Figure 44. — The 1897 Olds automobile 

 was powered by this rear-mounted, 1- 

 cylinder engine. 



Speed selection is provided by three friction clutches con- 

 trolled by a system of cams and levers at the lower end of a 

 vertical post located to the right of the driver. The clutches 

 are mounted on extensions of the crankshaft on both sides 

 of the flywheel. Two clutches on the left, each engaging a 

 chain sprocket on the crankshaft, furnish two forward 

 speeds; while the clutch on the right, in conjunction with a 

 planetary gear, provides the reverse. Power was trans- 

 mitted through chains to sprockets on a sleeve on the live 

 rear axle. The sleeve is integral with the driving element 

 of the differential. A spring compensator for absorbing 

 shocks of power transmission is built into the differential, 

 while a pedal operates a band brake on the differential unit. 



The cylinder end of the engine is attached rigidly to the 

 rear-axle support, while the crankshaft end is supported by 

 curved iron straps attached to the front axle. The body 

 rests on three full-elliptic springs, a transverse one at the 

 front axle and the other two at the rear. Steering is accom- 

 plished by means of a tiller, which swings the front wheels 

 about on their vertical pivots. Wheels are of the wooden 

 artillery type equipped with solid rubber tires, the front 32 

 inches and the rear 36 inches in diameter. 



A radiator consisting of 2 1 long horizontal tubes running 

 fore and aft of the car is mounted flat against the underside 

 of the body and is connected to the water tank and to the 

 water jacket of the cylinder by two rubber hoses. 



The gasoline tank hangs just below the engine; fuel was 

 pumped from it to the carburetor by a small pump driven 

 by an eccentric on the crankshaft. The eccentric arm also 

 operated the exhaust valve of the engine, while the spring- 

 closed intake valve is of the automatic variety. Make-and- 

 break electric ignition was also controlled by the eccentric 

 arm. 



56 



