New-York tribune., 1918-12-18
AutOrnotives
First "Real Story" of Liberty
Motor Is Issued by the
Packard Company

Packard Motor Car Company, of
Detroit. 1t is published at this time
because suspension of war makes it
possible to give undiscosed facts
about the Liberty motor" and because
Information experimenting Justice
Hughos's report on aircraft produc-
ton is essential for setting the Pack
ard Motor Car Company in it's true
light"
Briefly. the story on the company's
behalf is thus summarized in the
pamphlet:
ihe famous Liberty motor, in its essen
tiais, was developed in this country months
before the by the Packard Motor Car
Company.
Uncle Sam made the Liberty motor un-
der patent license from that company, and
ali rights return to the auto concern
with peace.
1t is commonly believed that two inven-
ters' locked in Washington hotel apart
ment, early in our war period designed
TINS motor in five days. Their work con-
sisted of revisions and rcfnements on the
motor already developed by the Packard
company at 4 cost of 100000.
BY technical oversight and possible
profit of $55.14 the actual creator of the
Liberty motor, Lieutenant Colonel JESSE
q. Vincent, though acquitted Of any intent
to defrand the government, became liable
to prosecution. This technical violation
occurred while the Liberty motor was
S2o,0OO year for a majors salary.
Started Motor in 1915
A 12-cylinder V-type engine was de-
signed by Mr.. Vincent, chief designer
for the Packard, in the spring of 1915,
it is stated. Altogether the Packard
built three engines, the latest in April,
1917. Drawings of these and one of the
eventual Liberty motor are printed, in
order to show the approximation.
The statement then goes on: Feel
ing that it's experience and results in
designing aircraft motors would be val
liable to our government, the company
sent Mr.. Vincent to Washington. He
took complete specifications of his
motors and also detailed plans for pro-
curing them by quantity methods. He
was welcomed by government officials
and sat in conference with French and
British military aircraft experts. 1t
was conceded that the company had
carried aircraft motor development to
a point not attained by any other Amer
lean manufacturer, and steps were
taken to make Mr.. Vincent's services
available to the government, as we'll as
to utilize the Packard designs, expert
ence and manufacturing facilities.
"There were certain difficulties con-
nected with the adoption by the gov
ernment of an aircraft motor bearing a
private makers name. 1t was felt that
Congress might hesitate to appropriate
money in huge sums, believing that a
single business concern was to profit
by the aircraft programme. There was
a possibility that other manufacturers
might d like making a motor under
such circumstances, and, furthern. ore,
there was decidedly valuable factor Of
patriotism. Practically all air
plane motors developed abroad, how
ever, bear private makers names"
Government Picked Name
Therefore, the government official
decided to call it the Liberty motor,
and to arrange for manufacture in
many factories with standardized parts.
The pamphlet says that patent rights
were given to the government without
compensation for the period of the
war: that Mr.. Vincents services were
loaned to the government for 90 days,
and that no compensation was asked
for 100000 previously spent in re-
search, and development of the Pack
are motor.
"Then," continues the statement,
"came the famous period of five days,
cluded in a Washington hotel apart
ment created the Liberty motor
Horsepower was increased so that sub
sequent tests gave one horsepower for
18 pounds of weight. Notifications
were also made in the oiling system
propeller attachment and other details.
At this point it is we'll to show brief
ly how impossible it would have been
for the government to design Liberty
motors in five days without the work
previously done by the Packard organ
ization. For example, the Liberty
motor contained a thousand or more
these parts in five days would have
been impossible, no matter how large
drafting force were assigned to the
job. More THAI 1000 changes in di-
mensions and details were needed
afterwards"
Many Exclusive Features
Further the statement claims as to
Packard's share:
NiNeh ele cotnplele drawings OF a Liberty
motor cylinder in july 1917, no other
manufacturer knew how to build the part
without Packard methods and instruction.
Inc Liberty motor when finally developed
Tor quantity production, contained more
than seventy distinct su .erior features
winch had been developed and proved in
ac.uai practice in the ackard aircraft
motors motors before the Liberty motor was
adopted by our government The real
triumph of the Liberty motor was not onIv
me aadltlon OF improvements in design at
the nve-day conference, but also i'm the
WORKING out of a design lending itself tn
soandardlzed quantity production, so that II
couIa be built In many different factories.
Given Small Bonus
The incident of Colonel Vincent's
failure to get rid of his Packard stock
although dealing as government Of
cred:
AS an army officer Colonel Vincent
not only gave up salary of $25 900 yearly
t Mion MS company, and subs tantial yearly
bonuses, but through a technicality be
came liable to prosecution for transact,n.,
business as a government official with u
corporation IN which he held a small
amount of stock the statement says.
:, it Is the custom of the Packard Motor
Naf Company TO pay bonuses Of STOCK to
eiilcIent executives. AT the time Mr. Vim
cent was commissioned major. and severed
MS connection with the company as vice
president. he owned four-tenths OF I per
cent OF the total Packard stock. In the
building of the first wooden model for
congress and the original eleven working
Liberty motors. Major Vincent had the
Packard Motor Car Company do the work
Compensation to the amount Of So4Q
D.).l N "a n, H.,