AIR CAR HALL OF FAME

Lewis Franklin Grayson

Lewis offered $100 to anyone who could get six mechanical engineers not associated with the big corporations to say that his theory was not correct. He claimed that many technically competent people had alrady OK'd the theory.

L. F. Grayson in 1928

Invention Summary

What the Inventor Claimed

The fuelless compressed air engine will revolutionize power production by making it much cheaper.

What the Publicity Stated

He took out a few large newspaper advertisements locally, with his name and photo, to promote his "fuelless engine" invention which would run on compressed air.

Inventor Biographical

Patents

application 282742 for the compressed air "fuelless engine"

Work Experience

mine laborer (1910), stationary engineer (1930)

Family Background

When Lewis Grayson died in 1960 at the age of 91, he and his wife Nancy P. Harris had lived in Ottawa County, Oklahoma for 43 years. He had been married to Nancy for 68 years. They had ten children, seven of whom survived him. Lewis and Nancy had 30 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.

L. F. Grayson was a professional mining engineer and mechanical engineer. According to his obituary, he had been "identified with the early days of the Tri-State Mining Field." As a mining engineer, he was a hands-on compressed air expert.

His family was highly regarded. The local newspaper reported on their comings and goings. When Lewis turned 91, a big party was held in his honor, attended by many people from all over the place. Home movies were made. He died later that year.

Lewis was the son of Franklin Grayson and Martha Jane Brown, who were farmers. He had at least five older siblings and two younger brothers. The family lived in Liberty, Phelps County, Missouri in 1870, where Franklin had obtained a land patent in 1866.

Lewis and Nancy were married in Phelps County, Missouri in 1892. By 1910, Lewis and Nancy were living in Jasper County, Missouri--a hotbed of air car activity--with their ten children. Lewis was buried there with his parents in 1960.

Personality

Not your average inventor type. A solid family man.

Legal Problems?

None known.

Articles & Graphics

More information on the inventor and the invention, if available:

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