The Stirling Engine was invented in 1816 by Reverend Dr. Robert Stirling who wanted to create a safer, more efficient alternative to steam engine boilers. His design is still taught in mechanical engineering courses at leading universities to demonstrate the “high efficiency, quiet operation, and heat utilization of closed cycle regenerative heat engines”.

This working desktop version of the Stirling engine uses the same principles as the Stirling engines from the Industrial Revolution. This is a wonderful piece to put in an office, library, sitting room, den, or even work shop.

Check price and availability at Hammacher Schlemmer.

“Handmade in Germany, the unit has a solid brass body and a glass cylinder and piston that are precisley designed to minimize friction, eliminating the need for lubrication. The alcohol burner heats the glass tube, causing the air inside to expand and push the horizontal piston towards the chamber. This movement displaces some of the warm air into the metal chamber where it continues to expand, forcing the vertical piston upward. The pistons are connected to the flywheel with a system of levers and pulleys, causing the flywheel to spin up to 5,000 RPM and enabling the sequence to repeat until the flame is put out.”