Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-12

each of three plates and of power
equal to about $500 watts and normal
speed of 1850 revolutions per minute.
1t was geared to the rear axle through
an intermediate shaft and chain gear
ing. The speed of the car was varied
by changing the group of cells, and
this was effected by rotating a cylinder
which carried suitable contact pieces.
The battery weighed about HOO pounds.
the motor 240 and the total about one
and a quarter tons.
1t will be seen through the brief at
tention called to the work of the In
ventors of horseless drawn vehicles up
to this time, their minds had all been
spent upon the development of the
steam engine and the electric machine
of the later years. With steam there
was always the question of fuel and
the dirt Of the carbon smoke and SCOT,
which were drawback, and with vary
ing success in various parts of the
world the inventive genius bent his
efforts to overcome the difficulties that
had all along impeded the march of
progress in developing the vehicle to
be operated under self-control.
1t was not until the year 1894, how
ever, that a marked revival of the inn
portance of the present motor move
ment became apparent. Carriages were
produced about this time that gave
promise of the present enormous in
dustry, which, while far from perfect,
gave results that promised the favora-
Bile consideration of capital and con-
structive genius.
The first principle was applied to the
bicycle by the inventor Daimler and
finally Benz-Carl Benz of Mannheim
in 1885, built the three-wheeled motor
carriages fitted with gas engine, the
designs of which were careful thoughts.
Next came Panhard and his firm was
one of the first to produce the petrol
cars. Their first constructions were
for motor boats, and later their study
took them into the fields for producing
the same motor for road purposes, ac-
quiring the Daimler patents and in
1891 they brought out a very respecta-
bic looking car to be propelled upon
the highways and it proved successful.
In three years his firm had turned out
about ninety of these cars 1t is to be
regretted that in so limited an article
more space cannot be given to the
progress made by Panhard and
motor car, many Of the principles of
which are still retained in the cars of
today.
1t would be interesting to follow the
progress Of the inventive genius from
the time of the organization of the
Dainnle company in England and the
first production of real motor cars with
tonneaus of the present types of our
modern cars. This company gained an
enviable reputation in the building of
classy cars, and among the patrons of
Daimler became his majesty the king,
for whom the company built four cars.
With the Introduction of the car
buretor, governing power. ignition,
cooling principle, gearing. etc. we have
the present perfect car of today.
The observer has but to look about
the streets of such a city as Los An
geles and see the noiseless machines
that are more prominent in numbers to-
day than horse-drawn vehicles and note
the advancement manufacturers have
made upon the machines of the past.
The utilities of the automobile today
are past even comprehension. They are
as varied as the minds of men. The
fire and police departments of today
are incomplete without their patrols
and fire engines, chemical and hook and
ladder trucks. water towers, ambu-
lances, funeral cars, pleasure cars, tour
ing and camping machines, motor
trucks, and even the repair man travels
the highways of the country roads with
his motor car bedecked with the signs
II repair everything" his car being
general kit shop, carrying all the tools
of the well regulated stationary shop Of
the street.
The matter of speed has been pressed
by the manufacturer until such pro-
digious records are recorded as a mile
in AZ 1-5 seconds, racing teams are en-
ployed and cars of 120-horse power are
frequent.
The progress of the automobile has
been one of the most wonderful de-
velopments known to American mer-
camille or manufacturing history. Not
only the manufacture of the cars them
selves have drawn prodigious sums of