BALZER GASOLINE AUTOMOBILE, 1894 

 Gift of Stephen M. Balzer in 1899 (USNM 181658) 



This unique vehicle (figs. 38 and 39) was designed and 

 built by Stephen M. Balzer in New York City in 1894. 

 Less than 6 feet in length and 3 feet in width, it is supported 

 on four small, wire-spoked wheels equipped with single- 

 tube pneumatic tires. The rear wheels are 26 inches in 

 diameter, and the front wheels, mounted in forks of the 

 bicycle type, are 1 7 inches in diameter. The forks are con- 

 nected by a tie rod and are steered by a tiller. 



A 3-cylinder, air-cooled engine of the rotary type is 

 located beneath the seat. When running, the cylinders and 

 crankcase revolved in a vertical plane around the stationary 

 crankshaft. A stub shaft, turning with the crankcase, car- 

 ries the driving gears of a 3-step, constant-mesh, change 

 gear, which provides three forward speeds but no reverse. 

 The driven shaft of the change gear is geared to the driving 

 side of a clutch on the divided rear axle. The car was 

 propelled by the left rear wheel. The desired gear ratio 



Figure 38. — This 1894 Balzer automobile had a 3-cylinder rotary engine. 



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