The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
TELLS VITAL WAY
TO IMPROVE TANKS
Partridge Says Use Of Owen
Magnetic Transmission
Would Have Saved Lives.

Automobile Row contributed many
men to various branches OF the SER
vice during the past year, particularly to
me tank and motor transport corps.
where their practical knowledge of in
ternal combustion engines was of IN
cstimable value. Conspicuous among
tie volunteers was George s. Partridge,
son OF u. s. Partridge, president of the
owen Magnetic Motor Sales Corpora
ION. Young Partridge is a corporal In
Company c, 33Oth Battalion Tank Corps.
and when last heard from was stationed
at Brennes, France.
George recently wrote n remarkable
letter to his father dealing with the
question of tank propulsion. Having
Rad actual experience in tanks under
battle conditions, he wrote with author
ity on their operation. And having had
practical experience In the mechanical
end Of the automobile business ne quail
fcd rs an expert tank man. He not
uulv operated tanks expertly, but dag
uosed their troubles and prescribed
remedies expertly.
When the owen Magnetic automobile
vas first introduced to New Workers. six
,ears ago IL was George Partridge, then
5 years old. who. with a strong mechan-
cal bent and a knack of making many
mechanical principles clear by simple
devices, evolved a folder describing the
Eltz transmission used in the owen
Magnetic car. This remarkable device
is stIl used by the sales organization
md called BY prominent electrical en-
ginoers masterpiece.
II was not astonishing. then. that
Jorge should take to the tanks like a
luck to water. Here was something
Jew in mechanical warfare. Now read
he letter:
Dear Dad:
Tho nurpose Of this letter Is en-
tirely different from that of proceed
ing ones and / want you to pay strict
attention, for I am going to make an
astonishing statement
The owen Magnetic transmission
would have saved great many lives
4 il had been installed in the tanks.
N-hat do you think of thatr It's true
and ] will prove It, I have been
through tank school and have been
driving for the last few days. l can
safely say that | know a tank from
one end to the other
Now then, in changing gears In
tank you do not rely on momentum
TO keep your motor spinning. \ tank
has no momentum--the minute you
throw the clutch it stops. \ fellow
must he an expert with the clutch and
also lllt Etdl lever " gu II NiiioNti
the speeds. The French tank had no
clutch brake, and these old gables"
here which have been through the
mill with worn clutches. bum gears
ana adjustments all taken up are as
balky as mules, and are very often
stalled in practice" shell holes.
which, OF course. are not half as bad
as the real thing. and not only by
green drivers but often by old timers.
II must be apparent to you. with
out saying any more, why the owen
Magnetic transmission would be more
efficient.
The American tanks are much bet
ter. having clutch brakes but even they
are hard due to the fact that no mo-
mentum is gained. Now. with the
magnetic transmission the speed
could be changed without a balk, and
due TO the fact that there Is no me
chanical connection between the
motor, &c. and no gears to pull in
place, momentum would make no diff
ference.
am firmly Convinced OF this, and
i'll have made myself clear you also
will become convinced.
1t is needless to say that there
would be numerous working parts
displaced and therefore less wear,
and believe me it would be more eff
fcient from every standpoint, aside
from the fact that the tank could not
be stalled in shell hole.