Don Thurston Blog

The Great Horsepower Scandal

The great horsepower scandal has recently been brought to our attention. An article in the Journal of Mechanical Engineers (January 14, 1911 pages 47-53), written by Harold Abercrombie, reports that engine manufacturers routinely claim higher horse-power ratings than what is actually delivered. This fraudulent practice puts the whole industry under scrutiny and in particular the Acme Steam Engine Company.

A short review follows. James Watt is credited, not with the invention of the steam engine, but for modifications that made it truly useful. To demonstrate the engine’s benefits, Watt developed comparisons among his invention and the work provided by horses, which were the main source of power at the time. Through experimentation he determined that a pony could lift an average of two hundred and twenty pounds, one hundred feet per minute over a four hour working shift. He also postulated that a draft horse was fifty percent more powerful than a pony. He called this one horse power which became the standard power rating tool for all engines.

To ensure that engine manufacturers were representing correctly and not exaggerating the horse power of their engines, the Department of Measurement and Standards was established. Test stations were soon built. In instances where the engine could not be moved the horse was taken to the engine.

An employee from the Department of Measurement Standards attended the tests and cared for the horse as well.   The procedure was simple. The engine would pull four hundred and forty pounds one hundred feet and if the time required was one minute, then the engine rating was confirmed. The horse would duplicate the process to make sure that the calibration was correct. This was necessary to take into account differences in environmental conditions that would influence power delivery.

Over time, the Head of the Department of Measurement Standards noticed that engines at the Kingston on Thyme station were reporting horse power produced by the engines and the horse were exactly the same.  This was contrary to outcomes elsewhere where such consistency was unusual. Eventually an inspector was dispatched to review the results.

He identified that the employee was lowering or increasing the weight pulled and using drugs to enhance or lower the horse’s strength. In so doing the engine rating would always match the engines performance. The engine supplier and the employee of The Department of Standards were clearly in cahoots.

One can only imagine the resulting consternation throughout the industry. Most alarming was the extent of the conspiracy well beyond the Kingston on Thyme location.

Repercussions were and are severe. Lawsuits blossomed, encompassing compensation for the engine buyers and legal actions against the manufacturers. Corruption within the Department of Measurement Standards is under investigation. Sadly several horses have passed away because of ingesting illegal substances. Humane societies are now investigating as well.

The Government Minister of Measurement and Standards has vowed actions that will prevent this from ever happening again.

Thanks for reading!

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