ROTARY ENGINE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1933, Page 7

ROTARY ENGINE

AUCKLAND INVENTION.

“FIRST IN THE WORLD.” After five years of experiment and the expenditure of £SOOO, Mr Howard Nattrass, a well-known Auckland engineer, has crowned his work with the invention of a rotary motor, claimed to be the first in the world to operate. Faced with opposition and outspoken opinions by experts that such, a motor could not be made to develop power and maintain it, Mr Nattrass claims to have proved to his critics that this remarkable little engine, working on only two valves, can and does develop power. Many demonstrations of the engine have been given during the past few weeks, and all who have seen it have been astonished at its performances and impressed with its possibilities. Engineering experts who have been asked to furnish reports on the engine have been loud in their praise. Already it Las developed 50 horse-pow-er.

Mr Nattrass says the rotary motor will double the range of flying and that in an aeroplane a group or series of rotary engines could be used, and any one could run independently. The engine is claimed to he only a qluarter of the weight of that used in an ordinary motor-car. Its adaptability for an ordinary motor-car is one of its most striking feotures—-its use would do away with many of the complicated essentials at present used. The engine is at the present time in a well-equipped experimental workshop in Stanley Street and, with a tiny one-inch piston it develops 10 horse-power with ease and drives the heavy machinery of the workshop rt does" the work that a 12 liorse-power electric motor did before. A similar engine capable of being driven either by steam or petrol is now to be built,and will shortly be taken to England, to be demonstrated before the world’s greatest engineers. "World patent rights have been applied for.

Many years ago Mr Nattrass. was convinced that much power was lost in the reciprocating engine, and he . toyed with the idea of a rotary motor.' Years of study and patience led the inventor from one stage to another until the day arrived when the little * engine worked for the first time. From that day on improvements were made until to-day the engine is claimed to be perfect.