Ulysse Valentin - Originele technische tekening – "Piston, segment excentré & frein d’écrou" - c1910/20

Original technical drawing – Piston, eccentric segment & nut brake – École Professionnelle de Mécanique, ca. 1910–1920

Beautiful and rare hand-drawn technical teaching plate from the early 20th century, originating from the École Professionnelle de Mécanique (O. Hautecœur, E. Thys, U. Valentin & Cie), under the leadership of Professor Ulysse Valentin, active in Huy (Belgium).

This technical drawing illustrates in detail the components of a piston with grooves and piston rings, as well as the operation of an eccentric segment and a retaining key for nuts. Such diagrams were used to give students in mechanics and automotive engineering insight into engine construction and connection techniques.

The presentation includes:

Piston eye (piston head with grooves for segments)

Cross-section of the piston with piston ring channels.

Eccentric segment (eccentric piston ring) in front and side views.

Nut lock (mechanical locking system to prevent a nut from loosening)

Annotations in elegant French handwriting and clear technical proportions.

Executed in East Indian ink and watercolor in soft shades of blue, red, and green, with the characteristic hatching style of early 20th-century technical education. Signed by U. Valentin at the bottom.

Piston – Eccentric segment – Lock brake
Period: ca. 1910–1920
Origin: École Professionnelle de Mécanique, Huy, Belgium
Author: Ulysse Valentin, Professor of Mechanics
Technique: East Indian ink and watercolor on drawing cardboard.
Dimensions: approximately 70 × 50 cm
Condition: good – slight signs of aging and a few small spots on the edges, no folds or tears (see photos).

Details:

Original, hand-drawn technical drawing

Signed by Professor Ulysse Valentin

Rare early 20th-century educational document on motor mechanics.

Decorative, aesthetic, and historically valuable.

Ideal for framing or museum collection.

This didactic drawing was used in automotive mechanics and engine construction classes around 1910–1920. It shows early knowledge of internal combustion engine parts such as the piston and segments, as well as the locking mechanisms that were essential for the first generation of motor vehicles.

An exceptionally beautiful example of technical craftsmanship combined with artistic precision, typical of Belgian engineering education from the early 20th century.


Short biography of Ulysse Valentin

Ulysse Valentin (active from the early 20th century) was a professor of automotive engineering in Hoei and Marchin (Liège province, Belgium). He trained young technicians and driver-mechanics during a time when the automobile was still in full development. Valentin was known for his didactic approach, producing large and precise diagrams that helped students understand the workings of engines and vehicles.

His education reflects the transition from horse-drawn carriages to cars. The signatures and stamps on his students' drawings and diplomas make these documents valuable testimonies of the early history of motorsport in Wallonia.