Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today.

Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today.

      Antique Tractor Life via YouTube

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      It can be frustrating to observe the pace of innovation, particularly nowadays when we're told that electric vehicles are the future, even as the associated technology is still evolving to reach its full capabilities. However, it's crucial to recognize that today's internal-combustion engines are the outcomes of a similar process, which involved numerous setbacks and engineering failures in the past.

      One such failure was concealed for 70 years, and it's quite intriguing. This is a 25-horsepower single-cylinder "hit-and-miss" engine produced by International Harvester in 1915. As mentioned in a video recently uploaded to the YouTube channel Antique Tractor Life, it is one of only three believed to still exist today. The engine operated in a planing mill for 70 years before being auctioned off in the 1990s, and it remains in remarkably original condition.

      Antique Tractor Life via YouTube

      The term "hit-and-miss" refers to how these engines ignite ("hit") only when they reach a certain speed; otherwise, they cycle without ignition ("miss"). This speed is regulated by the opening and closing of the exhaust valve, which is connected to a rocker arm similar to more traditional engine designs. A governor keeps the exhaust valve open to regulate speed. The intake valve operates solely through the suction of the combustion chamber, so it will not open if the exhaust valve is already open. Like many early internal-combustion engines, this one is not particularly efficient. This engine produces its 25 hp from a displacement of 1,100 cubic inches—approximately 18 liters.

      The video states that International Harvester manufactured hit-and-miss engines in Milwaukee from 1904 to 1917. The company began with gasoline-powered models of 6, 8, and 15 hp. Additional variants were introduced later, with the 25-hp model coming into production in 1910. In 1913, International started producing kerosene-fueled models due to an increase in automobile production causing gasoline prices to rise. Portable versions suitable for horse or wagon transport were designed for agricultural use, and stationary models were also made available to provide power before the advent of electrical mains. Although this engine spent most of its operational life stationary, it was initially built on a wheeled chassis.

      Hidden in a Planing Mill for 70 Years — One of Only 3 International Harvester Engines

      The basic hit-and-miss engines were quite functional compared to the more demanding steam engines and manual labor, but they became largely outdated by the 1930s. In fact, this engine was already destined for the scrap yard before being rediscovered for long-term use. It was repurposed in a Pennsylvania mill in 1935 after a fire caused by the steam engine that once drove the operation. The continuing Great Depression made cost a major factor, and the discarded engine was available at a low price. Ultimately, this choice proved to be a wise investment.

      The engine kept powering the mill until its auction in 1997. Some mechanical repairs were necessary to get it operational again, but a layer of oil and sawdust from its extensive working life helped it remain well-preserved for engineering enthusiasts to appreciate.

Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today. Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today. Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today.

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Only three of these International Harvester hit-and-miss engines are still in existence today.

This particular relic was stored for 70 years in a planing mill, covered in sawdust and oil.