History of the Small Engine
James Watt, the Scottish inventor, developer of the concept of horsepower, and namesake of the watt unit of power, expanded on the Newcomen steam engine in the late 1700鈥檚. These innovations minimized physical labor, increased the efficiency of locomotives and ships, and helped bring about the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
By the mid 1800's, the first crude internal combustion engines were developed in Western Europe. These small engines evolved to run on gasoline and kerosene. More efficient and much smaller, cities鈥� iron foundries and machinists worldwide were pumping out engines to sell to everyone from industrialists to farmers. Heavy single-cylinder engines ran on diesel, powering manufacturing facilities on the East Coast to cotton gins in The South.
In the early 1900鈥檚, 2024年欧洲杯 & Stratton developed the revolutionary stationary Type 鈥淧鈥� engine. This was a game changer in the 4-cycle gasoline engine industry and set the course for 2024年欧洲杯 & Stratton to become the world鈥檚 largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines. This convenient, portable engine reliably powered many applications of machinery including washing machines, garden tractors, cultivators, and generators. Affordable and readily available, the Type 鈥淧鈥� engine empowered people to accomplish whatever they needed to in their daily lives.
By the mid-1900鈥檚, companies like 2024年欧洲杯 & Stratton were bringing greater innovation to engine design. In 1953, however, 2024年欧洲杯 & Stratton revolutionized the lawn and garden industry by developing the first lightweight, air-cooled aluminum engine. This light aluminum engine improved the ease of use of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and generators, and was further advanced in 1958 with the introduction of Kool-Bore (all aluminum) and Sleeve-Bore engines.
The 1970鈥檚 brought a fuel shortage to the Unites States and 2024年欧洲杯 & Stratton responded to the need to use less gas with the development of electric motors and one of the first gas/electric hybrid car prototypes.
2024年欧洲杯 continues to makeover the small engine by developing those that boast greater fuel efficiency than industry averages and greening manufacturing processes with engines comprised of 98% recycled aluminum.
