1906 Adams-Farwell car with rotary engine

[Trevor 57]

This is the ONLY Adams-Farwell automobile left in existence. They were made in Dubuque, Iowa, USA, between 1890-1913.

This is a weird design

Adams-Farwell car

[OzJavelin]

Cool .. very interesting to see early car makers trying everything ..

I was reading on the Hemmings Blog about the NASA Sterling Engine conversions done in the 60s / 70s as alternatives to gasoline ... Similar to the Chrysler Turbine cars in the 60s .. Possible alternatives to gasoline powered engines.

We seemed to be a lot more adventurous in mechanical design then .. Now days we just seem to add another "app" to an on board computer entertainment system of a car and call it "improved".

[Trevor 57]

There seemed to be no 'pre-conceived' ideas back, anything was thought to be possible

[mik]

That's pretty cool bit of machinery, very inventive...... if not a bit scary at the same time, wouldn't want my tie to be dangaling while checking out the running motor ....... hmmm where did mik go ...... .
The old school engineering is pretty amazing, no computers or cnc lathes back in those days, just blokes with ideas, determination and skill.

[2011G6E]

For the centenary of the motor car, one of the motoring magazines...Wheels I think...did a special feature where they did a "comparison test" between three cars from 1900. One was steam, one was petrol, and one was a Columbia Electric. At that time, given the shocking reliability and difficulty of operation of petrol, and the problems with a steamer, a smart person would have put all their bets on the electric cars as being "the wave of the future".
Understandable, as even with poor battery range and weight, it was very easy to just hop in and drive away ("great for women drivers" they said back in the early days when you actually needed to almost be a skilled mechanic to keep a petrol car on the road for any distance), whereas the steamer had a long and involved starting process and the dangers of a boiler running dry by a lazy owner, and the "standard" of even a good petrol engine of the day meant there was no gaurantee you even get out of your driveway before breaking down...

So yes, I love the way there was no preconceived notions back then of what a car "should" be, and makers were trying everything they could think of regarding controls and their placement, designs of bodies, different methods of driving the vehicle, etc. A period of experimentation and innovation I don't think we'll ever see again.

[EB#]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Cool ........
We seemed to be a lot more adventurous in mechanical design then ..

Agreed. Same goes for aesthetics and body design.... Most manufacturers just
seem to take the safe option and copy each other these days to the extent
that each segment looks pretty much the same.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

...

So yes, I love the way there was no preconceived notions back then of what a car "should" be, and makers were trying everything they could think of regarding controls and their placement, designs of bodies, different methods of driving the vehicle, etc. A period of experimentation and innovation I don't think we'll ever see again.

What if they tried it today, the internet forums and keyboard warriors would be baying for blood, those locked into their own 'special' mantras would be poopooing it and the inovative would be trying to defend, Id predict many a locked thread.

I think the evolution of mechanised personal transport has slowed as we are as close to the ideal as our technologies, marketing and public acceptance can get. design will push technologies and use of that tech but for the forseable future, and hopefully, we see powertrain tech, as inthe video, experimentation and developmemt, more and more powerfull 2 and 3 cylinders, rotaries, maybe orbitals, steam and or electric. the car itself may get lighter, smaller but largely remain similar and very identifiable as relatives of todays cars.
The future in automotive design is exciting if not slow to develop.

JP

[last fairlane]

Very very interesting engine
but I wouldnt call it a "rotary engine" its more of a
"Radial engine" with the rotating cylinders
as in older Bi planes and such from the same era
Thanks John

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Very very interesting engine
but I wouldnt call it a "rotary engine" its more of a
"Radial engine" with the rotating cylinders
as in older Bi planes and such from the same era
Thanks John

Yes that's what I was thinking......Its the opposite of Radial plane engine.....And radials make in excess of 2000HP lol!

Still VERY amazing times and I cannot believe how smart these engineers were in the old days.....AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[Franco Cozzo]

Imagine being around in the late 1800s/early 1900s, all the excitement about the new "horseless carriage".

[GASWAGON]

Ye no wonder the Model T was so popular.....They reckon thers still mountains of parts available for them too? I know some people that on one.....

1 Million vehicles....ALL black lol!

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Ye no wonder the Model T was so popular.....They reckon thers still mountains of parts available for them too? I know some people that on one.....

1 Million vehicles....ALL black lol!

Nope...any colour you liked (within the limitations of the paint shops back then) and not just black...it's just that black was cheaper. I've seen original red model Ts and even a yellow one. Dark blue was another colour. It wasn't as easy as today to order a car from scratch, and then...as most people do now...you turned up and bought what was sitting on the lot.

And yes, the Model T owners I have met over the years all say parts are never a problem...there are huge numbers of repro manufacturers out there making anything you want, and also others selling sources of NOS parts that pop up quite often. I'd love one just for the giggle.

[Bossxr8]

Yeah that's correct, model T's never solely came in black, but there was a period where black was the only available colour, as black paint dried faster and allowed Henry to build more cars per day when model T production was at it's highest.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by last fairlane

Very very interesting engine
but I wouldnt call it a "rotary engine" its more of a
"Radial engine" with the rotating cylinders
as in older Bi planes and such from the same era
Thanks John

John I think a conventional radial engine as used in aeroplenes of the day still had fixed crankcases and cylinders with complex counter balanced arms and gears transfering torque to the output shaft. The engine in this car looks similar but is a rotary engine, but not a ****el rotary and while clever didnt produce the power of the conventional Radials. But were lighter, smoother and had improved cooling as the thing needing cooling was whizzing throught the air under its own power.

JP

[csv8]

Amazing!!
Check this out www.jrlcycles.com

[Elks]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yeah that's correct, model T's never solely came in black, but there was a period where black was the only available colour, as black paint dried faster and allowed Henry to build more cars per day when model T production was at it's highest.

Correct Boss

Early T models came in a small range of colours, but when things took off around 1920 they moved to black, as Bossxr8 said owing to its faster drying. Canadian built cars were a dark blue.

It's also generally accepted that over the 19 years of production. There was in excess of 15 million model T's made.

[csv8]

JLS Radial motorcycle

[poppa smurf]

what a fascinating and beautiful piece of kit.......imagine the OHS boys and girls looking that over in todays world.

soon as she fired I was put in mind of the radial aircraft engine rather than rotary......

I could easily imagine that little feller becoming a much loved part of the family, even during her tantrums.

[GASWAGON]

This is more like it.....Imagine the wheelies down the 1/4 mile....No need for power steering lol! He obviously realised ther was no room in the boot wer the flat four used to fit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_CnvRufT7c

[ebxr8240]

Aha lets see what PAC performance can do to this ?? LOl

[bangm001]

Yeah cool clip and car! I then went on and spent an hour looking through Jay Lenos garage.... Drool....

[Sprint]

The Irish crankshaft, where the car turns around the motor.