Ernst Plank hot air trolley / tram ...it runs !!! Circa 1900

GLAD to see it running! Is that oil a type of high temperature steam oil? 

Googled Everclear, and it is essentialy PGA with a brandname. Most liquor stores in the states where it is legal to sell 190 proof (95% ethyl alcohol) have a generic form of this product. As a chemistry major (five years), I learned in a physical chemistry class about azeotropic mixtures, such as alcohol/water, which cannot be distilled greater than 95% alcohol. Thus most PGA contains at least 5% water, unless the water has been removed by some dessicant process. 5% water will not detract to any significant degree as far as available heat value.

Hello .....Ever-clear ...corner liquor store ..sold in a brown paper bag ....  

Marvel Mystery Oil ....will revive the dead .... will grow hair on your head ,....   it's pretty red ...so like red wine for anything you pour it in or on ....     perhaps not you ..

http://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/

I have heard of Marvel comics, but not their oil! LOL!  😁  I would imagine a medium viscosity steam oil, or is that the MYSTERY? LOL!

OUTSTANDING!

Journey into Mystery #83 "Thor"

Fixin' stuff with a big hammer since 1962..."Marvelous"

(older "Golden Age" Thor was "different")

MM-oil was found to be mineral oil, mineral sprits, and lard during an aviation testing investigation, and maybe trace amounts of other more normal additives skipped over because it didn't fit the story's drama...?

Sounds lame, but has some very interesting qualities for restoring seals, cleaning carbon, rust prevention/penetration & more overall.

  Marvel was an early carburator company who's product jets had a knack for clogging. Originally a fuel additive, it's worked well for me in keeping small carb jets prone to clogging, clean and clear. Also works as an auto-transmission stop leak (helps old seals mostly...some carb gaskets will seal again too if you can run rich enough for a bit for it to be effective without the leak taking you too lean)

ADRIATIC: THANKS for the Marvel Oil info! I had never heard of it before Carey mentioned it. I have used several types of steam oil over the years for my gauge one live steamers, but never ran across that product.

Now that's sweet - what a little beauty! Well done, Carey.

Run a search. You may actually recognize the "iconic" red packaging design as something seen in nearly all automotive isles in the States.

This thread, with that wonderful, and super RARE, ancient steam toy, deserves another "ride" to the top! BRAVO, and many THANKS for sharing that marvelous apparatus!

thank your for your kind words..I hope to have some more history about the Ernst plank hot air line of products in a few weeks .... or if anyone out there in the world has any catalog or book references about the piece ..please post or point in the right direction .

Thank you  Carey  

On P. 41 of  Pierce Carlson's  ToyTrains in History is a color photo of a French Rossignol steam tram made in 1902.

Lew Schneider

I have a hardbound copy of his book and will check that out tonite. One question, what is the gauge in inches of that track it is running on?

Hello ... Thank you,for the reference ..I'll have to Check out the book. Ernst Plank,had it's nomenclature for gauge 8....which is the same as gauge 2 ...I'll measure it in a day or two. 

Cheers Carey 

Hello all ...track measures  65mm.......a bit over  2 1/2"  ....Ernst Plank track marked  8 ..but matches up with Marklin / Bing  marked 2 ......if it made sense what fun would it be ? 

Very nice Carey! 🚃