Hugon Gas Engine, 1867

'Hugon' gas engine, 1867. Components are stamped to aid assembly. Patented by P. Hugon in 1865.

This engine was patented by P. Hugon in 1865, but he had then been working at the subject for some years. The only important difference between it and the Lenoir engine which is perhaps better know as the first practically successsful gas engine is that the ignition is accomplished by an external flame, instead of by electricity; it was, in fact, the first engine in which ignition by flame was successfully accomplished. This contributed to the engine being more reliable than Lenoir's with its electric ignition system.