AUGUST 1, 1912 



P. B. Cavanagli's twooylinder Jackson automobile, with the carrying rack at one side, the latter being 



tipped over so as to give a top view. 



I 



CONSTRUCTION OF THE AUTOMOBILE 

 TRAILER 



BY F. B. CAVANAGH. 



In response to inquiries regarding my 

 auto and its different sets of "harness" I 

 wish to give the following description : 



Fig. 1 shows the machine with a top view 

 of the carrying rack, which was placed on 

 its side at the rear. The back fendeis must 

 be removed for use with either trailer or 

 rack, both being built out over the rear 

 wheels. The projecting side-boards of the 

 rack also extend forward and form extra 

 seats when we have a five-passenger load. 

 This rack could be imjaroved by making it 

 about 18 inches longer, and building wide 

 double doors in place of the narrow- door 

 wliich, as shown in the jihoto, is projtped 

 up with a stick. 



This picture is shown for the purpose of 

 making clear to the reader the means of 

 connecting the trailer to the auto. This 

 connection must, of course, be very flexible, 

 both laterally and longitudinally, otherwise 

 difficulties would arise when driving on un- 

 even ground. 



The drawbar, or "fifth wheel," if we may 

 call it that, for lack of a better name, is 

 built on a 2x6 secured with four bolts which 

 extend through the frame of the automo- 

 bile, and which are easily removable. In 

 the middle of this piece is a one-inch jiieoe 

 with a V-shajied slot cut out and covered 

 with a solid plate of steel % i"ch thick. 

 This plate draws the trailer with the -Yi indi 

 steel bolt which is shown in Fig. 2, and ex- 

 tends in order through the erosspiece of the 



trailei-, the steel plate, the reach of the 

 trailer, and finally the automobile deck, 

 whei'e it is secured with a % bolt and nut. 



The hole is made large in the deck of the 

 auto and in tlie 2x6, to allow flexibility in 

 all directions. It will be observed that the 

 pulling tension is all on the steel plate 

 witli the auto and with the trailer jointly, 

 from the reach and tlie %-inch machine- 

 steel kingbolt. Lateral stability is secured 

 by contact with an upper plate on the cross- 

 piece of the trailer, corresponding in size 

 to the lower one. These parts must be made 

 of the best material, and must be strondv 

 built. ^ ^ 



Fig. 2 shows the trailer reared up to give 

 the reader a general idea of the construc- 

 tion. Two strong carriage wheels and 

 springs of suitable weight are required. 

 The reach extends upward at an angle to 

 within a foot of the connection to which it 

 enters on a parallel with both trailer and 

 auto decks. Tlie 2x4's supporting the deck 

 are about lli^ ft. long, and crosspieces are 

 lV4x5x6V2 ft. long, and of white pine. The 

 deck is tongued and grooved, % inch yellow 

 jiine. A strip of %x4 pine is nailed 'to the 

 edge, forming a IVo-inch ledge when used 

 for hauling. The iron loops around the 

 edge hold the cover, which is used in haul- 

 ing' bees and to hold the wire-cloth canvas 

 trailer top. 



Those who have seen the picture on page 

 500, Aug. 15, 1911, showing the trailer with 

 a load of supers, will understand how the 

 top is connected to the two-foot wire-screen 

 framework. A canvas cover with ample 

 windows on each side is secured by strips 



