The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-11-21
FIRST ON THE FOURTH

FIRST ON THE FOURTH
The Liberty motor WAS 20 be
Americas answer 20 the German
threat In the last war. The high
est hopes were held out when the
first pilot model was presented
July 4. 1917. This soo-horsepow-
err s0o-pound motor seemed good
enough TO give definite superiority
in the air to any plane IL propelled.
50 more than $4,000 were ordered
from several plants.
The first production models
came out ut Thanksgiving time.
but minor bugs developed. and
mass production was set back. BY
spring Of 1918. production WAS
stiIl tagging dissppointinsly Real
mass production OF this really SUI
perior motor was just getting well
under way when the armistice
came.
Well. there was the government
with thousands OF excellent Lab
erty motors on hand and no war to
use them in. They were sold by
thousands at remainder prices
One OF the buyers was the ALI
son Experimental Co. started in
1918 by James Allison. a founder
Of the Indianapolis speedway. He
had built many Of them In the first
place and was well qualified 20 re-
build them for various uses. Some
parts were strengthened. and su-
perior bronzs-snd-steel bearings
designed.
The old Liberties went all
over the world and some Of
them are still In use In plancs.
One Of the largest sales wac 20
Soviet RrsAsia during the '20's.
A large quantity Of the rebuilt
Liberties were bought for tank
propulsion. Engineers believe
u 10 these which are undoubt-
eddy still In use on the Russian
front today.
In the meantime Allison was go
ing along In q modest way. build
ing occasional racing ears. expert
mental motors and crsnkshsft
bearings which gradually began TO
b standard In most aviation mo-
tors. In 1929. in order 10 acquire
these bearings and other patents,
as well ~ the skilled personnel
Allison had gathered about him,
General Motors bought the Allison
plant after the founders death.
BY 1888 the plant began 10 ex-
pand In its old Indianapolis locs-
ton. developing . liquid cooled
motor whose foundation was in an
experimental model built for the
nsvy's diriEibls program in 1880.
There were traces Of the old LIB
srty in IL yet. certain tricks with
connecting rods and orsnkshafts
learned in 1918.
FIGHTS On ALL FRONTS
This new Allison passed army
tests in 1887. but only a few were
built before 1870. Then the go
ahead WAS given BY tho govern
ment. and the present magnificent
Indianapolis plant. perhaps the
largest engine factory in the
world. began turning cut tho ma
chine which 10 driving hundreds
OF Airseobras and other pursuit
ships in the United States and on
the fighting fronts Of Europe.
The design is constantly
being improved For Instance,
year ago this motor deyel-
oped 1910 horsepower; today u
develops iszs vita an actual
decrease In weight. which is
now Iess than one pound per
Horsepower. The old Lib~rty
weighed two pound. for eseh
horsepower developed.
GenezlOgy doesn't mean much
IN mechanics. but ii's more than
possible that Grandfather Liberty
might look Up from a tank On
some Russian battlefield today ard
recognize Grandson Allison purr-
ing overhead In fss, pursuit
ship. both ~ them paying . diyl-
cend % years deferred.