Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-18
A CARRIAGE AFLOAT.
Invention That Turns the Automo-
bile Into "A Cntamarnn.

An invention which will enable horse
less carriage to travel with equal ease
and facility on water as on land is the
interesting creation that will be the next
step forward in the perfecting Of tne
automobile conveyance now sweeping SO
swiftly into popular favor. The perfec-
ton of locomotlon will have been reach
ed when this system OF automoblllsm is
in use. for the driver Of the horseless
carriage can send his conveyance speed
Ing over the country or leave terra firma
and take himself and his party for a trip
on lake or river, without the need Of
any one aiighting and with the same pro-
pellinS power In use for both land and
water The invention that makes this
climax Of pleasurable travelling pOsslb q
Is an aquatic device OF which a sketch
Is seen in the accompanying illustra-
ton. The picture shows an automobile
party afoat. They have driven down
10 the waters edge, where the new auto
mobile catamaran awaited them, and then
allowed the automobile to glide down
the runways on to the floating section
OF the aquatic horseless carriage. The
party then travels on water instead Of on
land by the simple switching Of the mo-
tive power from the wheels which drove
the conveyance forward on land TO the
propeller which sends it forward on
water
1t is scarcely necessary 10 describe Tie
invention in detail. for it is so simple
in construction that the Illustration
shows the whole thing clearly. Ii will oe
seen that two long and hollow metallic
cylinders, placed parallel to each other
give the buOyant properties 10 the boat
ing vehicle. These cylinders should be
made OF aluminium as being the lightest
metal. Their size depends upon the weight
of the party and of the automobile The
heavier the freight the larger the dis
placement The driver of the automobile
sits in the front of the cylindrical float
on the same seat that is his perch while
driving on a roadway. When ne has
driven the horseless carriage on 10 the
float. he fastens the now useless wheels
TO the deck by means Of suitable clutches,
and throwing the machinery out of gear
with the wheels of the carriage he at
taches it 10 the gear OF the float. This
change consists simply of throwing on
a chain from "a sprOcket-wheel that trans
mits the power to the wheels Of he
horseless carriage and attaching il 10
another sprocket-whecl that causes the
propeller shaft between the two cyiin-
ders TO reVOVe at any desired speed.
When seated on the front Of the horse
less carriage IN his usual place, after the
wheels have been fastened into position
on the deck. the driver. or. as he should
now be called. the pilot. has close 10 his
hand two upright handsome 10 start
and stop the machinery. the other 10
manipulate the rudder-the chain OF
which runs between the cylinders TO the
rear of the float The rudder is manipu-
lated by connection with the steering
gear Of the automobile. The starting and
stopping is done in precisely the same
way and with the same machinery as
when the automobile is ashore. The only
difference is that the machinery N this
case moves a propeller instead OF four
wheels
The simplicity Of the arrangement IS
one OF It's greatest recommendations.
The transfer from land 10 water and
vice versa takes less time than the
changing Of horses during the old coach
ing days. The mOtOrman can fasten the
wheels to the deck. switch the chain from
one sprocket wheel TO another. mount
his seat. and be on in his new-made wa
ter conveyance I'm little more time than
It takes 10 describe the proceeding.
The enjoyment that such an invention
adds 10 the delights Of automobile out
ings can be appreciated by any one. Two
elements are overcome and made subser-
Went 10 the pleasure of the party. If
Now some ingenious mind can invent a
way Of turning the automobile into a
triplet Of navigators by adding 10 the
land and water inventions a means Of
causing the vehicle 10 take to itself wings
and rise in the air when land and water
travelling pals on the party there Will
surely be little left 10 wish for.
The inventor Of the water mobile Is
Arthur Leslie. a New York newspaper
man. The AFFAIR is not patented or for
sale Sordid gain is not the inventors
goal He is impelled by a purely philan-
thropic desire 10 add useful and plea
sure-eiving device TO the possessions Of
humanity.