Steamed up...
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Steam is not being consigned to museums in Australia, wh Commonwealth and State ministers of transport are worr about the future of energy supplies. The Federal and St Governments are encouraging a steam buff, Ted Pritcha his wife, Marian, and a small team of enthusiastic engineer do something about the problem.
After working on a 1923 American Stanley steam capable of 120mph, which he bought in 1951, Ted develoi a basic power unit and installed it in an old Chevrolet 5-tor truck. It went well.
Thus encouraged, he has since produced a V-tw cylindered engine driving directly to a conventional differ tial and rear axle and a compact steam generator holding litres of water. Exhaust steam is returned through a conden to the water tank.
The engine, which has a maximum speed of 4,000rpm, r run on most indigenous fuels, such as alcohol from sugar ci and wheat, as well as on petroleum-based liquid fuel. Mar thinks that with further backing a steam engine for comni cial vehicles could be on general sale in about five years' tir