Caterpillar Diesel Engine, 1930
Caterpillar Diesel Engine, 1930
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- Description
- This is the first mass-produced diesel engine ever made in the United States. The four-cylinder engine uses a variety of fuels, including furnace oil and generates 86.8 horsepower at 700 revolutions per minute.
- "Old Betsy" was employed to drive earth-moving equipment in the construction industry before its retirement in the mid-20th century. The transition from gasoline to diesel was preferred by manufacturers of heavy equipment due in part to the efficiencies available with the heavier classes of motor fuel, in addition to diesel's ability to run cleaner than ordinary gasoline.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Engine, Diesel
- Date made
- 1930
- maker
- Caterpillar Tractor Co.
- Measurements
- overall:;
- ID Number
- MC.335000
- catalog number
- 335000
- accession number
- 310685
- serial number
- 1-A-14
- Credit Line
- Gift of Caterpillar Tractor Co. Peoria, Illinois
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
- Energy & Power
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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