The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-11
Automobile News
ELECzrRIC GEAR sHIFT.

Harry L. Archey, one of the most widely known automobile men in In diana, says:
 with the advent of the present season the Haynes Company adopted the Vulcan Electric Gear Shift as standard equipment on all models. The hand shift thought was hX- ture, but after spending a few days at the Haynes factory, driving around in the conpany's test cars, I realized the absurdity of shifting gears by hand when it can be done much more easily and much more effectively by electricity.
 EtI consider the electric gear shift the greatest automobile achievement in years. It brings the gasoline car within scope of every lady who drives an electric at the present time, and women who have not heretofore at tempted to drive a car of any kind, now have an opportunity of operating the Haynes big six cylinder car with as little effort as using typewriter.
 ''The operation of the electric gear shift is very easy and all possibility of trouble is eliminated by it's simple electrical and mechanical construc- tion.
 On the Haynes steering wheel is To- cated a small dial of push-buttons, seven in all, known as the 'selector switch,' and in which the control of the car is centered. Buttons number one, two and three operate the three speeds forward, ''R'' is for reverse. ''I'' for horn, t'S'' for starter, and ''N'' for neutral.
 '"To operate the Haynes car, but ton ''S,'' the starter button, is pushed down. Simultaneously the clutch pedal is thrown forward and the mo tor immediately begins to spin. But ton number one is then pressed, fol- lowed by the same clutch movem ent, 7raVrT r1 first speed. Second and high speeds are obtained in the same manner; all the operator has to do is to select the speed desired through the 'selector- switch push the clutch pedal for ward and electricity changes gears instantly.
 '"ro reverse the car the same mo tions are followed, button 'tN'' brings the gears into neutral aond once the clutch pedal has been thrown out, the car automatically comes to a stand still.
 gear shift, and this one will appeal to experienced automobilists, is that with it's use it is absolutely impossible to strip a gear.
 'tAs is generally known, gears are stripped with the use of the hand lever for the reason that the clutch is not fully disengaged as the gear is driven from it's present or previous position, and perhaps, unconscious1y, is allowed to slightly engage as the shift is made. This is impossible with the Vulcan Electric Gear-Shift, inas- much as it's very principle provides for the full release of the clutch and the positive neutralizing of all gears be- fore it is possible to bring the master switch into contact and perform the shift magnetically. The construction of this magnet is such that at 1 1-16 inch airgap (width of face of gearJ Q constant pull of only forty pounds is produced. This pull is wholly insuf- f1cient to cause any injury whatsoever to the flat surface of the gears, should they be brought face to face and a grinding noise produced; consequent ly if any attempt to throw even from high to reverse or high to first at excessive speed is made, the trans mission is in absolutely no danger"