The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05
FRANKLIN TORPEDO
NEW DESIGN AUTO
One of the Most Novel Looking
of Any Motor Car Yet
Produced

The Franklin Torpedo. g speedy
motor car built on lines much Xix
those Of the projectiIe for which 1t is
named. has just been sent out from
the Franklin factory in Syracuse. II
I is for the personal use of H. H. Frank
Z lin, head Of the company by which ii
has been made. and it is pronounced
the most complete ear ever constructed
in America
Along what would be its water line
+ If the car were q boat. which in its coat
Of battleship gray IL much resembles,
/ the motor car is cigar shaped. present
I ing as little resistance to the air as an
airship. 1t has a long. low body, the
hood OF the automobile being fashioned
( like the bow Of a boat. The shape is
] an ultra development of what Euro
peans are seeking in what they call
dustless body design. The exterior is
smooth, like the hull of a boat; nothing
projects TO catch the dust of the high
way. The boat design is an American
solution OF the European problem.
In the carrying out of the dustless
walton in inclosing with sides, flush
with the top OF the dash. the occupants
+ of the forward seat, as well as the
passengers in the tonneau, four alto
gether And in front there is only one
door, at the left and away from the
driver.
/ The car Is capable of making from so
T 10 IS miles an hour. 1t is provided with
/ a regular six cylinder engine and
chassis of the 42 horsepower Franklin
cars OF 1910 model, with a special gear.
The Torpedo's equipment includes
even such details as an electric cigar
j lighter, special menogrammed station
cry, caps, goggles, gloves, maps. toilet
articles and q first aid 10 the injured
outfit.
A silver plate displays the name
Franklin Torpedo" on a highly pol
/ ished Circassian walnut dashboard of
rare grain just above the hood. The
point of the hood is surmounted by q
small silver American ca gle.
A circular windshield is an innova-
/ tion. Its glass is about foot in diam
eter. and IS held by an adjustibie
nickel standard close before the face Of
the driver. This was specially designed
for the torpedo.
The electric equipment includes a
speedometer light and small electric
lights auxiliary TO the oil side and rear
! lights. The headlights use acetylene
gas.
The seats are low and are heavily
upholstered with goatskin OF light
chocolate hue me same material is
used for the rest OF the interior. Spe-
eiaI dust covers covered the seats when
+ the car left Syracuse The exterior
metal work is Of polished nickel.
The body is made of aluminium, and
/ its battIeship gray is striped with pearl
gray; on the sides appears Mr.. Frank
Inns monogram The aluminium is given
a rubbed instead OF a highly polished
I finish.
The top, instead OF being the regu-
/ lar black, is made of dark blue auto
cloth. Long sloping mud guards sur
mount the forward wheels. harmonizing &
/ with the long. unbroken lines of the
car; semicircular ones surmount the
rear wheels. a Nightingale whistle is
/ carried instead of a horn. The emer-
/ geney brake and gear change levers are
I just without the side of the car instead
of inside
1 A circular hood of regular Franklin
I design is made interchangeable with
4 the one Of Prov design; the latter pro-
yides for the admission of the cooling
current for the air cooled engine by
means of a row OF openings in the top
/ of the hood.