The sun., 1901-10-09
THE AUTOMOBILE.
An American Factory Has Added
New Types to and Improved Upon
French Machines.
By C. J. FIELD.

rEchch MMchtnts.
By C. J. FIELD
The invention of the De Dion motor
made the gasoline automobile possible,
and its development is one with the de-
velopment of the industry as we know it
to-day. Previous to the remarkable i'm
provements first suggested and carried
out by Mr.. Bouton. gasoline motors were
very large and cumbersome, and their
employment was confined TO a few in
dustries where floor space was of little
value, and where irregular running and
frequent stoppages for repairs were of
little moment. Many Of the early gaso-
line motors were used for pumping water
and for other agricultural pursuits.
A curious circumstance is that when
Mr. Bouton first began his experiments
with the object of making practical
automobile, his attention was confined
to steam vehicle, and after many
years of study he developed the steam
tricycle., but great many problems still
confronted Mr.. Bouton. Count De Dion,
hearing of the experiments of Mr.. Bou-
ton in his workshop at Rennes, interested
himself in the inventors work, and a
partnership was formed by them.
sidered perfect enough for application to
vehicle was little engine of II horse
power. 1t had its faults, but they We're
largely those of design. The essentials
were as they are to-day in the De Dion
motors of 31a, 3, 8 and 16 horse power.
There are, of course, many gasoline
motors of small size and great power,
such as those used by the panhard Com
pany, the Pugcots, the Mors, but they
are all formed on the original De Dion
lines. And then there are the hundreds
of crude limitations of the De Dion motor,
none of which are worthy of considera-
ton.
Parellel with the development of the
motive power, the motor vehicle was
being perfected in other directions. and
large pneumatic tires, improvements in
spring suspension and other features
changed the stiff mechanical road We
hicle of several years ago into the easy
riding, graceful and compete carriage as
we know it to-day. All of the De Dion
motorettes, built by the American branch
of Messrs De Dion Bouton 4 Co, Pu-
teaux, France. have many original feat
ures of design, but, of course, the me-
Chanical part of each vehicle is prac-
tically duplicate of the French original.
Last season the Brooklyn factory de-
voted its attention largely to motorettes
of three and one-half horse power, but
toward the end of the season, and as the
business extended into the hilly districts
of western Pennsylvania and other
States, and as the popularity of touring
increased. the demand was felt for more
powerful motorettes, and the attention
of the manufacturers was devoted to We
hicles of five-horse power The next de-
velopment was the motorette surrey
This vehicle is also fitted with the five
horse power motor, and many prefer this
design, because it allows the four pas
sengers to sit facing the direction of the
carriage. This same feature is permitted
in many of the regular New York type
vehicles by the use of a reversing front
seat and attachable footboard, but for Il
family carriage the surrey seems to have
the preference.
These last designs are purely of Amer
ican origin. and the Brooklyn factory has
added at least two models that are more
artistic and practical than the French
originals.
The Motorette company is also devot-
ing considerable attention to delivery
wagons, one of which was in the Buffalo
endurance test, and attracted much at
tcntion by going through without any
accident of any kind. For heavy cross
country touring and hard service the
Brooklyn company is now turning out
eight horsepower motorettes. fitted with
bodies on French lines. known as of the
.Ionneau' type. These vehicles seat two
in the front seat, and at the rear two
others sitting partly facing sideways In
motorettes of this type the motor is
mounted in front. thus rendering it more
accessible, which is an advantage in very
heavy automobiles.