1899 De Dion-Bouton Engine-on-stand

Generously Lent by Evan Ide

The De Dion-Bouton engine, introduced in 1895, is considered the first high-speed lightweight internal combustion engine. It was licensed to more than 150 manufacturers and was a popular choice among assemblers of motor bicycles. The small, lightweight four-cycle engine used a battery and coil ignition that was less trouble than hot tube ignition. The bore of 50 mm (2.0 in) and stroke of 70 mm (2.8 in) gave the engine an output of 1 kW (1.3 –1.5 hp). It was used on many pioneering motor bicycles and tricycles and was widely copied by makers including US Brands Indian and Harley-Davidson.

    De Dion-Bouton supplied larger engines to vehicle manufacturers such as Hanzer and Société Parisienne who mounted a 2.5 horsepower (1.9 kW) unit directly on the front axle of their front-wheel-drive voiturette the 'Viktoria Combination'. Franklin and other American builders also licensed engines in the earliest days of their car manufacture.

                              (summarized from Wikipedia entry)

De Dion remote surface type vaporizer carburetor