The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-03-03
THE PHENOMENAL sTRATTON.
Rotating Reciprocating steam
Engine.
rRATTON.

Another demonstration OF their mar
velous steam engine Ia being given at
me Motor Boat show this week 1t is
the marvel OF the mechanical world
machine built I'm all with about SO
parts, including screws.
Entirely new principles are employ
eu In the construction or the Stratton
engine, which is remarkable for its
extreme simplicity, great power, com
p pS sntsn ,;,, durability, economy and
prise the entire engine, counting every
nut, bolt and screw.
novice can take IL apart, assemble
ana run IL. There are no dead CEN
ters., no cranks. no clearance or stun
ing box. no return OF piston, no back
pressure, all wearing parts I'm sight,
continually, saturated in fabrication.
cent saving on small units. Just enough
weight TO give strength TO construc-
lion, operates forward, Regulates stop
used for all purposes: will operate I'm
any position. any angle and any side
up. The lite giant can be seen daily
In the company's factory hung on a
bracket, pulling great loads with ease.
Frank Stratton. upon being asked
what led him to conceive the idea OF
the simple little engine. for reply pro-
fully designed runabout body with
top. Balancing II on his finger tips,
he exclaimed, This" and at the same
time pressing down upon a lever al
constituent OF the writer the runabout
was simultaneously converted into a
surrey or double-seater. with top also
extended over the back seat.
One would naturally suppose that a
runabout having. a seat hid away
somewhere would look cumbersome
and when seat and top were unfolded
would convey the appearance of get
your moneys worth" but not SO with
the Stratton convertible car When
the seat Is unfolded IL has a beautiful.
refined and subs tantial Appearance
Mr.. Stratton further explained that
AFTER patents were granted he Intended
TO put an engine In body and put same
on the market as motor vehicle.
ing an engine of small compass and
power adaptable for the body. After
considerable search for one and follow
from different persons to explain what
they had and who claimed to have
something just as he needed, and fnd-
Ing really nothing that would give sat-
isfaction, he then began the task him
self, although aware that thousands
OF rotary engines had been patented.
but thinking he had something a little
new he nrst began on rotary type,
making small wooden model to get
the movements he was after, and then
made patterns and had castings made.
But after much study he gave up that
TO continue along that line. Then he
began the treciprocating cylinder type.
Finally the idea OF the movement en-
bodied In the first engine. which was
OF the double cylinder type now on
hand. flashed into his mind. Finding
the road clear in the patent ONCE, he
pushed ahead.
II was while working on the sim
plihed structure of the engine, get
ting well along into IL, that there came
suddenly into his mind the general
construction or principles OF the pres
ent simplifed type OF engine which
calls for only one valve for inlet and
-sxhanst-in place of eight--as-ip- the
former engine
While. thet original intention was to
build the engine for auto purposes
only. IL was found that building en-
gines proved TO be so grand a success
that the auto proposition became COM
paratiyely Insignificant owing to the
great demand for engines In motor
boats and stationary purposes. The
Stratton Engine Co, OF Fitchburg.
Mass. is building these little giants up
TO 30 horsepower, or larger on special
orders. The public will have an op-
poEtuHity- to -taspeet-tAis- little marvel
at the motor boat show.