Schiffsmotor
Saurer Schiffs-Petrolmotor des Transportnauens Flora
Dating
1896Description
Saurer Schiffs-Petrolmotor des Transportnauens Flora. Das Schiff sank 1899. Weshalb das Schiff gesunken ist, bleibt unklar. Entweder war es überladen oder die schlechte Witterung brachte das Schiff in Seenot. Der Petrolmotor ist deshalb von grossem Interesse, weil er technikgeschichtlich den Übergang von der Dampfmaschine zum Benzinmotor darstellt.Object type
Object (three-dimensional)Geography
Territorium: VierwaldstätterseeMaterial / Technique
MetallInventory number
VHS-12490Legend
Saurer kerosene-powered marine engine of MS Flora, Switzerland 1896
Between the steam engine and the petrol engine
The adoption of early internal combustion engines by boat builders proved a logical step forward, as they weighed less than steam engines. Marine engine production at Adolph Saurer AG in Arbon – later known as a vehicle manufacturer – began in 1891 with a horizontal kerosene engine.
Marine engines began incorporating vertical cylinders in 1893, rising to two cylinders providing 6 or 12 hp in 1896. This kerosene engine comes from the MS Flora, a freighter which sank at the entrance to the Küssnacht arm of Lake Lucerne in 1899.
The recovery of this engine from a depth of 66 metres in autumn 2015 represents the re-emergence – in the truest sense of the word – of one of Saurer’s pioneering developments. Forming an important developmental stage between steam and petrol technology, it’s probably the oldest internal combustion vehicle engine to be preserved in Switzerland.
Technical data
Main colour
RostrotType of propulsion
Kolbenverbrennungsmotor (Petrol)Power [kW]
8.82
Systematics
• Engines, gearboxes
Literature
Seltener Schiffsmotor frisch geborgen = Un moteur de bateau rare sorti des eaux [Motor des MS Flora], Autor/in: Burger, Olivier, S., Abb.: 4-5, Sign.: ZH 2
Historische Schiffe auf Schweizer Gewässern = Les bateaux historiques sur les eaux Suisses, Autor/in: Scheiwiller, Yvonne, S., Abb.: S. 119, Sign.: WGU 20
Verkehrsgeschichtliche Schatzkammer Verkehrshaus Luzern, Autor/in: Scheiwiller, Yvonne, S., Abb.: S. 119, Sign.: WGU 20
Von Land zu Land. Schifffahrt auf dem Vierwaldstättersee, Autor/in: Ragaz, Stefan, S., Abb.: S. 119, Sign.: WGU 21