People will say how innovative and radical the Tucker of 1948 was, but don't seem to remember the truly unusual concepts from the early days of the automobile.
Here's something more relevant to motorized bicycles - the 1921-1925 Megola motorcycle with its rotary engine located within the front wheel. Strange indeed, and with a particularly vulnerable location for its carburetor.
http://20carwallpaper13.blogspot.com/2013/01/megola-motorcycle-1921-1925.html
http://20carwallpaper13.blogspot.com/2013/01/megola-motorcycle-1921-1925.html
silverbear
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Thank you Mr.B and Silvaire for sharing these interesting engines and their host vehicles. So many innovative minds were at work in the early days and so many options for consumers. Things seem pretty bland by comparison today with more of the same and diminishing choices.
SB
SB
silverbear
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Ludwig,
A solution today would be to have a regenerative electric wheel in back engaged just for starting purposes. It wouldn't have to be any more powerful than a 12 volt motorcycle starter motor and could even be friction drive.
SB
A solution today would be to have a regenerative electric wheel in back engaged just for starting purposes. It wouldn't have to be any more powerful than a 12 volt motorcycle starter motor and could even be friction drive.
SB
cannonball2
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the links!
Some where along lifes highway I lost the book and couldn't remember the name of the car. People I had told about it looked at me with raised eyebrows of doubt. I can set em straight now!
The one in my book was a smaller roadster model, and I think a 3cylinder. There was a pic of the glove laying on the engine for the hot starts, so it must have been hand started. I guess it came to an end somewhere as the one in the links is the only one. Perhaps the pictures in the book were much older.
Last edited:
silverbear
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
CB2,
How is it that I can hear the gears engaging in your brain... thinking about old Maytags and rotary engines and trying to make the two images mesh into one. I have no idea what I'm talking about, but have a sense that you do. I've love to see you do something along these lines and I think maybe you're just the guy to do it. Voodooit...
SB
How is it that I can hear the gears engaging in your brain... thinking about old Maytags and rotary engines and trying to make the two images mesh into one. I have no idea what I'm talking about, but have a sense that you do. I've love to see you do something along these lines and I think maybe you're just the guy to do it. Voodooit...
SB
Mr.B.
Well-Known Member
Hopefully not too off topic-
Attached a little photo play I did a few years ago of an turn of the century pic of what is could very well be one of the pre-production Adam-Farwell prototypes.
My house is just out of frame atop this steep hill (btw, taken at a intersection that’s just half way up).
Ludwig, I like the idea of having a good replica locally, and have thought about it before. Perhaps if I win the lottery I could buy this amazing survivor to help with the project. It’s actually located quite near of what remains of the Adams company-
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18753252/898-Jackson-Dubuque-IA/
It’s been a family run business since 1868 until the premature heart attack death of the last in line, summer 2013.
Other than the fluorescent lights added in the 1950’s it is pretty much is as was from a large 1904 retooling. Machines are leather belt powered from central overhead shafts engaged by wooden levers.
A few of the machines are older including a perfectly functioning c1878 keyway maker. There’s also a older huge drill press with massive counterweights that lower into a pit. And a large rack of antique drill bits, some of which are just giant. The big c1904 lathe can turn stock 36” x 12’!
Pretty much nothing old school you couldn’t make with a shop like this! Unfortunately it’s in a trendy area and I fear it will be turned into a restaurant or pub.
-Kirk
Attached a little photo play I did a few years ago of an turn of the century pic of what is could very well be one of the pre-production Adam-Farwell prototypes.
My house is just out of frame atop this steep hill (btw, taken at a intersection that’s just half way up).
Ludwig, I like the idea of having a good replica locally, and have thought about it before. Perhaps if I win the lottery I could buy this amazing survivor to help with the project. It’s actually located quite near of what remains of the Adams company-
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18753252/898-Jackson-Dubuque-IA/
It’s been a family run business since 1868 until the premature heart attack death of the last in line, summer 2013.
Other than the fluorescent lights added in the 1950’s it is pretty much is as was from a large 1904 retooling. Machines are leather belt powered from central overhead shafts engaged by wooden levers.
A few of the machines are older including a perfectly functioning c1878 keyway maker. There’s also a older huge drill press with massive counterweights that lower into a pit. And a large rack of antique drill bits, some of which are just giant. The big c1904 lathe can turn stock 36” x 12’!
Pretty much nothing old school you couldn’t make with a shop like this! Unfortunately it’s in a trendy area and I fear it will be turned into a restaurant or pub.
-Kirk
Attachments
Last edited:
cannonball2
Well-Known Member
WOW! That place is too cool! I can imagine making just about anything one wanted on the lathe. Its really fine to live in a place where every thing doesn't get dozed for fast food and box stores. They couldn't doze metro Atlanta fast enough. Theres a different mind set here on the SE Ga. coast. There are plenty of remains from the early 1700s that probably look like eyesores to some folks, but the people here regard them as their past and are very protective. I have a thing for finding or visiting abandoned air fields. That pic is wonderful in that a lot still exists to bring back the past first hand. I have not been so lucky to do the same with my air field hobby.
cannonball2
Well-Known Member
Havent a clue. The obvious Im sure is wrong answer is a radome. Hanger? cant get a pespective on the vehicle to determine how big th door may be. I live and work near the old NAS Glynco. It was primarily a blimp base.You should see th pictures of the board built hangers for them. The tethering circles for themstill exist as th driving ranges for the Federal Lawenforcement Trainng Center(FLETC). I have seen pics of th blimp hanger filled with the SNJ(same as an AT-6) trainers standing on their noses with the wings removed. Hunderds! Sadly but necessairly its all gone. Using a new tablet having a bit of trouble typing with it, sorry!