South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-14
Describes Theory of the
OUerland Spring Feature

Discussing the new three point
csntelever spring suspension one
day this week, with z. A Bennett
he local Willys-Overland distribu-
tor. the question vas put to him as
20 the why OF the new idea The
reply was in substance as follows.
When a ship pitches and rolls
in the trough OF a heavy SEA- why
doesn't the sailor fail over board
How does ne balance himself?
You've seen the daring bareback
trick riders al tho circus. You
know what thrill they give a. they
ace around the track, standing legs
apart. a foot on the back OF each
horse. How do they keep their
bodies In balance and az ease "a
The horses rise and fall In the
plunge Of their mad gallop?
When you've found the answer
you've guessed a good part OF the
reason why the new three-point sus-
pension springs on Overland four.
he new light car recently an
Houneed, act tho way they do on
he toughest. bumpiest roads on
which they have been demonstrated
in this city.
Engineering Explanation
An engineering explanation OF
The why and wherefore OF the
prinGs takes in much OF interest
about the principle OF the lever and
much more OF instruction about dis
tributlon OF thrusts, the force OF
blows and the like. Then you learn
that In some magical, mathematical
way this new type OF springs has
done tho same work for the bumps
n tho road that tho music master
does for tho notes IN the scale.
in the nOvice's hands. these notes
may run unto a choppy discord,
dumping the senses unpleasantly.
The master provides harmony from
the same notes and the result IS
pleasing and comfortable 10 the ear.
The master engineers who designed
Overland four have done something
OF the came sort or work through
overland tours springs. They have
found a way to harmonic the
bumps IN the road: synchronzed
them, is the engineering phrase.
ing over ruttiest, bumpiest highways
in smooth rhythmic travel. rather
than IN the rag-time jerks OF or
binary riding"
There has been so much popular
and scientific interest in the new
springs that the local Overland deal
or requested Mr.. L. II. Belden. vice
president in charge Of engineering
for the WHY'S Overland company,
TO explain why these springs give
the entirely new sensation over bad
roads.
Arouse Engineers Interest.
To begin with Mr.. Belden said,
The new spring suspension has
turned out exactly as we would like
Ca have il. The new design has
aroused the interest OF the Society Of
Automotive Engineers. and All other
high grade automobile engineers, as
"a new standard spring suspension.
I'm Overland four, the springs
sweep in a diagonal from a point
on the chassis frame 10 inches be-
yond the axle at front and rear. The
effect is that OF four light. flexible
levers carrying passenger load on an
even keel while lifting the road
wheels over rocks and bumps with
out disagreeably jouncing the pas
seurers.
no illustration Is SO apt perhaps,
rs that of the circus performer or
The rider in the old Olympic games.
lie urges his horses forward in a
wild gaNop. lie has a foot on the
back OF each OF his two horses. He
must maintain balance and equili-
brium. And he does. His legs come
up ana down with each plunge OF
the horses beneath but his body re-
mains steady.
THE springs on Overland four act
like the legs OF this circus rider. The
body OF the car and passengers re-
main on an even keel while the
springs allow the wheels 60 lift and
lower rapidly and easily over the
bumps and the ridges and the
thanl1y- maans OF the roadway"