Combustible Gas Powered Pogo Stick
Patent No. 2,929,459
Inventor: Gordon Spitzmesser, Elwood, Indiana
Issued: March 22, 1960
From: Dick Spitzmesser
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 11:07 AM
Gentlemen:
My name is Edwin R. (Dick) Spitzmesser. I am the son of Gordon Spitzmesser, the inventor of the gas powered pogo stick featured in your web site. I was 12 during the time Dad was working on this invention- he had several other patents, and many ideas (he died last May).
I would test it each time he tinkered with it. It ran on butane, but really jumped high when we once used a mixture of acetelyene and oxygen! He used a model "A" Ford spark coil which delivered quite a few volts to the unprotected spark plug - as I once found out when my zipper came in contact with it briefly. I haven't had a thrill like that since!
In 1960 or 1961 we were invited to appear on the "Dave Garroway" show in New York City. Dad was interviewed and I demonstrated the product on national television. By the way he called it the "Pop Along."
He never made any money from the invention, but he enjoyed it immensely. He was working on a car that would run on water, but would never tell me the details. Thanks for honoring him on your website.
Edwin R. (Dick) Spitzmesser
http://www.lightlink.com/bbm/wpogo.html