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.

Mark J. Meincke lives in Avon, Ohio with his wife Wendy. As an avid and enthusiastic collector of gas engines for 35 years, Meincke has meticulously researched and restored hundreds of engines. In addition to his collection, in his machine shop Meincke repairs and recreates rare engine parts for his own engines and those of gas engine hobbyists all over the world. Meincke wrote this book to share his expertise and love of gas engines with both new and seasoned collectors. Although Meincke believes that “we are all only curators of these machines for a brief period in time,” it is his hope that many others will join him in the preservation and appreciation of these early innovative engines, for generations to come.