San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
Smithsonian Institution in
Washington Too Small to
House Historic Cars.
OLD CARS EXHIBITED
Companies Are Eager to
Place Original Cars in
Museum. .

Despite the amazing growth OF the
automotive industry during the past
twenty years, at no place in this coun-
try has there been preserved COM
plete record of the development OF the
motor car. The industry should lose
no time in calling upon Congress to
build new building as a part OF the
United States National Museum in
Washington, where there should be
housed as many of the original motor
cars as are in existence today"
This Is the opinion OF Walter r:
Chrysler, chairman of the board OF
directors of the companies manufacture
ing the Maxwell, Chalmers and Chrys-
Ter motor cars. as expressed in a let
ter to Frank Hagan of the Guarantee
Motor Company, local distributors.
while the automotive industry Is
still young is the time to preserve
what is representative of the early
history and development Of the motor
car in America" said Mr.. Chrysler.
"The exhibit of old cars at the Smith
sonian Institution in Washington is
small but interesting. Think how
much more interesting it would be If
all the original American cars could
be assembled under one roof.
Could Show Old Makes.
"In Washington today one may see
a motor car designed and constructed
by Charles E. Duryea at Springfield.
Mass, during the year 1928, and
which made n successful test early in
September, 1893. 1t is the second ma
chine made by Duryea. The first was
completed in the fall of 1892, which
upon its trial was found to be salts
factory in design but lacking in power.
1t was therefore dismantled. The sec
ond machine duplicates the first in
design but is equipped with more
powerful motor.
The motor is single cylinder, four
cycle, water cooled, and is placed al
most horizontally beneath the phaeton
carriage body, with its head extend
ing backwards and above the rear axle.
'Tn Washington today is to be seen
also a motor car which was designed
by Elwood Haynes and built in Ko-
kono. Ind, during the years 1S93-04.
On July 4, 1894, a successful trial
b. trip was made at speed of six to
seven niles an hour. The extreme d.
mansions of the car are: Length, Sew
en- feet, eight inches: width, six feet,
six inches, and height five feet, two
inches.
there Is also car designed and
built by Stephen M. Balzer in New
York in 1894. 1t is equipped with a
three-cylinder air-cooled rotary motor,
whose power is transmitted through n
chain OF gears to gear on the re-
volving shaft on which the rear wheels
a, 90
inches in diameter and the front wheels
are eighteen inches in diameter.
equipped with pneumatic tires and
swung in forks of the bicycle type.
Some Others Of Interest.
Then there is also a car which was
constructed by r. f. Odds in Lansing,
Mich, and was first successfully oper.
ated in 1896 at speed of eight to
ten miles an hour, carrying four pas
sengers. This car is equipped with n
six horsepower single cylinder water
cooled motor placed horizontally be-
meath the rear portion of the carriage
body, and chains to the rear driving
wheels. The wheels are of wood
equipped with solid rubber tires.
"Still another car in the museum at
Washington is a car that was design
ed and constructed by Louis s. Clarke.
vice president and consulting engineer
of the Autocar Company. in Ardmore,
Pa, between September, 1901, and De-
cember of that year, and is believed
to be the earliest motor vehicle
equipped with shaft drive. This car
was exhibited at the automobile show
held in Madison Square Garden, New
York, December IL, 1901 having been
driven under its own power from Ard
more, Pa, distance Of more than 90
miles, in six hours and fifteen min
utes. The car was run by Mr.. Clarke,
exactly as built and as it is now, for
more than three years and covered
total of 5000 miles.
Original Cars Preserved.
ain addition there have been added
recently to the collection at Washing
ton 1903 Cadillac and three-wheel
car made by Karl X. Kelsey of Short
Hill. n. j., in 1898.
NEARLY every motor car company
in America today has preserved its
original car. Most Of these companies
would be glad to surrender that car
to a government museum in Washing
ton.
Congress should be asked to ap-
propriate money and land for trans
portation, museum which would not
only house the original motor cars but
also everything that is left of the early
development of water transportation,
steam and electric locomotives; in fact,
all self-propelled vehicles, including au-
tomobiles and airplaaes.
while the automotive industry is
still young this should be done. Such
a museum could very well include the
latest models of each of the various
cars and in that way could serve a
unitarian purpose as well as a his
torical one.
Few industries have the fascinat-
ing history that the automobile indus
try has and the leaders in it should
that tbaca a11 norx nraaarvad "