What is a Gazogen on the back of this A?

[RonC]

http://www.prewarcar.com/classifieds/ad53515.html

[Aerocraft]

The device on the back of the car is a generator for combustible gas which will take the place of gasoline and run the engine. As I recall, these devices were popular during WW2 when gas was rationed or not available. The type I am familar with cooked charcoal to generate a combustible mixture of ethane gas which was piped to the engine. Gar Williams

[Special Coupe Frank]

These was a contraption adapted to gasoline cars and trucks during the Depression and WWII, when Gasoline ( petrol ) was scarce and exceedingly expensive.

It was a "gas-ification" device that heated solid fuel ( wood scraps, charcoal ) to the point where it gave-off a combustible gas, which was collected and fed to the engine.

I believe it falls into the category of "better than walking"...

Would be neat to see a video of one actually operating...

They were most common in Europe; don't know if any folks were running them over here during WW II...

( Gar must type faster'n me...)

[Dan Baron]

I Googled it, something to do with gas producing? Not much info. out there on this.

[Gerard]

Indeed it is a Gas generator , these devices where used during world war two in Europe when gasoline was not available. The trick was by burning wood at a slow phase via a condenser etc to generate wood gas. the driver had to be a machinist to keep the thing going and never came home with clean hands.

[Gerard]

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You guy's type faster then me.

[Terry in KB]

In the Thunder Bay area there is a 1950 era 3 ton International truck with the gas generator on the deck. The story I was told was that the owner built it at home. He was familliar with them from the War Days in Finland. It was really neat. He would throw the odd piece of 6" White Birch into the burner. It would sit all day at Car Shows or Agricultural events and every once in a while he would start it up. It ran just great. He did not speak much English so his daugher would translate for him. He has since passed away but his daughter still brings it out to the odd event.

[eystein]

We had a lot of those in Norway during WW2 due to severe rationing of gas after the country was invaded by Germany.

You still see a couple of them at veteran car events over here, although not many, because of the significant degradation of engine power.

For those of you interested, you may read about wood gas generator here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas_generator

You will find links to some more technical articles at the bottom of the page

[bdentremont]

I found the following photo online the other day and was trying to figure out what it was. After looking at some photos of wood gas generators today, I'm guessing that's what it is. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skitmeister/4858423498/

[Ghost of elmirage]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

These was a contraption adapted to gasoline cars and trucks during the Depression and WWII, when Gasoline ( petrol ) was scarce and exceedingly expensive.

It was a "gas-ification" device that heated solid fuel ( wood scraps, charcoal ) to the point where it gave-off a combustible gas, which was collected and fed to the engine.

I believe it falls into the category of "better than walking"...

Would be neat to see a video of one actually operating...

They were most common in Europe; don't know if any folks were running them over here during WW II...

( Gar must type faster'n me...)

exceedingly expensive!!!!! Youmean like NOW!!!!!??????? hahahaha

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by bdentremont

I found the following photo online the other day and was trying to figure out what it was. After looking at some photos of wood gas generators today, I'm guessing that's what it is. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skitmeister/4858423498/

That's what it looks like to me... looks like this truck was / is in Europe ( Denmark?).

[Gerard]

Yes this is a woodgas generator, second : this picture is taken in the Netherlands at a private model A Ford museum in Hillegom .

[40 Deluxe]

Some were also fueled with cow pies!

[ed thibodeau]

back in the 60's mother earth news had articles showing how to do that to a "modern" pickup and drove it around the country. the only modification to the engine wasa the jets.

[Tom Wesenberg]

With today's gas prices, they are bound to make a comeback.

[J Franklin]

My woods are looking more important now!

[montanajohn]

Anyone want to get the plans for making their own generator? Check out GASSIDIAN.COM. Some fuels are better than others, but anything organic will work, including cow pies and banana peels.

[foresthunter]

Originally Posted by montanajohn

Anyone want to get the plans for making their own generator? Check out GASSIDIAN.COM. Some fuels are better than others, but anything organic will work, including cow pies and banana peels.

Link seems dead to me....

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by foresthunter

Link seems dead to me....

Here's one;

http://www.windward.org/notes/notes63/wal63_b.htm

or

http://www.gekgasifier.com/ by Jim Mason, our Mr. Mason?

[john in illinois]

Here are some links for modern gassifiers that I found.

http://www.gekgasifier.com/

http://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/contents.shtml

http://www.windward.org/notes/notes63/wal63_b.htm

I can picture my Tudor pulling a small trailer smokin down the road