Another Steam Engine
* In the early 70s William Bolon in Rialto, California, developed an unusual steam engine design that was purported to get 50 miles to the gallon.
* The engine, which used only 17 moving parts, weighed less than 50 pounds and eliminated the usual transmission and drive chain in an auto.
* After contacting Detroit interests, the inventor claimed he was required to sign forms releasing these interests from acknowledging his claims to the design before they would even look at it.
* After a Sun Telegram article on the project, his factory was firebombed to the tune of $600,000. After letters to the White House, the inventor finally gave up and let Indonesian interests have the design.
* Aside from a token steam project by Ford, the steam auto was ignored right up to the time of various Senate pollution control committees of the late 60s. Typically, the representatives of the auto industry alleged that steam systems were not dependable, safe, or necessary; especially since Detroit would soon have good minimal emission designs. So, without funding, the small experimenters of this period tended to fall into obscurity.
* An notable exception was Bill Lear, who spent millions perfecting systems in his Reno plant. The complete lack of co-operation and interest from major industries or “powers” eventually discouraged him.
NO COMMON SENSE
ANALYZE THE EXAMPLE
* Which supports and barriers were in play?
* What were the dynamics?
* Who, or what, won the Tug-of-War?
* Discuss the outcome with your friends and family.
* Use Post #4 as a reference for the relationships and dynamics between supports and barriers.
