Abstract
The life of Joseph Day (1855-1946) demonstrates the complexity of issues behind many `failed innovations'. His 1891 `invention', improved by Cock in 1892, greatly simplified the internal combustion engine. Hopes were high on its introduction that it would succeed in English engine markets which had just been liberalized by the lapse of the all-embracing Otto four-stroke patent. But English shareholders were uninterested in developing this new technology against the hegemony of the steam engine, and in any case its hoped-for market in England as a lightweight electricity generator failed to materialize. These market problems were hopelessly complicated by numerous lawsuits involving Day's activities as a company director. These helped to force Day into bankruptcy in 1893. Success only came as patent protection on the `valveless' engine was about to lapse. The engine had by then emerged as a perfect power unit for motor boats, since it was easily reversible, and had perfect power characteristics for water. The Day engine started to sell at first under licence. Day then attempted to find oil from shales in England. This risky speculation proved an ill-fated venture and first forced Day to abandon engineering, and then history to abandon him as well.
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