The Washington herald., 1921-06-19
TRIP OVER ROUGH
ROADS In VIRGINIA
ILLUSTRATES TYPE.
Rides Over Ruts and
bitches and Receivers
Start Without Trouble.
A TRIAL CONVINCES
Standard Parts Used With
20 Special Patented
Devices.
FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
this car is claimed to have, ahead
of other cars. Coupled with this
claim are the assertions that it
holds the road better. and that II
reduces the likelihood of ''rear-end"
mechanical understanding that
Is a powerful selling argument for
a car; for. goodness knows, nothing
will make the motorist shrek with
anguish quite as effectively as the
garage mans report. You've
broken your ring gear and pinion."
Car Condition Good.
Time alone will tell whether the
claims of the manufacturers Of the
Birmingham car will be upheld.
The particular car which visited
Washington had been driven more
than 5000 miles when the writer
rode in it. The engine had collect
ed some carbons, as engines will.
There was slight windshield
rattle, as might be expected. But
the car was otherwise, as far as
could be judged. in thoroughly good
mechanical condition.
The method of spring suspension
first attracted attention. A. l. Sar-
gent. the consulting mechanical ex-
pert of the company. who is dem
onstrating the car, said that the
basic patents on this method of
spring suspension have run out. The
Birmingham people, naturally. have
patented their own methods of ap-
plying their spring suspension.
Has No Axle.
The car actually has no axle. The
body and frame rest upon the
wheels by means Of cross springs.
There is no member connecting the
two front wheels nor the two rear
wheels that could be called an axle
The power from the engine is ap-
20 piled to the rear wheels by means
of the regulation transmission, drive
shaft and -differential gears. From
the differential, however, the power
is applied separately to each wheel.
by means Of two short drive shafts
fitted with universal joints.
This article will not attempt a de-
tailed mechanical description of the
Birmingham spring suspension: but
II seems to us that in any car, the
differential gears. housed in a solid
axle member. and taking all of the
Jars and strains that the axle itself
way. than in a car where those
strains and jars are partly. at least.
absorbed by universal joints be-
tween the wheel and the differ
entail.
Gives Road Clearance.
The Birmingham method gives
the car a road clearance, under the
differential, of more than twelve
inches.
We drove out toward Alexandria,
turned of on a clay road that leads
south from Fort Myer. back of the
Arlington cemetery. This road is
particularly rough and rutty. Mr..
Sargent. eager to demonstrate,
drove the car into a ditch that par
aIlels the road. The ditch was
deeper than he thought. being
partly filled with dead leaves and
grass. The car lurched heavily to
the left and we stopped abruptly.
We got out and looked, and found
that the car was resting on the
springs-the left rear wheel unable
to find traction, and the right wheel
held up just enough to prevent it
from getting a grip on the road. So.
when Mr.. Sargent tried to pull out
both rear wheels spun helplessly.
We found some stone and piled
them in front of the front wheel,
gathered on the left side of the car
and pushed. so that the right rear
wheel might get a grip on the road,
and the car pulled out as nicely as
you please. While IN this predica--
ment the body of the cav was almost
level
The demonstration was decidedly
convincing.
Plans of Company.
The manufacturing plan of the
company seems to be sound. The
motor. and all other parts, are
standard - Continental red SEAL
engine, six cylinders, Zenith carbu-
refer. BLUR starting and lighting.
Detroit gears. Thinker bearings, ply
wood body made to Birmingham
specifications by the Wilson Body
Company. of Detroit. and so on.
The company is being financed by
IT'S distribution organization, under
a special plan that seems sound and
workable. John Mechem, well
known in Washington. is the dis
trict sales manager in this city. 1t
is said that an assembling plant
may possibly be located here. The
Facforv poW under constructiop fs