[HN Gopher] Review - Ford's First Engine
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       Review - Ford's First Engine
        
       Author : 082349872349872
       Score  : 55 points
       Date   : 2024-08-07 23:40 UTC (23 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (sites.google.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (sites.google.com)
        
       | alnwlsn wrote:
       | The thing I find the most interesting about this engine is that
       | Ford did not use a spark plug. Inside the cylinder were two
       | electrical switch contacts, and the spark was made on opening the
       | switch. The electricity for this was provided by putting it in
       | series with a light bulb connected to his house wiring. That's
       | probably why it ended up in his kitchen sink - he would not have
       | had any electricity in his garage.
        
         | 73kl4453dz wrote:
         | Probably even a machine or carriage house (his parent's farm
         | wouldn't have has mews) instead of what we would think of as a
         | garage.
        
       | lisper wrote:
       | Here is a working reproduction in action:
       | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqU_sXyvUg
       | 
       | And another one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJtuNF20q8w
        
         | 082349872349872 wrote:
         | Both of those appear to use spark plugs; see "Comment 1" and
         | "Comment 2" in TFA for guesses as to what Ford might have
         | originally used for ignition instead.
        
       | Domenic_S wrote:
       | I once stumbled upon what I thought was a car show, but was
       | actually an exhibition of miniature engines (!). Is this a thing?
       | It seems really interesting and I'd love to build a miniature
       | engine with my kids someday.
        
         | alnwlsn wrote:
         | Apparently, yes!
         | https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/board,45.0.html
        
         | mhb wrote:
         | Not just engines:
         | 
         | https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/exhibit/
        
       | jonplackett wrote:
       | I hate websites that don't allow reader view. Why do they do
       | this?
        
         | kwhitefoot wrote:
         | Works for me in Firefox 128.0.3 (64-bit) on Linux Mint.
        
       | marcodiego wrote:
       | The engine lasted way longer than the links on picasa. An
       | important sign about how we're handling how culture and
       | achievements.
        
         | mzs wrote:
         | a working gallery of all photos plus unused ones:
         | https://photos.app.goo.gl/oq2YA8TeuDsg3az87
        
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       (page generated 2024-08-08 23:01 UTC)