Hi Charles
On (24 Sep 96) CHARLES WARREN wrote to ALL...
 CW> Anyone know anything about hit and miss engines ?
In Australia, a hit and miss engine was usually a single cylinder gas engine
which had a flyball governor designed to kill the spark any time the speed 
ot
too high, but restore the spark at lower speeds.  The exhaust sound was
unique- chuff chuff chuff WHEEZE! chuff chuff chuff WHEEZE!
Fully loaded, lots of chuffs and not many WHEEZES. At no- load, lots of
WHEEZES and not many chuffs.
The most common use I recall, was for cement mixers at building sites.
In the 1940s, a pop song from the US simulated the sound- the girl singer 
sed
words like
"Cement Mixer, puttie- puttie;
Cement Mixer, puttie- puttie;
A piddley Beat-
CONC-RETE!"
Send $20 with blank tape and I'll croon it to you!   Cheers..ALEC
... ........PO Box 215 BUNDANOON NSW 2578 AUSTRALIA
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