Ivan Polzunov was born in the family of a soldier of peasant origin in the town Turinsk (currently Sverdlovsk Oblast region, Russia).

In the library of Barnaul plant he found works of Mikhail Lomonosov, that he studied by himself as well as the descriptions of contemporary steam machines by Johann Schlatter.

The design used two cylinders on the same shaft that allowed its operations completely independently from water power even on dry places or in mountains.

She awarded him 400 rubles and promotion two ranks (to captain-poruchik) but did not seem to appreciate the new technology, as she recommended hydropower be used to return the pistons as done in Britain.

A working model of the steam machine made by Ivan Polzunov is in the museum of Barnaul and is still in an operational condition.