RAUCH AND LANG ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE, 1914 

 Gift of Mrs. William C. Gorgas in 1929 (USNM 309622) 



This vehicle (fig. 97), originally owned by Surgeon Gen- 

 eral William C. Gorgas, represents the period when electric 

 passenger automobiles were at the height of their popular- 

 ity. Its roomy interior, comfort-providing body, and quiet- 

 ness and smoothness of operation together created an auto- 

 mobile especially suitable for city driving and for trips of 

 short distances and frequent stops. It was made by the 

 Rauch and Lang Carriage Co., of Cleveland, Ohio. 



The range of the vehicle on the most favorable speed, 

 about 13 miles an hour, was readily 100 miles per charge, 

 according to John H. Hertner, the designer. Higher speeds 

 cut down materially the mileage per charge, the top speed 

 being 19 miles an hour. 



The frame of the chassis consists of two parallel side 

 members of channel section separated by seven cross mem- 

 bers. In the center of the frame, suspended from two of 

 the cross members, is the electric motor, which propelled 

 the vehicle. Rated at 80 volts and approximately 2V2 

 horsepower, the motor is connected to the worm-driven rear 

 axle by a short drive shaft with two universal joints and a 

 slip joint. This permits supporting the motor rigidly on 

 the frame. 



The rear-axle assembly is a complete unit of the floating 

 type. The housing is composed of three sections, the center 

 one holding the complete differential mechanism, including 

 the worm and worm wheel. The two end sections contain- 

 ing the axle shafts are bolted to it. The axle shafts are fitted 

 into the differential unit by means of splined ends. Tor- 

 sional strains are taken care of by means of a torque bar 

 connected to the lower front of the differential housing by 

 a tapered joint and to the motor by a universal connection. 

 The bar lies directly beneath the propeller shaft. 



The rear-axle assembly is attached to the frame by two 

 ys-elliptic springs. The upper part of each spring is pivot- 

 ally connected to the frame, and the lower part is similarly 

 supported on the axle housing. The forward end of the 

 lower half of each spring is connected to a spring bracket 

 at the side of the frame. The spring eyes are fitted with 



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