CA> My stepfather gave me a collection of "Popular Mechanics"
CA> dating back into the '50s and there was a man who had used a
CA> greater portion of his lifetime developing a 'free piston
CA> engine' with a magnet embedded within the piston. It was
CA> started by firing a .22 caliber at one end and then would run
CA> until the fuel supply was shut off. He could generate
CA> electricity and power his entire house with this little engine
CA> that he could hold in one hand. They predicted that people
CA> would have these in their homes and not need the utility
CA> companies anymore back in the '50s. The engine disappeared and
CA> I seem to be the only one now who even knows it exists. The man
CA> had invested all of his time and money into this and I can
CA> imagine his frustration and embarassment when it failed. It
CA> seems it shouldn't have failed IMO.

I did a web search for "free-piston engine".
Tons of hits.
Lots of people still working on it.

  * SLMR 2.1a *

--- Maximus 3.01