With all the magnetic genius at this forum I figured I would share a little find I failed to find on these forums...
I believe that the engine itself is not important as the concept of operation...
And a better design could be used to harness power... For instance using the sun as the heat source....
Here is a link to the information.
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/POWER/thermomagnetic/thermag.htm
someone should archive this page for us as well excellent read...
From House Painter
I don't mean to sound dumb or simplistic, but aren't these similar to the whirly-gigs that I saw as a kid in the mueum, where two flat pieces, black on one side, the other white, and when exposed to a light bulb, would spin? I vaguely remember an idea for a wind turbine that used that same principle. Albeit it was used as assistance, not the driving force.