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Gasoline crisis answer Part 3Here and NowThis is more than just a book of facts and references. We believe there is a message that should be told. In part, this message is about the difficulties faced by the independent inventor. He may be faced with pay-off, court battles don't "stir the water" pressure, lack of financial backing, offer of take over, high legal fees and no support (in fact a run-around) from key elected officials. The account of Mr. Robert C. Stewart and his energy saving invention is a prime example of these problems. We don't have to speculate about "days gone by" . . . this is a here and now case study. This fascinating story could well be developed into a full-length documentary. We will attempt to draw together the high points and list them here. THE STEWART STORY Mr. Stewart, a successful businessman, had the idea that an enclosed pressurized motor could be invented. Such a motor could be invented. Such a motor would not have the inefficiency of the internal combustion motor. It would be quiet running, have few moving parts, could operate on any number of fuels such as gasoline, diesel, alcohol, wood chips, waste farm products, solar energy, even low temperature ground heat (the temperature of the earth just under the frost level . . .perhaps 4-6 feet). The motor would have a variety of uses. It could generate power for all home heating, cooing and electrical needs. Further, it could power deep well pump for farms, generate power for small or large industrial plants and power automobiles. Such a motor could generate power independent of the utility companies. The house and farm would be energy self sufficient. In addition, this motor could generate power independent of the local gas station, An automobile with this motor could run on a variety of fuels and would be pollution free. Probably the most efficient fuel would be hydrogen. Hydrogen would be developed at your home from water (the hydrogen being separated by electrolysis using electrical energy from your own home generating unit). COULD SUCH A MOTOR BE DEVELOPED Mr. Stewart labored on his project and eventually developed a working prototype-a little one cylinder motor- the first Stewart Cycle Motor. It could be done ! Several other prototypes (varying size have since been developed. This writer has seen several of these in operation. The motor is indeed quiet, smooth running . . . an amazing invention behold ! The potential for this motor is far reaching. We have in our files an independent engineering firm's evaluation of a working model. In part, it says:
Can you visualize:
These and other potential uses are possible with the Stewart Cycle Motor. THE PROBLEM Mr. Stewart claims to have been faced with most of the difficulties listed at the beginning of this account. He definitely has been faced with court battles-we have read the transcripts. He definitely has been given a run-around from elected officials-we have read the letters. He claims he was offered twelve million tax- free dollars for his patent rights. Until he recently found private backing through a company with integrity (one which doesn't desire to sheive the invention). . .until then. Mr. Stewart was getting nowhere . . .yet he had a revolutionary energy saving system. THE FUTURE This write was visiting Mr. Stewart one day at the I______ranch. We were discussing the background of his story reflecting upon the frustrations he had witnessed -- then we discussed the future. Do you expect to refine your invention here ?(In this country ?) Do you plan to complete your patent work here?(etc.) Answer: "I'm not certain. I've done some work out of this country--and may leave again." The he said: "J.E., what you're doing --the message of your book, regarding free enterprise, competition and honesty in government . . . getting the car driving public organized -- what you're doing is just as important and just as necessary as my invention." MAY I SAY This is not a fly-by-night invention. As of this writing, these people have a staff of over 70 people; engineers, marketing specialists, attorneys, scientists, support staff and others. They have great sums of capital invested in the prototype motors and developments thus far. What is their future . . . and the future of other like them ? This writer believes you and I, the "silent" majority, hold the key to their future. Can we remain silent any longer ? * * * * * BY THE WAY What happened to the "revolutionary" auto engine described above in item `A' . . . the motor that yields top efficiency on almost any fuel ? For the answer to this question and others . . . see our chapter entitled: ON WHICH SHELF ? THE TURBINE CAR This writer remembers seeing a Chrysler gas turbine car on the streets of Portland, Oregon in the early 1960's. Actually, Chrysler Corporation made about 50 turbine cars at that time and "loaned" them out to the general public in various cities around the country. THE TURBINE The turbine engine is not a new concept. They have been hard at work for many, many years. They run stand-by generators, drive Army troop trains, have powered landing craft, Marine hydrofoil boats and Air Force helicopters, not to mention the fact they fly over-head every day in jet airplanes.
What happened ? What advantages over the piston- engine can be found I the turbine ? What did Chrysler Corporation find from their tests ? How would the gas turbine help us meet today's energy crisis ? TURN BACK THE CALENDAR Let us go back to the years 1963 and 1964 and read the headlines: "America's First Turbine Car" Look Magazine, June 4, 1963 "Big Test - - -Chrysler's Turbine Car" Time, May 10, 1963 "Chrysler Turboflite Experimental" Motor Trend, May 1963 "Comeback in Detroit" Saturday Evening Post, May 25, 1963 "Emotion - - Key to Turbine" Science Newsletter, April 11, 1964 "Gas Turbine Car Feasible" Science Newsletter, April 4, 1963 "On the Road; Chrysler's Turbine-Powered" Car", Newsweek, December 30, 1963 "P.M. Drives Chrysler's New Gas Turbine" Popular Mechanics, July 1963 "Test-Driving a Jet;Chrysler's New Turbine Engine" Business Week, March 28, 1964 "That's the Jet" Newsweek, November 11, 1963 "Turbine Drive" Newsweek, May 13, 1963 "Turbine in a Truck; Experimental Gas Turbine Truck" Business Week, October 31, 1964 "Wh-o-o-o-sh, Here Comes the Turbine" Hot Rod Magazine, July 1963 Further, the turbine car was the subject of repeated nation-wide television coverage, newspaper articles . . . .even books were written about the "turbine car". WHAT IS THE TURBINE ? Simply stated, the turbine is an engine that sucks air through an intake "mouth" and compresses it in a chamber into which fuel is introduced and ignited by a spark. The heated expanding gases propel one turbine wheel that spins the air compressor and then speeds on to whirl another turbine that drives a shaft. See chart below: The turbine engine has many distinct advantages over the piston engine. It has about one-fifth as many moving parts. There is only one spark plug and it is used only for starting purposes (should never need replacing). The troublesome ignition problems found in piston engines are eliminated. There is no distributor. Also , no radiator needed, because the engine is air-cooled. Turn the key and the engine fires immediately. There is no warming period required after the car is started. Turn on the heater and you get instant heat. The car drives similar to a conventional auto. How- ever, those who tested the car reported that the turbine operated more smoothly than the piston engine, there was less noise and less vibration. The turbine is clean-burning engine. Carbon monoxide gas is practically non-existent, as the fuel is burning completely, this adds almost nothing to air- pollutants. Engine oil never becomes contaminated or dirty because it doesn't come in contact with the fuel or combustion. Since there are fewer moving parts, engine oil consumption is practically eliminated. Five quarts of oil should last a life time. The turbine is a light-weight engine, and should be expected to run 300,000 miles. The engine requires very little maintenance. (This is substantiated by the low maintenance need by the airline companies for their jets.) Another marled advantage over the piston engine is the fact that the turbine will deliver high power while using almost any fuel will burn in a test tube. It will operate on diesel, unleaded, regular or premium gasoline, kerosene, peanut oil, French perfume or brandy. Actually, synthetic, non-fossil fuel or even "home made" fuels would propel the turbine car very nicely. DOCUMENTATION: All of the facts and figures cited above are documented in the various reports, test results and articles already listed at the beginning of this section. MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS What about the extreme heat from a turbine's exhaust ?
What about the price ?
What was the public response to their test-driving the 50 experimental models ? When the public first learned that Chrysler was planning to loan out theses cars for family driving., the company was flooded with mail . . . . so many wanted to participate. Chrysler wanted those selected to represent the average citizen. Among those not selected were William Randolph Hearst Jr. Gen. Cutis Lemay, Ernest Borgnine and Lyndon Johnson(while he was still Vice-President). Finally, the participants were selected on the basis of geography(one in every state), climate and road terrain. RESULTS The cars were reluctantly returned to Chrysler with rave notice from the borrowers:
COMPLAINTS Complaints have been minor ones:
* * * * * WHERE IS THE TURBINE CAR ? All of us identify with a David who is up against a giant Goliath. It is easy to get some people to believe that the auto manufactures or oil companies are like giant Goliath who buy-up worthwhile inventions and "lock up" the design. This is done s more gas and oil can be sold- - or more car parts can be sold - - and the rich get richer. These stories are common. Actually, from the published record there does seem to be a grain of truth to this kind of reasoning. At times there does seem to be a "collusion" between government agency officials, the automobile manufactures and the oil companies. However, rather than this writer offering a judgment as to the truth of these stories, let us sample the evidence - - then you be the judge.
The public liked the turbine. It was well received. It is a proven engine. Its wide use in aviation proves the fact. The turbine was successfully adapted to a car. The written record between 1952 and 1965 proves that fact. The turbine car was ready to go. Company officials state the fact. Yet: Chrysler is "uncomfortably aware" that
Is this Time comment an isolated one ? Let us dig deeper. From this point on to the end of the chapter, notice how certain high-ranking government officials, key oil companies and the automobile manufacturers are indeed closely related . . . .as someone has said," they are cozy companions". Since gasoline is taxed, the more gasoline burned - - the more dollars flow into govern- ment coffers. Read this documentation: "Gasoline Racket", Saturday Evening Post December 26, 1931 "Gas Taxes!" Literary Digest June 15, 1929, page 64, also February 20, 1932, page 44. "More Gas Taxes !!" Business Week March 5, 1929, page 10, November 11, 1931 page 10, and February 10, 1932 "One Big Union", Business Week July 7, 1934, page 10 "16 Oil Companies Convicted Of Fixing Gas- oline Prices". Senior Scholastic February 1938, page 15 and Business Week, January 29, 1938 "Gas Tax Injustice Less Than 5 per cent Finds its Way into Street Construction and Maintenance Programs". August 1947, page 102 "Truth About Gas-tax Diversion" American City, June 1949, page 5+ "American Motorist: No.1 Tax Sucker" Coronet, August 1952, pages 40 -44 "Airlines Protest Added Gas Tax" Aviation Week , July 18, 1955 "Tax Revolt at the Grass-roots" U.S. News and World Report, April 26, 1957, page 108 "Pilling it on, Double in a Decade" Newsweek, September 7, 1959, page 34 "Motorist Pay More Than Their Share of Highway Costs", Saturday Evening Post February 11, 1961, page 10 "(President) Ford Weighs a Hidden Tax on Gas". Newsweek, December 30,1974, Pages 48 - 49 "Should we Sharply Increase Taxes on Gasoline ?" Senior Scholastic March 13, 1975, page 10 Telephone Call; Fall of 1977 to local Gasoline Companies: The State and Federal excise taxes in Washington State are currently $0.14 per gallon! In 1952, the average citizen paid the same amount in various gas and automobile taxes as he did in INCOME TAXES !
What do you think that figure is today ? * Actually, gas and automobile "excise" taxes are simply another INCOME TAX. Certainly the evidence proves that the government collects multi-millions of dollars from the gasoline tax. NOW How does the turbine car fit into this picture ? READ THESE REPORTS December 1939 Popular Science, pages 80 - 81 gas turbines promise new era in power June 13, 1942 Science News Letter, page 372 Gas turbine for airplanes May 1943 Popular Science, page 114 Gas turbine drives Swiss locomotive. June 1944 Fortune, pages 174 - 180 + Gas turbine: New prime mover.
Volume 14 of the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (covering the years July 1943 - April 1845, page 642) contain twenty three different magazines and scientific references to the gas turbine. June 1946 Popular Science, page 121 Gas Turbine for autos. August 1946 Scientific American, also Readers Digest Powdered coal feeds a turbine. August 1947 Popular Mechanics, page 97 General Motors auto engine of the future uses 1/3 less gas. August 1947 Popular Science, pages 89 - 91 Super engine cuts gasoline bill. May 17, 1948 Newsweek, page 62 Turbine cars. May 29, 1948 Business Week, page 66 Gas turbine autos September 1948 Both Popular Mechanics and Popular Science Turbines designed for cars. January 14, 1950 Business week, page 70 Baby gas turbines ready for marketing. March 20, 1950 Newsweek, page 70 Jets on wheels. Volume 17 of the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (pages 780 - 781) lists some ninety- three articles and reports on gas turbines for airplanes and automobiles. Volume 18 of the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (covering April 1951, through March 1953) list over 100 articles and reports on the use of the turbine engine in airplane and automobiles - by both civilian and the military. January 23, 1954 Science News Letter, page 51 Experimental gas turbine auto. January 26, 1954 Look ,page 15 First look at the gas turbine car. February 1954 Popular Science, pages 160 - 161 America's first turbo car.
These and 13 other reports in 1953 and 1054 indicate that the turbine car was soon to be built for marketing. October 22,1955 Business Week, pages 83 - 84 What to do until the turbine comes. July 14, 1956 Science News Letter, page 21 New gas turbine bus. from this point on the record makes reference to many , many reports on the turbine engine written every year. We list only a few more. April 1959 Popular Mechanics, pages 131 - 135 You're looking at the gas turbine era! July 1961 Popular Science, page 35 Chrysler's turbine. January 6, 1962 Business Week, pages 36 - 37 Turbine car for the masses? January 15, 1962 Saturday Evening Post pages 38 - 41 I rode cross country in the turbine auto. The year 1963 and 1964 were already referred to at the beginning of this chapter. April 1965 Changing Times, pages 39 - 42 Car with tomorrow's engine. October 1965 Popular Science, page 88 Turbine drives Chevy truck. February 1969 Mechanix Illustrated Turbine engine for cars. September 1973 Popular Science (Another) Chrysler turbine car. November 1973 Mechanix Illustrated (Another) turbine by Ford. A CLOSER LOOK We've already shown proof positive that other cars have been invented which do not require gasoline as a fuel. But, for now our subject is the turbine car. Have the auto manufactures "locked up" this invention ?
Have you seen a turbine car recently ? Actually, according to written evidence, the turbine car has been ready for years.
This article shows pictures of the car, its coast-to- coast route and gives high praise for the turbine. The turbine expected to revolutionize the auto industry within 10 years. TIME TABLE
Since the turbine car would be greatly affect the auto and oil industries, the writer of this report asks the auto manufactures and oil company officials:
THEY ESTIMATE by 1960 .................60,000 - 300,000 cars 1965 ...............264,000 - 3,900,00 " 1970 ..........11,500,000 - 42,500,000 " 1975 ..........48,000,000 - 62,000,000 " The report goes on to say that although the auto manufactures can now produce the turbine cars, it will usher in major changes.................because the turbine car will run longer with less maintenance required. The article points out that :
Yet the report also point to the fact that the oil industry must face major changes when the turbine is mass-produced, The turbine can operate or home made fuels - - - it doesn't need to burn gasoline.
CONCLUSION HAVE YOU SEEN A TURBINE CAR RECENTLY The turbine is a proven engine that has one major drawback. It does not have to burn gasoline as a fuel !
We must conclude that this gas saving, oil conserving, non-polluting engine is: ON THE SHELF
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