How to get something from nothing (UPDATE: Locomobile?)

Not being dependent on petrol is a problem that has kept engineers sleepless for many nights. Take this runabout, made in 1899-1900 that was supposed to run on Liquid Air. In theory the expansion drove some sort of single-cylinder steam engine. This proved to be a scam, because the system had very little efficiency and it is uncertain whether or not the car ever moved under its own power. It seems more like it that the purpose of the builders was only to sell shares in their Liquid Air Company. But others have also tried different methods of propulsion. For instance Charles Garret who in 1935 filed a US Patent for a water carburettor and had a 105 HP Ford V8 running on water for a week. There’s a website explaining how it works, but we think you shouldn’t try this at home! (With thanks to Fernando Godoy from Argentina and Harit from India. Harit found the photo of the Liquid Air and would very much like to know in which book it was published). (RB)

Update by Kit Foster: “The car is probably an ordinary Locomobile or Mobile steamer of the day.”

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