Museum of Science and Industry

In 1876, German engineer Nikolaus Otto unveiled an engine that can be said to be the predecessor of the modern car engine. His engine was known as the Silent Otto four-stroke gas engine and won him great acclaim. It used gas as its fuel. This type of engine was the first real challenge to the steam engine and was produced in various sizes.

Internal-combustion engines could be used in smaller workshops and factories. Crossley Brothers of Openshaw, Manchester, produced many of these gas engines under licence. By 1900 the company had produced around 40,000 such engines at its Pottery Lane factory.

The fuel used in most of these engines was town gas. Experiments by other engineers saw the introduction of other fuels, including oil and petroleum spirit. It was not long before engines running on petrol were powering the early motor cars.