Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/247

 Popular Science Monthly

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��damage to his product, or its total loss, is the ill feeling on the part of the cus- tomer that is engendered. When a man has been waiting long and anxious- ly for need- ed goods, to have them arrive all broken up and useless, simply be- cause the shipper was too lazy, or too econom- ical, to prop- er 1 y box them, natur- ally results in strained re- lations.

���A Spring-Driven Automobile for the Youngsters. It Runs Just Like Dad's

HERMANN F. CUNTZ, an engineer who has been connected with the automobile industry from its very in- ception, has invented a mechanically- driven toy automobile which ought to please a youngster who wants playthings that resemble as closely as possible the machines of every-day life. Mr. Cuntz has developed a ma- chine with spring power, controlled like a real, full-sized auto- mobile.

The little "chauff- eur" on cranking this automobile, winds up a set of six strong springs. A band brake locks the springs, so that the

��automobile cannot run away. When the young driver takes his seat, a brake lever attached to the seat cushion is operated.

The lever re- leases a brake band from the brake drum so that the automobile is ready to start off just as soon as pressure is put upon the starting ped- al. Pressure upon this pedal loos- ens a second brake band and allows the springs to turn the means of the

��Crates of onions and barrels of potatoes broken in transit; the light lumber could not stand the weight

��by Then off Johnny

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���rear driving wheels transmission gearing goes for his drive!

The motor is sufficiently powerful to carry the automobile a distance of fifteen hundred feet. Nevertheless, the auto- mobile is perfectly safe for a child. Should Johnny stand up carelessly, a spring returns the lever attached to the seat cushion, and the motor is stopped by the brake. Moreover, the speed limit can never be exceeded, since the driving gear is so arranged that even when the powerful springs are fully wound, only a nominal speed will be attained. Another inter*- esting feature of the automobile is a lever attach- ment which ena- bles the motor to be thrown out of gear. This makes it possible to coast down a hill and thus save power.

���The nest of six springs can drive the automobile a dis- tance of fifteen hundred feet. The controlling levers are operated just like those on gasoline automobiles. Baby has a delightful ride

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