The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-30
WHEEL CHAIR Is PUT
into MOTOR CLASS
Battery Driven Machines, as
Used on the Coast. Replace
"AfrOmObilcS."

Tho wheel chair Of Atlantic city, the
"Afromob!lc" Of Palm Beach. has no
place at the worlds fairs OF san Fran
CISCO and san Diego. where several hun
dred electric battery driven wheel chairs
are in operation. The battery driven
chair meets the requirements OF those
who move in the inner circles Of society
and visitors who enjoy gliding about in
s~elf-propelled chairs without a pushing,
pauting. prattling porter. The electric
IS m exclusive chair in that two passen-
gers can enjoy independence and luxury
together with complete privacy from "A
porter's listening ears
Tn chair Is driven by n compac stor-
age battery out Of the way under "A neat
wicker dash. The machine has a normal
speed 81 four miles an hour-just about
a walking gait-but some are built with
different reductions. giving speeds rang
Ing from one to ten miles an hour with
a battery capacity sufficient TO run them
for eight hours on good streets.
TIL body Is of rattan and roomy
enough FOR two stout adult persons"
This three-eighths horsepower machine
Is becoming so much more popular than
the one man pushed type that already
several models are In use. Each has a
frame OF steel tubing such AZ rs used
in bicycle construction and ~ equipped
with bicycle wheels and pneumatic tires.
The motor. gears and other mechanism
are entirely hidden by the body OF
the chair, one model IL provided with
an attractive sunshade. giving the ap-
pearance of a trig little phaeton Others
are built with low open bodies without
the sunshade. Al are two passenger
types. light little vehicles Of neat and
trim appearance. vet built as rugged as
miniature trucks. SO that they are by no
means nimsy toys.
Thu chief feature of this motor chair
lies in the simplicity OF It's operation
and the complete control under which
the driver has II at all times. Any one
can step into the chair and drive of
without any preliminary lessons or pos
sibility OF accident. which make It par
ticularly adapted for amusement parks
and the like. This is made possible by
the peculiar construction Of the mechan-
ism. Power Is controlled by two con-
venient pedals one of these releases the
brake and at the same time closes the
circuit. thus starting the car the other
pedal opens the circuit and simultane-
ously applies the brake, stopping the
chair. Thus only "A simple move of the
foot Is required to run II
Steering is by means Of a long handle
like "A child's tricycle.. only one gentle
speed is provided, so no hhTm can ON
from collision with pedestrians or Other
objects. although the ease Of cOntroI
practically eliminates collisions and
other difficulties. As an additional pro
lection for the occupant As well as for
pedestrians. however. some chairs are
furnished with "A guard rail In front, likt
the bumper" of an automobile. WheI
this rail comes in contact with any OBJ
struction the current is Immediately cut
off and the brakes are automatically set
With the brakes set the chair canno'
travel more than a few inches. and these
brakes are put on when the car Is
stopped, remain set while standing Idle
and cannot be released until the pcdaI
Is operated.
The chair will not run away on grades
for no matter how steep the incline, the
chairs speed cannot exceed that fol
which II IL gcarcd, As soon as speed is
increased by an incline the motor starts
TO pull back. Chairs for boardwalks
expositions and other places where Their,
are crowds are Feared to run slowly
three or four miles an hour. Those in
tended for use In parks or on streets
have speeds ranging to ten miles AZ
hour. They are not OF course intended
for country roads or Hill climbing, TIL,
characteristic simplicity of the electri,
vehicle is conspicuous In this wheel chair
which permits operation by the uniniti
ated and makes 1t fool proof" for ever
when operated by unskilled and ner
vously inclined persons In crowded
places the prompt control protects road:
and makes for safety frst."