Office of Steam Logo_1

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: WWII miniature power unit.  (Read 584 times)

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 277
WWII miniature power unit.
« on: February 02, 2022, 06:48:55 pm »
In reading about famed model engine designer E.T. Westbury, I came across mention of his secret WWII era work for the military, rumored to involve compact, portable power generation equipment.

That got me into a hobbit-like pipe-weed dream last evening, designing a miniature steampunk power plant, which I’m still kicking around up in the old idea squeezer.  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, a bit of google foo stumbled into a World War Two portable generator that is simply too cool.

The SSP-12


Logged

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5070
  • Location: Connecticut - USA
Re: WWII miniature power unit.
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2022, 10:08:01 pm »
I have a British NOS WW2/Korean War era MK814 Stuart Steam Generator.

It is a self contained unit with everything but the fuel which you can scavenge off the ground.

The original still sealed steam oil can is still in it, along with the boiler, firebox, chimney, and steam & water lines.

I also have a similar American made generator powered by a 1/2 hp Lauson gas engine. Like the English unit it was also designed to be dropped by parachute behind enemy lines.

Gil

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Logged

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 277
Re: WWII miniature power unit.
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2022, 08:30:34 am »
That is slick!

When I saw mention of ETW doing compact generator sets, I knew there was a whole area I’d never explored.   We have all seen the sets with about a ten horse engine, essentially like the commercial stuff sold now.  I’d never imagined generator sets smaller than the thirty pound Honda 1000.  The one I posted is fifteen pounds.  In an era of vacuum tube radio, anything that beat dry cells without weighing a ton would be awesome.

Reducing the size and weight by using model engine technology would’ve been right up Westbury’s alley, and almost predicts where communication was headed, toward personal transmitters rather than permanent stations.

Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »