The Popular Science Monthly, August, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900Various
Science
The Popular Science Monthly, August, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
Fig. 7 shows a carriage invented by Squire and Maceroni, who had
been for a long time in the service of Goldsworth Gurney, one of the
most noted experimenters of his day in steam propulsion. A number of
carriages were made by these workers, on designs similar to Fig. 7, and
it is said that they ran at a high rate of speed, probably ten miles
per hour.
[Illustration: FIG. 7. STEAM CARRIAGE, MADE BY SQUIRE AND MACERONI.]
Fig. 8 illustrates an invention that is interesting from the fact that
it was to be operated by compressed air, and perhaps was the first
effort to utilize this form of stored energy for the propulsion of
vehicles. It was not a success, but its failure was due to the fact
that the inventor labored under the delusion that the laws of nature
could be circumvented by skillfully contrived mechanical devices so as
to obtain something from nothing. The body of the carriage was used as
a reservoir for the compressed air, and within the wheels were placed
a number of pumps, the short bars projecting from the peripheries
being the ends of the plungers. The expectation was that as the wheels
revolved, the plungers would be depressed, and thus air would be
pumped into the reservoirs and this air would operate the engine that
propelled the vehicle; hence the apparatus would supply its own power,
and realize perpetual motion. If this attempt to controvert the laws
of nature had not been relied upon, better results might have been
obtained.
[Illustration: FIG. 8. COMPRESSED AIR WAGON, MADE ABOUT 1810.]
The highly ornamental coach shown in Fig. 9 was invented by Dr.
Church about 1832. In addition to being ornamental, it was of massive
construction and large capacity, being able to accommodate fifty
passengers. Its operation is said to have been very satisfactory, a
high rate of speed being attained and all grades on ordinary roads
being easily mounted. The inventor swamped himself in endeavoring to
compete with railroads.
[Illustration: FIG. 9. SIDE VIEW OF DR. CHURCH’S STEAM COACH, MADE IN
1832.]
Perhaps the most perfect of all the early automobiles was the one
devised by Scott Russell, the celebrated designer of the Great Eastern.
This carriage is shown in Fig. 10. It was operated successfully, and
was able to mount the steepest hills and to attain a high rate of
speed, but as coal was used for fuel and the engines were of large
capacity, it is probable that the smoke, exhaust steam and noise of
the machinery were decidedly objectionable features. A line of these
coaches was put in commission in Glasgow in 1846, each one having a
seating capacity of twenty-six, six inside and twenty on the top. After
several months of successful operation, the line was withdrawn on
account of the opposition of the authorities and of the general public.
[Illustration: FIG. 9A. DR. CHURCH’S STEAM COACH ON THE ROAD.]
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