When I was a kid of 9 or 10 (55 years ago) I treasured a book of my father's called "Things a boy can do" - from around 1910 to 1915 I guess? He was born in 1902.
They had a instructions and drawings on how to make a compressed air engine (and tank) for a model plane.
I really loved that book! Electric mnotors - all sorts of things with shim brass, steel wire etc. etc.
Charles