A NEW VAPORISER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 2

A NEW VAPORISER.

NEW ZEALAND MAN’S INVENTION

OIL VAPOUR AS FUEL.

LONDON, January 19.

According to a New York correspondent of the Daily Express, Mr Ernest R. Godward, who received his training in motor vehicle construction in New Zealand, has invented a device of farreaching importance. It is a new vaporiser which permits motor vehicles to use fuel oil instead of petrol, at a saving of nearly one-third in cost. This has been accepted by the Mitten Company of Philadelphia, the second largest operators of motor omnibuses in the United States.

Mr J. A. Queeney, vice-president of the Mitten Company, addressing the Philadelphia Engineers’ Club, explained Mr Godward’s invention, and stated that if all the motor omnibuses in the United States began using the Godward vaporiser it would mean an annual saving of £10,000,000 on fuel. Mr Godward, who was born in London, was formerly a P. and O. boat steward, and was known as the “ champion napkin folder.” He .went to New Zealand and became interested in motor vehicle construction. He has spent the last 14 years in perfecting the present device, which is likely to be adopted all over the world for omnibuses, taxi cabs, and other motor vehicles. He has been trying for some years to interest American companies in his invention, and has now secured the full endorsement of the Mitten Company, whose head, Mr T. E. Mitten, born at Brighton, England, is the leading municipal traction expert in the United States. DRY INVISIBLE GAS.

Mr Godward’s apparatus sends dry, invisible gas into the engine instead of wet vapour, producing as effective results from fuel oil as petrol. Mr Queeney explained that it gives considerably increased power and also largely eliminates carbon monoxide gas. Mr Mitten ordered experiments with the Godward device to be begun two years ago, and since then 20 Philadelphia motor omnibuses equipped with the vaporiser have travelled more than 300,000 miles.

The horse-power of the motor omnibuses, said Mr Queeney, has increased by 15 per cent.; while there was a saving of 29 per cent, in fuel cost by the use of fuel oil instead of petrol. Carbon monoxide gas, which was previously from 5 to 9 per cent., was reduced by the Godward system to from 1 to 3 per cent. Philadelphia taxi cabs owned by the Mitten Company are also experimenting with the invention, and saving 9 per cent, in the cost of fuel. It is understood that London omnibus companies desire to experiment with Mr Godward’s invention.