The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-29
LITTLE WONDER OF WICHITA
That is the Name of Very Pretty Engine
Manufactured Here

An interesting new invention IN q
stationary engine was tested for the
first time, here in Wichita, at the Ferris
Machine shops yesterday afternoon.
The test showed the invention TO be
a complete success TO the smallest detail
and filled both it's inventor and manu-
| facturer with the enthusiasm of success.
! THE Little Wonder" was invented
/ by Mr.. 3. III. Trucks OF Caldwell, Kan,
and differs radically from any engine
heretofore manufactured. The main
| difference being in it's oscillating piston
as against the piston of lateral motion
| of all engines in the past and marks an
event in mechanics. Like all great in
/ ventions 1t is wonderful in its simplicity
wonder why he never thought OF that
/ before. II
| 1t is a great economizer of space and
| fuel. The model weighs seventy-five
pounds and only occupies a space Of
! seventeen inches, and in its test yester-
day made 500 revolutions per minute,
more than twice the number made by
an ordinary engine Of any size. Forty
pounds of steam VIII develop five
horse power and and make four hun
dred revolutions per minute.
1t is a beautiful piece OF mechanism
! in highly polished brass, and Mr..
, Trucks says is as fine piece OF work
manShip as could be turned out IN any
shop in the United States.
/ Mr.. B. H. Trucks is an old Rock Is
! land engineer, having been in the en-
ploy Of that company since 1874. He
was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872
and is an old soldier. He left his faith
er's oats standing in the field just ready
/ for harvest to answer to the first call
for volunteers in that state.
The idea of the oscilating piston and
! the resulting simplicity of its working
4 parts has been developing IN the inven-
tive brain of Mr.. Trucks for the past
ten years, but only took form some six
months ago when he commenced to
whittle out his Little Wonder" with
his jack-knife and whitfield out the en-
tire model which was as perfect in
every detail as the present one in brass,
in about three weeks.
The originality of the invention
I speaks for itself in the facility for which
the patent was granted. The applica-
ton was filed on October "a, allowed
November 9, and granted December 13-
George Lemon. attorney at Washington,
d. c.. engineered il through with the
wooden model. Mr.. Trucks interested
Nessrs. Williams and Campbell, mon
eyed men of Minco. l. T, to such an ex-
tent that they offered TO back him to
any amount in getting out his inven-
l4til. dlll dlc iOH Ills PdA I4ACA . AZ 1AC
concern.
The Little Wonder" is destined 70
work a revolution in motive power ap-
piled 20 a dynomo in the cab OF loco
motive. II Will furnish an electric head
light for which railroad companies have
long been searching. II can be manu-
featured for $4,000 and with very small
boiler, a twin gasoline burner and
dynamo will furnish enough electricity
II light hotel or private residence. 1t
can also be applied to the ordinary sew
ing machine and is adapted 10 any pur-
pose. domestic or otherwise. for which
force is needed. In fact the many uses
TO which IL can be applied are only
half thought OF. and yet IL is so simple
a child can run it.
Mr.. Trucks has great inventive genius
which has developed number Of ar
ticles which he will not patent. but sell
all interests direct TO the manufacture.
He intends having all his work done
here at the Ferris Machine works,
which he says Wichita has cause 20 be
proud OF. as in his long experience in
railroad shops or other works OF the
kind, he has never seen better work
turned out.
Mr. Trucks has been in Wichita since
November (. personally experimenting
the working out Of his invention. He
returned 70 Caldwell last evening TAX
ing his completed engine with him.
il is hoped he will return 20 remain per
manently with US