"AP", for Auxiliary Power, a piston engine supplemental supercharger driven by its own micro-turbine which could be engaged by a switch. The device was heavily based on Middlebrook's patent. Unlike conventional superchargers and turbos, no engine power would be used to supply the extra air, and testing on a Chevy 409 engine was reported to give a power gain from to with the supercharger engaged.
Conventional exhaust driven turbochargers.
"TB-28", the "drag axle", a micro-turbine to be mounted directly to the rear axle of a vehicle. It would supplement the power of the conventional engine, usually driving the axle via a Borg Warnersprag clutch, and was intended for drag racing. The price for a complete unit was. Power output was stated as up to, and it was essentially a on/off device.
Rocket thrust engines, in various sizes. The "T-16" had of thrust. One application was for drag racing gokarts, posting times of 7.3 seconds and speeds over for the quarter mile using a twin T-16 engine rocket powered kart driven by "Captain" Jack McClure. There were also higher powered models, like the T-21, T-22 and T-32. They were used to power cars, motorcycles as well as boats and more.
The company was mostly based on mail order, and was a frequent advertiser in magazines, using gramophone records and 8mm film in addition to a catalog as promotional material. A 1955 VW Beetle named the "Black Widow", clocking 9.36 seconds quarter miles equipped with a Turbonique drag axle at the Tampa Dragstrip in 1965, occurred frequently in advertisements. When it crashed, becoming airborne after reaching, this event was also advertised, saying "we forgot our strength for a split second". Being based on rocket fuel and technology, there were a number of safety issues with these devices. For instance if the operator let off the throttle, then reapplied it, the device would essentially become a bomb. In 1967, after a few reported incidents and fatalities, the NHRA banned the use of Turbonique turbines for drag racing. In 1968, Middlebrooks was accused and jailed for mail fraud mostly based on the goods supplied by Turbonique being more difficult and more expensive to finish and install than described in the advertisements. At the trial, Middlebrooks waived counsel and represented himself. An appeal in 1972, stating that he suffered from hypomania at the time, was rejected. The company folded shortly after the court case. Middlebrooks died on 4 August 2005.
