[Info-vax] Anyone interested in another public access system

[David J Dachtera]

Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> 
> In article <49DD4499.9E268AE0 at spam.comcast.net>,
>         David J Dachtera <djesys.no at spam.comcast.net> writes:
> > [snip]
> >
> > Did you know that:
> > - you need a vehicle that does not rely on either batteries or petroleum
> 
> No, I am perfectly happy with my MGB.
> 
> > - it was invented in the late 1970s
> 
> Oh, much earlier than that.  1906, I think.

The concepts behind the Johnson magnatron motor did not yet exist at
that date. Turbines and "Stanley Steamers" still consumed fossil fuels
or other sources of combustion.

> > - it was quashed by the DoE in the early 1980s at the behest of the
> >   petroleum lobby (and the successors to "the plumbers union")
> 
> Here come them black helicopters again.

The evidence is documented in the DoE. It may even have been recently
declassified. Not sure.

> >
> > ...? Probably not.
> >
> > Why?
> 
> Why what?  Why did I not know all the bogus info above?  Want another
> one to feed your conspiracy theories.  Did you know that GM had a Turbine
> Powered vehicle 

Invalid comparison.

> in the early-to-mid 60's?  Local guy was one of the
> beta-testers. 

Turbine vehicles consume petroleum or other fuels, and pose diferent set
of challenges than piston engines.

> That never came to market either.  Do I believe the oil
> companies or government killed it?  Of course not. 

Why would they? Turbines consume petroleum fuels, among other stuff.

> It died because it
> was not marketable (there's that word again!!)  One of the reasons it
> was not marketable was why the Rotary Engine never went beyond the niche
> market. (Do you even know what company invented and put it in a car first?
> Hint: Not a jap!)

Well, beyond the Wankel rotary there was also, I believe, a Canadian
fellow whose rotary engine had rather a unique shape ("bent" at an
obtuse angle). Can't recall his name just now. Legend has it he was
working with DeLorean to put his engines in stainless-body cars for sale
in North America.

Wikipedia has this entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine

...and a disambiguation page that does not mention the invention I am
trying to recall.

> >
> > It was either intentionally not publicized or it never "rose above the
> > noise floor" of the media din.
> 
> Or, it was deemed not practical.  Mercedes introduced a car in a Japanese
> Auto Show last year that meets your criteria.  It will likely never see
> actual production.  Why?  Are the oil companies going to kill it?  Hardly.
> It is nuclear powered. (Strike 1)

Doe or NRC.

> and it cost over a million dollars.

The local mass transit authority (http://www.metrarail.com/) recently
paid $3million a piece for new commuter train locomotives, five of which
were wrecked in the first year by distracted operators.

Rolls, Maserati, Ferrari and others have been building over-priced
vehicles for decades. Seem to be selling just fine, at least until
recently.

> (Strike
> 2.  No need for Strike 3!)
> 
> >
> > I first read about it in two of the local papers in 1981.
> >
> > D.J.D.
> >
> > P.S. "Google" for "Johnson magnatron motor"
> 
> Is it a perpetual motion machine? 

No. 

> What would it cost to manufacture?

One man financed his prototypes out of his own resources in near total
secrecy.

> Is the onboard computer running Winbdows or VMS? 

Oops! Gotta think 1970's, not 21st Century. The invention predates
"on-board computers" (other than the Apollo space vehicles or the LM) as
we know them, and DOS, Windows and VMS.

> If it is so good, why
> not manufacture and market it himself? 

He did.

> Oh yeah.  the black helicopters
> will carry him away to the secret base at the earth's core that you get
> to thru opening in the Arctic.

How did you know? Did you look it up and read?

That's probably not so far from what actually did happen. As I recall,
the story...

After Mr. Johnson was interviewed by the media, Greyhound got wind of
his invention and tried to contract with him for motors to power their
cross-country buses. His existing shop was too small; so, he set out to
move his shop from the far-northwest suburbs of Chicago to somewhere in
California. 

His vehicle was found with several samples of his invention on board,
but his body was never recovered. The units had been destroyed
internally such that very likely only he could have restored them to a
functioning state.

Go ahead and double check me, because that's likely to have more than a
few flubs in it, but that's my recollection from the last time I read up
on it on the web.

D.J.D.