A hundred years ago a trip by automobile was as much a test of
manpower as of horsepower, 'Men had to be men'. In those days, 'Get
out and get under' (the song was not composed then) had a direct
meaning to the adventuresome, soiled and grease-stained motorist
chauffeurs. Happily, these crude, cumbersome, horseless carriages
are no more. Here and there a restored one may be found, hidden
among the array of glistening new vehicles of modern achievement.
Those pioneer vehicles were in fact as na?ve as the ancient
chariots of Egypt and Rome. The early horseless carriages were big,
heavy, uncomfortable, noisy, and smelly wagons or carriages,
powered by engines having huge cylinders that were gluttons for
fuel. Or they were small, fragile, uncomfortable, noisy and smelly
buggies, powered by small engines, hardly big enough to propel the
buggy. Clanking chains rotated the rear wheels, while noisy engines
dripped oil like a sieve. They emitted billowing clouds of smoke,
as the drab vehicles trembled on wobbly wheels that seemed ready to
collapse. Although the average asking price for one of these
'headaches on wheels' was USD1,000 or more, the greatest expense
came later for maintenance and repairs. These vehicles were plagued
with engine, clutch, transmission, steering, brake, wheel, and fuel
troubles, let alone problems from the weather. The cost of broken
and worn-out parts greatly exceeded the cost of operation. Axle
shafts fractured, universal joints failed, crankshafts broke or
scored, pistons cracked, cylinders scored or wore rapidly,
connecting rods broke, bearings burned out, clutches slipped,
transmission gears stripped and chattered. Adjustments and overhaul
procedures were common operating procedure. The cost of replacement
parts was high because of the lack of standardization and volume.
These strange and crude-looking vehicles spit, coughed, belched,
groaned, backfired, and stalled unexpectedly. They were the source
of distrust, despair, doubt, ridicule, and embarrassment to their
owners. It was soon quite obvious that the smelly, noisy,
imperfect, and expensive automobile needed much refinement and
performance proof to convince a skeptical public that it was a
viable alternative to travel by horse. Fortunately, the novelty,
rarity, or scarcity attracted enough buyers to keep some
manufacturers in business, while the brilliant minds of these
stalwart men worked to solve the problems, and to regain the
publicAs confidence, despite the negatives. These vehicles were the
direct ancestors of our modern-day cars, and from their trials,
failures, and successes, came knowledge and improvements. It is the
purpose of this publication to acknowledge the accomplishments,
give credit to, and honor those various selfless individuals who
risked all their possessions and toiled to acquire a better means
of transportation, which has led to a better and fuller life for
all Americans. Contents Include: Introduction Henry Ford Louis
Chevrolet William Durant General Motors John and Horace Dodge
Walter Chrysler Index.
General
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