The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-05-26
INVENTOR OF AUTOMOBILE.
Native of Anderson Said to Have
Been First to Patent Machine.

Patented the Dlnerentlal Gear.
1t was in a small machine shop, the
| power for which was supplied by
small crack near Westminster, S. c.,
that an Anderson man designed and
| built the first "Horseless Road Car
riage" ever built in America SO far as
there is any record.
There is no doubt but that credit
for building the first automobile be-
longs to John V. Stribling Of No.
344 North FAINT street, Anderson, S.
G..
1t was on January 18th, 1882, that
the United States government issued
Patent No. 239600 to Mr.. Stribling
covering the principal features Of his
horseless carriage. Although rather
crude in appearance this vehicle en-
bodied many of the ideas used in the
construction of the present automo-
bile.
This first "Horseless Carriage was
built before the day OF the gasoline
angines and Mr.. Stribling's vehicle
| was propelled by steam. A small up
right boiler was used and. was so
pivoted that it would remain in an
upright position regardless of the
position of the car.
Mr.. Stribbling was probably the first
man ever to make and use the Differ
entail Gear on a road machine. Mr..
Stribling says that the idea of this
complicated gear construction was Or
iginal with him, but that after he had
made it he later found that similar
construction had been used on spin
ming frame in a cotton mill. Every
automobile user is familiar with what
the differential gears do whether or
not he knows how it operates.
The differential gear allows one Of
the driving wheels to turn at faster
rate of speed than the other and with
out the use of Mr.. Stribling's idea it
would be impossible for an automobile
to turn a corner, without turning
over. Every automobile that has
ever been built has had to use this
type of gear in the driving wheels.
At the automobile shows large
crowd is always attracted to any open
chassis that shows the differential
gear in operation. When both driving
wheels are On the ground both wheels
drive forward, but if the wheels are
lacked up off the ground one will turn
forward and the other backward. If
one wheel is held the other will turn
forward. 1t is these gears that allow
the outside wheel to turn faster than
the inside wheel when turning a cor
ner.
This one idea is a monument to
Mr.. Stribling's inventive genius and
is of inestimable value to mankind.
Nothing should take from Mr.. Strib-
ling the credit that is due him.
Until Mr.. Stribling made his Road
Carriage all road vehicles had used
wheels that turned on the axle, but
his was constructed, with wheels fas-
tened to the axle and driving axle and
Differential Gear were enclosed with
in a hollow shell just as is used on
modern cars. Mr. Stribbling applied
the power to all four of the wheels of
his carriage and some of the truck
manufacturers have recently employ
ed this idea Of their construction.
Mr.. Striblings patent rights covered
a period of seventeen years and it was
five years before the expiration of Mr..
Stribling's patent that Mr.. Selden ap-
piled for the patent for use on
gasoline engine in motor vehicle.
The cost Of building steam propelled
vehicle at that time was practically
prohibitive and as gasoline propelled
vehicles did not become popular dur
luS Tic last i've sSdlS VI vi. StIIO-
ling's patent right he allowed his pat
ent to expire and it then became pub
lie property.
Although Mr.. Stribling was the orr
ginator and pioneer builder Of an au-
tomo5ile he received no personal ben
efits from his inventions, other than
the knowledge that it has done some
thing and has advanced civilization
and given comfort and pleasure to
millions of people and has made life
more worthwhile.
While Mr. Stribling was showing his
"Horseless Carriage to an uncle of
his. the uncle exclaimed: Johnny, the
world is not ready for the Horseless
Carriage, you are 'just fifty years
ahead of your time!"
Born in 1S47 Mr.. Stribling was 50
years of age when he secured his pat
ent and although he is of rather ad-