Air-powered LEGO Engine History

[engine1ear]

I've been doing some research on the history of LEGO air-powered engines of both the compressed air (LEGO pneumatics) and high-volume-low-pressure variety. I found it interesting that to build a LEGO air-powered engine before pneumatics parts were released in 1984, the piston and cylinder assembly had to utilize the close tolerance of the bricks and had inherent leaking problems. This type of engine, often known as a LEGO vacuum engine now, is quite popular still since it requires relatively few special parts. I've written a wiki page about it, but just for interest, the first known LEGO air-powered engine was made by the prolific YouTuber Matthias Wandel in about 1985. This is followed by Dan Hartman's first oscillating engine of 1986. I got to interview Erin, who built his first in 1994, without knowledge of other builders, and here's that video.

Check the description for my wiki page.

[allanp]

Matthias Wandel?! Sweet! I'm a fan of his YouTube woodworking channel and had no idea he built one if the first air powered Lego engines. You learn something every day!

I mean, I'm sure there were engines built before his, but it's just a cool coincidence, I guess, that he was one of the first to document it.

Edited September 5, 2021 by allanp

[engine1ear]

2 hours ago, allanp said:

Matthias Wandel?! Sweet! I'm a fan of his YouTube woodworking channel and had no idea he built one if the first air powered Lego engines. You learn something every day!

I mean, I'm sure there were engines built before his, but it's just a cool coincidence, I guess, that he was one of the first to document it.

Yeah I was pretty excited when I found out. I actually learned this by emailing Matthias personally and when I asked about documentation, he sadly said that he didn't have any from that early 1985 engine. He does have one video on his YouTube channel of a LEGO engine powered by one of his wooden turbine fans. The earliest known documented one would now be Dan Hartman's that you can see here.