THE MOTOR WAGON AND MOTOR CYCLE.

The great success achieved with the bicycle has lately led to the revival of interest in the "self-propelled vehicle" usually called the motor wagon. Traction engines have been used on the high ways for years, for the hauling of themselves and portable machinery, but the idea of the motor wagon is different, being to obtain a vehicle of relatively fast speed, for use on the streets and highways, either for the delivery of parcels, etc., or for the conveyance of people. Many machines have been built. and tested within the last two or three years, and while it cannot be said that complete success has been achieved in any one pattern, there has been enough to encourage the belief that the problem will be definitely and satisfactory solved in the near future.

The motor wagon usually resembles an ordinary carriage, without the horses and poles. The wheels are quite generally made ball bearing and equipped with pneumatic tires. For purposes of speed it is essential to keep down the weight as much as possible, and the designing of motors of special lightness for this purpose has been the object of inventors for a number of years. Herein may be said to reside the characteris

tic features of the various machines.

Generally speaking there are four classes of motors proposed: Ist. The steam engine. 2d. Gas engines. 3d. Coal oil and gasoline engines. 4. Electric motor, fed from storage cells.

Last year there was a competitive road test between Bordeaux and Paris, in which all machines were free to enter. Although there were a number of entries only two completed the entire journey. These were gasoline engines. A more recent trial was arranged to take place November 2d, in Chicago, and actually held Thanksgiving Day (November 28). The following account we glean from Engineering:

The number of entries originally made was about ninety, but the practical machines entered and those actually built for the competition numbered probably less than a score. About a dozen were entered for the trial, but of these only six started, and of these six carriages, two made the entire trip, one nearly completed it, and the other three withdrew after making short runs. It must be remembered, however, that some of the carriages that failed to start for the competitive run for various reasons are practicable and commendable machines, which have been used more or less extensively by their owners and builders. The route was generally level and the streets well paved with

wood, asphalt or macadam. A heavy storm of wet sticky snow, prevailed a day or two before the trial and the road was covered with snow and slush to a depth of about six inches, being thus in very bad condition for carriages with or without horses.

Of the six entries, actually contesting, four had gasoline motors, and the other two were of the storage battery system. two that completed the journey were of the gasoline type. The following is the record of the winner, with a brief résumé of its performance: Distance, 54.36 miles. Total time, 10 hours and 23 minutes. Running time, 7 hours and 53 minutes. Average speed, miles per hour, 7.

The carriage making this performance is known as the Duryea. It is a four wheel vehicie, with a gasoline motor of 4 horse power, and weighs about 1000 pounds. It is said to have attained a speed of 16 miles per hour, on good roads. It carries a supply of gasoline sufficient for about 100 miles. The engine consumed three and one-half gallons of gasoline, and 19 gallons of water en route. The price quoted ranges from about $1,000 to $2,000.

Cut furnished through courtesy of American Machinist, N. Y.

The motor principle has also been applied to tricycles and bicycles with encouraging results. Perhaps the machine that has the most promise is that known as the "Kane-Pennington. Motor Cycle." This machine, here illustrated, is built on the lines of the safety bicycle, having the same frame the same alignment, and provided with a chain and pedals for use at the rider's convenience. The motor, consisting of two cylinders is located behind the rear wheel, and the velocity is controlled by a

light rod running to the handle bar. The saddle is placed low enough to enable the rider to touch the ground with his feet, if necessary, thus avoiding the necessity of mounting from the rear. The tires are pneumatic "puncture proof," 5 inches in diameter, and entirely do away with the vibration of the frame, and can be driven over the roughest roads.

There is an attach

ment to hold the machine up when not in use. Coasters upon the front fork provide a comfortable foot rest. The machine weighs but sixty-five pounds in toto, and is said to be capable of being driven through four inches of mud or sand at a rate of twenty miles per hour. It has made a straight way mile in 58 seconds on a street pavement.

The remarkable feature of this invention is the engine, which generates a maximum horse power with a minimum weight. Ordinary gasoline or kerosene oil flows by gravity from a tank to the engine, and is exploded by an electric spark, the consumption of fuel being about one-tenth gallon per horse power per hour. The cylinders are drawn steel tubes. "In some way wholly unexplained, the great heat which manifests itself as a byproduct in other explosive engines is in the Pennington transformed into useful work upon the piston." This important result seems to be brought about by the method of ignition, in which, previous to the igniting spark, "a long thin ripening spark" is put through the charge. At any rate there results elimination of the excessive heat and the water jacket necessitated thereby and the securing of nearly double the efficiency of the ordinary motor of this class. The motor itself is described