Boys, when I was a small boy, I remember how much I was interested in
everything which was mechanical. The engineer was my hero; the solving
of the mysteries of an engine and the learning how to drive one, was my
ambition.
I remember well how I tried to read the dry, technical description
of motors, steam engines and such things. I remember, too, how hard
it was to understand those books; how the various technical terms
used to bother me, until at last, in despair, I would throw the books
aside. It seemed as if the men who wrote them never realized that boys
existed,--that boys wanted to know about such things.
At other times how glad I was when I found a good-hearted engineer who
seemed to know and understand my feelings and my desire to learn. How
easy it was to comprehend his explanations, because he used homely,
everyday things to illustrate his meaning. He made you forget there was
anything complicated about machinery. He simply took up one part at a
time, and when he had finished with it, everything was as plain as the
nose on your face.
Boys, then and there I decided that if I ever did understand some of
these seeming mysteries of engineering, I would write a book that boys
could understand. I would write it so that they couldn’t help it, it
would be so plain; there would be no secrets; they should know all
about it, and what is more, should be able to reason it all out for
themselves.
[Illustration: Fig. 1--The Essential Parts of a Gas Engine.]
Let me tell you about each part separately. After we have gone
over each part you will find that you will understand the action
of the motor and other parts of the car well enough so that you
will unconsciously reason it all out for yourselves. Some of the
descriptions and explanations may at first seem unsatisfactory, but I
think with a little thought and study you will be able to master them
in a short time. I want your confidence, boys, and then I know we will
get along all right together.
[Illustration: Fig. 2--A Single-cylinder Horizontal Engine. Note
location of valves in this type.]
[Illustration: