Internal Combustion Engine Collection

Illustration of 1934 M-10000 internal combustion engine (USA), 1938 4468 Mallard, 1941 Big Boy Steam locomotive (USA)

Etienne Lenoir's gas engine
5311992 Etienne Lenoir's gas engine; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Etienne Lenoir's gas engine. Etienne Lenoir (1822-1900) a Belgian engineer

English advertisement for Shell Motor Spirit
3784865 English advertisement for Shell Motor Spirit; (add.info.: English advertisement for Shell Motor Spirit. Shows Lion standing on a can of Shell Motor Spirit with the caption: Invincible)

The first diesel engine (also known as the Third Augsburg prototype), 1896-97 (metal)
CHT206284 The first diesel engine (also known as the Third Augsburg prototype), 1896-97 (metal) by Diesel, Rudolf (1858-1913); CNAM, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers

Cars powered by the internal combustion engine (chromolitho)
974603 Cars powered by the internal combustion engine (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cars powered by the internal combustion engine)

Fernand Forest, French inventor, 1888. Forest (1851-1914) played an important role in the development of the internal combustion engine and the motor car

An early Triumph motorcycle, 1911-1912. From Penroses Pictorial Annual 1911-1912, The Process Year Book, volume 17, edited by William Gamble and published by AW Penrose (London, 1911-1912)

Diesel engine: internal combustion engine invented by Rudolph Diesel in 1897 (c1910). In 1892, Diesel (1858-1913) patented a design for a new type of internal combustion engine

Nikolaus Otto, German engineer C016 / 8868
Nikolaus August Otto (1832-1891), German engineer. Otto invented or worked on several early internal combustion engines, including one in 1862 and the Otto-Langen engine of 1864

Illustration of the Otto engine, a four-stroke internal combustion engine

2832669; out of copyright

Dugald Clerk, Scottish engineer C014 / 2051
Dugald Clerk (1854-1932), Scottish engineer. Clerk was the inventor in the late 1870s of the first successful two-stroke internal combustion engine, patenting it in 1881

LPG powered car, artwork C016 / 7496
LPG powered car, artwork

Eugen Langen, German engineer C016 / 8869
Eugen Langen (1833-1895), German engineer. Langen worked on early internal combustion engines with Nikolaus Otto, and their Otto-Langen engine won the Grand Prize at the 1867 Paris World Exhibition

Crossley gas engine, 1897
Crossley gas engine. 19th-century artwork of a British design of gas engine from the Crossley Brothers of Manchester. This is a horizontal type, controlling a double pump with a gear train

Charon gas engine, 1897
Charon gas engine. 19th-century artwork of a French design of gas engine known as a Charon engine. This one has two cylinders (lower right) for electric lighting

Gas and petrol engine, 1897
Gas and petrol engine. 19th-century artwork of a design of gas and petrol engine called the Rationnel, built by a French inventor named Dolizy

Niel gas engine, 1897
Niel gas engine. 19th-century artwork of a French design of gas engine known as a horizontal Niel engine. This design has two pistons, valves, and hot tube ignition

Wankel engine principle, artwork
Wankel engine principle. Computer artwork showing the internal workings of a Wankel rotary engine. The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses an eccentric rotary design to

Early petrol locomotives
Early petrol engine. Historical artwork of early designs for an electrical generator (top left) and locomotives, using petrol as their fuel source

Motor vehicle engine assembly work. Factory workers assembling an engine for use in a motor vehicle. This engine assembly workshop is in the Izhevsk Automotive Plant, in the Republic of Udmurtia

Early petrol motors, historical artwork. The first commercially successful petrol-driven motors were built in the second half of the 19th century by the Belgian Etienne Lenoir

Engine bay

Daimler automobile, 19th century
Daimler automobile. Daimler is a German car manufacturer founded in 1890 and making cars under the brand Mercedes. This early automobile has an internal combustion engine at the front

19th Century internal combustion engine. Historical artwork of a three-horsepower internal combustion engine designed and built by the Scottish engineer Sir Dugald Clerk (1854-1932)

An internal combustion engine in a car. This invention is responsible for a huge amount of the greenhouse gases
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

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The internal combustion engine, a marvel of engineering and innovation, has revolutionized transportation since its inception. From the early days of steam locomotives to the modern cars we drive today, this incredible invention has shaped our world. One notable illustration showcases the 1934 M-10000 internal combustion engine in all its glory. This powerful machine was a testament to American ingenuity and marked a significant milestone in locomotive design. Similarly, the iconic 1938 4468 Mallard and the mighty 1941 Big Boy Steam locomotive exemplify the sheer power and elegance that these engines possessed. However, it wasn't just steam-powered machines that captivated inventors' imaginations. The first diesel engine, also known as the Third Augsburg prototype from 1896-97, introduced an alternative fuel source with remarkable efficiency. Rudolph Diesel's groundbreaking invention paved the way for future advancements in automotive technology. Speaking of automobiles, chromolitho artwork depicting cars powered by internal combustion engines transports us back to a time when these vehicles were still novel and awe-inspiring. French inventor Fernand Forest's contributions to this field are highlighted through his early Triumph motorcycle from 1911-1912. Nikolaus Otto's name is synonymous with internal combustion engines as he played a pivotal role in their development. An illustration showcasing his four-stroke Otto engine reminds us of how his ingenious design laid the foundation for countless innovations that followed. Scottish engineer Dugald Clerk deserves recognition for his contributions too; his work propelled advancements in engine efficiency and performance. Additionally, Eugen Langen's LPG-powered car demonstrates how alternative fuels have been integrated into this technology over time. Whether it be through steam locomotives or modern-day vehicles running on gasoline or diesel fuel, the internal combustion engine continues to shape our lives daily. Its evolution owes much gratitude to brilliant minds like Nikolaus Otto, Rudolph Diesel, and countless others who have propelled this technology forward.