Gardner petrol engine. Historical illustration of an industrial gas engine adapted to run on petrol (also known as oil). Such engines were initially built as gas engines, running on gas fuels. The additions of devices such as carburettors and vaporisers enabled such engines to be powered by oil-based liquid fuels. These engines were known as oil engines. The L. Gardner and Sons company of Manchester, UK, made gas engines from about 1895, later making petrol and diesel engines. Artwork from 'Moteurs' (1911) by French civil engineer Max de Nansouty (1854-1913), part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.