tem was the true line to proceed upon. It took me two
years to produce a workable engine. My efforts have always been directed
toward producing an engine giving at least one impulse every revolution
and, if possible, to start without hand labor, just as a steam engine
does. My first gas engine was running in 1878, and patented and exhibited
in 1879. It was first exhibited at the Kilburn Royal Agricultural
Society's show.

This engine was self-starting, gave an ignition at every revolution, and
ignited without external flame. It consisted of two cylinders, a motor,
and a compressing pump, with a small intermediate reservoir. Suitable
valves introduced the mixture of gas and air into the pump, and passed it
when compressed from the reservoir to the motor cylinder. The igniting
arrangement consisted of a platinum cage firmly fixed in a valve port;
this cage was heated in the first instance by a flame of gas and air
mixed; it became white hot in a few seconds, and then the engine was
started by opening a valve.

The platinum was kept hot by the heat derived from the successive
ignitions, and, the engine once started, no further external flame was
required. I have here one of these platinum cages which has been in use.
Finding this method not well suited for small engines, I produced the
engine which is at present in the market under my name.

The cycle is different, and is designed for greater simplicity and the
avoidance of back ignitions. It also consists of two cylinders, motor
cylinder and the displace or charging cylinder. There is no intermediate
reservoir. The displace crank leads the motor by a right angle, and takes
into it the mixed charge of gas and air, in some cases taking air alone
during the latter part of its stroke.

The motor on the outstroke crosses V-shaped parts about from one-sixth to
one-seventh from the out end, the displacer charge now passing into the
motor cylinder, displacing the exhaust gases by these ports and filling
the cylinder and the space at the end of it with the explosive mixture.
The introduction of some air in advance of the charge serves the double
purpose of cooling down the exhaust gases and preventing direct contact of
the inflammable mixture with flame which may linger in the cylinder from
the previous stroke. The instroke of the motor compresses the charge into
the conical space at the end of the cylinder, and, when fully compressed,
ignition is effected by means of the slide