Chapter Nine

Suppressed Inventions

Suppressed automotive inventions are a fascinating and controversial subject. Throughout the unfolding history of the automobile, they have stalked the shadows and come momentarily into the light, exerting their own unique presence. Suppressed inventions, whether real or imaginary, have captured the imagination of the public like legends in our history that refuse to die or be explained away. No doubt some suppressed inventions were imaginary, but others remain too persistent to be dismissed. For the common man, they created hope. But for companies and governments, they disrupted the status quo.

For those of you who doubt the reasoning behind the suppression of automotive inventions, consider these facts:

U.S. Banks own large blocks of stock - in the oil, automotive, and power generation industries.
U.S. Banks are adversely affected - by any event or invention threatening these industries.
Oil companies would suffer - from any invention decreasing demand for their products.
Automotive companies would suffer - from any invention which greatly increased a car's operating life (less cars and parts to sell).
Automotive companies would suffer - from any invention not relying on the internal combustion engine (equipment and parts lose value).
Automotive companies would suffer - from a clean burning fuel like alcohol, methane, or hydrogen (engines would last much longer).
Federal Government would lose - billions of tax dollars if demand for gasoline dropped.
Federal Government has considered - low oil prices and high oil import levels a threat to national security in the past.

Still not convinced? ..... Then, read the following true story:

In the summer of 1935, an inventor reportedly installed a mysterious carburetor on an eight cylinder engine equipped car. The car reportedly was driven over 1,800 miles in Canada, averaging over 130 miles per gallon of gasoline. By the early months of 1936, rumors of the "high-mileage" carburetor swept the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. Stock brokers were swamped with orders to dump oil stocks immediately, fearing oil would lose its value. Supporters and discreditors filled the newspaper that year. Supporters claimed the carburetor produced high gas mileage. Discreditors claimed it was worthless. The invention, creating such a commotion, was the legendary Pogue Carburetor.

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