Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Contrary to popular belief, this hot air engine configuration was not designed by model maker Werner Wiggers nor by toy maker Jean Schoenner. These Schoenner toys (and Wigger's models) were based on a real working engine from the 1890s called a Buschbaum of which there are no known survivors. These engines all have separate walking beams and con rods for the displacer and power pistons, set 90 degrees apart on the crankshaft. The power side drives the crank while the displacer is driven by it. These two examples are the same model from the 1890s but are slightly different with one having more holes on the sides and top of the firebox for ventilation and for waste heat to escape.

Yes, they're a bit noisy after 130 years or so, but so am I these days.