diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1351ed8bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMO_DIRS = equilibrium flames gasdynamics kinetics liquid_vapor \
+               misc reactors surface_chemistry transport
+
+run:
+	@(for d in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
+	    echo "entering directory $${d}..."; \
+            (cd $${d}; make run) ; \
+	done)
+
+cleanup:
+	@(for dd in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
+	    echo "entering directory $${dd}..."; \
+            (cd $${dd}; make -i clean; cd ..) ; \
+	done)
+
+# end of file
+
+# 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6beed47c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = simple.py stoich.py adiabatic.py multiphase_plasma.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/stoich.py b/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/stoich.py
index 50f51b107..dc536a57d 100644
--- a/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/stoich.py
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/equilibrium/stoich.py
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+########################################################################
+####  NOTE: with the changes made to the ChemEquil solver in version 1.7,
+####  it now converges, and the Multiphase solver is no longer invoked
+#### in this demo
+########################################################################
+
 # Equilibrium of a (nearly) stoichiometric hydrogen/oxygen mixture at
 # fixed temperature.
 
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/flames/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/flames/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b5aee899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/flames/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = flame1.py flame2.py stflame1.py npflame1.py free_h2_air.py \
+           adiabatic_flame.py fixed_T_flame.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/gasdynamics/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/gasdynamics/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7d37bcd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/gasdynamics/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = isentropic.py soundSpeeds.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/kinetics/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/kinetics/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8e4e6dd0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/kinetics/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = ratecoeffs.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/liquid_vapor/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/liquid_vapor/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34736a437
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/liquid_vapor/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = critProperties.py rankine.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/misc/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/misc/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ae3927b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/misc/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = rxnpath1.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/reactors/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/reactors/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8c09be6b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/reactors/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = combustor.py function1.py mix1.py mix2.py piston.py reactor1.py \
+           reactor2.py sensitivity1.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/surface_chemistry/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/surface_chemistry/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e59f59656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/surface_chemistry/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = catcomb.py diamond.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/transport/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/transport/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..71f2b5608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cantera/python/examples/transport/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+PY_DEMOS = dustygas.py
+
+run:
+	@(for py in $(PY_DEMOS) ; do \
+	    echo "running $${py}..."; \
+          $(PYTHON_CMD) "$${py}"; \
+	done)
+
+clean:
+	rm -f *.log *.csv *.xml
+
+# end of file
+