INVENTOR'S ROMANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 17

INVENTOR'S ROMANCE

SUCCESS OF AUSTRALIAN LORD NUFFIELD'S INTEREST [from our own cokkkspondent] SYDNEY. Aup. 9 Like a romance is the story of the meteoric rise and recognition of a young Australian, who has invented a carburetter which is said to bo a notable improvement in motor engine design. From the obscurity of a bywny of a Melbourne) suburb, two fairy godfathers in Sir John Vicars, a wellknown Australian business man, and Lord Nuffield, the Knglish car manufacturer, have lifted William Stuart Falconer, engineer, on to tho highway of fame nnd fortune. Mr. Falconer's invention takes two forms —one a new form of petrol carbnretion and the other of crude oil carburetion. Tho improvement to crude oil engines lias so impressed Lord Nuffield that he has given Mr. falconer a retainer of £2O a week and the expenses of a first-class trip to ' London. Inheriting an inventive mind from his father, who, though equipped with a brilliant university career, submerged a professional life to be among machinery, Mr. Falconer enrlv showed signs of his ability. Through smaller and minor experiments his work took him to a study of crude oil engines, until his family bestowed a nick-name "Crude Oil," to which ho responds more readily than to his real name. , Three years ago, "Crude Oil" borrowed £BO and a motor chassis, and. fitting his invention, persevered with the perfecting of the machine until, some time ago, ho was recognised by Sir John Vicars, an old friend of Mr. Falconer's father. Through Sir John, Lord Nuffield became interested, and now "Crude Oil" is on his way to prove to motor manufacturers and his many cynical friends that ths vision that he has had for many years wan not just a dream