Colt-shaped Vacuum Engine with Tractor Sound

Anyone who remembers the distinctive engine sound of a really old tractor with a bit of nostalgia will certainly take this machine to heart. The source of energy is a spirit flame from a glass fiber wick. Its length can be adjusted while the engine is running influencing the running speed and thus the engine's sound. The scale ranges from a dry chugging to the mighty throbbing pulse of 800 revolutions per minute.

The engine consists of 73 individual parts and weighs almost 2,5 kilogram. The model sits on a base plate made of either light or dark wood.

This engine can be used to drive the passive accessory machines.

The engine is made locally in Germany and consists of 95 percent self-produced parts. The vacuum engine (aka flame-eater) is not exactly a Stirling engine which defines as two cylinders and a closed air circuit. Instead, this is motor has a single open-front cylinder in which one piston moves. When the piston slides into the cylinder it sucks the hot spirit flame with it. When the cylinder is filled with hot air a valve closes it from the outside. The cylinder now emits the heat via cooling fins to the surrounding which makes the air inside cool down and contract. This creates a vacuum (or negative pressure) that pulls the piston outwards again. The valve opens and releases the cold air. The flywheel, driven by the piston movement, now uses its momentum to push the piston back into the cylinder, again pulling the hot flame after itself - the cycle starts again, up to 800 times per minute.​

NOTES:

BEWARE: This engine model is being operated with methylated spirit which represents a danger to life in children's hands. The engine is NOT a child's toy and may only be operated by adults or under their supervision.

The engine must only be operated with clear uncolored methylated spirits with an alcohol content of 94 percent.

The model car is not made for perpetual use. After roughly 15 minutes of running time it needs to take a break and cool down.

The golden color parts are raw polished brass. They will darken over time and develop a beautiful authentic patina. This is not a defect and does not affect the functionality. The onset of patina can be removed by polishing if desired.

With long and frequent use of the engine, it will eventually be necessary to clean moving parts such as ball bearings, cylinders, pistons and spindle. Instructions for this are included.