Horseless Carriage Club of America
Antique Automobile Presentation
by
Bill Carpenter
Edited by
Don Rising and Jim Moe
HCCA Public Education Committee
Audience: 40-50 Persons
Time Allocation: 2 Hours Max, 50 Minutes Min
Suggested Training Aids:
Brass Era (Eduardian) auto(s)
Models of other autos not available Larger scale like Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint work well,
e.g.,
-1897 Duryea model
-1898 Quadricycle model
-1903 Ford Model A model)
Cover boxes for models
2-3 tables and coverings (HCCA emblem) w/spring clips
Chairs as appropriate
Glass jar, water, carbide crystals, matches
Period clothing
Tire pump, tire irons, patch kit, jack
Spark plug and trembler coil
Magneto
Orange cones/containment ropes
Pointer or laser pointer
Candies and/or prizes
p. 2 of 6
Helpful Ideas
1. Period clothing immediately helps set the scene, as well as era music.
It is even better to have students involved, dressed and giving a short
segment of the presentation. We have had much success in getting
teachers to give extra credit for student participation.
2. In a friendly manner, let your audience know of any special rules
before you start. A good list might be:
a. Please look at everything, but look with your eyes only. If you
want to touch something, ask before you do, because you can
get hurt on some things.
b. Stay behind the lines unless you are given permission to come
up.
c. Put candy wrappers in the trash.
3. Keep the segments of your presentation simple and appropriate to the
age of your audience, usually no more in minutes than their age.
4. Hands-on sections are especially good for every age group. Let your
audience honk a bulb horn, crank over an engine (ignition off, of
course), handle a piece of carbide, etc.
5. Ask questions, and give rewards for good answers and intelligent
observations and feedback they come up with. A sugarless candy is
almost always acceptable (ask the authority in advance).
6. Three-dimensional models seem to work better than pictures as
examples. Of course, the real thing is the best.
7. Cover boxes for your models help keep attention on what you are
doing, especially among children. They help prevent distracting
“overload.”
8. A semi-circular setup is best, with the audience in the center. Try
placing your real car(s) in the center, with tables of training aids and
models to the sides, and a table for demonstrations in the middle.
9. Keep a low barrier (about 1 ft high) between your displays and
audience. Cones, lines, and tables are good. This allows invited
participants to step over, but keeps the general audience out.
10. Skits and light comedy work well – if you’re having fun, so is your
audience.
11. This lesson plan is only a guide. Please modify it to meet your needs.
12. Questions? Please contact Bill Carpenter (702) 641-6890 home,
(702) 994-7740 cell, or carp6240@aol.com e-mail.
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LESSON PLAN
I.
Introduction
A. HCCA – Who we are, what we do.
B. Self/Assistants
1. Short background on each.
2. Have each present his/her period dress.
II.
Early Travel
A. Road conditions
B. Nobody traveled very far – most < 50 mi from birthplace.
C. Modes of travel
1. Foot (3 MPH) great majority of people walked
2. Horse & Buggy or wagon (3-5 MPH)
3. Bicycles (c. 1880 10-15 MPH hampered by poor roads)
4. Streetcars in developed cities (inter-urban trolleys were
widespread by 1905 and low cost)
5. Trains/ships (very expensive)
6. Discuss shortcomings of various modes
a. Expense of horse, horse gets tired
b. Limited coverage of streetcars, trains and ships
c. Slowness of travel
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
“Veteran” Autos c. 1896-1906 (Show models as discussed)
First US auto manufacturer 1896 Duryea
Low power 2-10 HP, 1 or 2 cylinder, 10-20 MPH
Converted carriages – “Horseless Carriage”
Modes of Power
1. Steam (White, Stanley, Doble - 428 mfgs)
a. Average 20 min - 1 hour to steam (But in 1916 Doble
made steam in > 3 Min, by early 1930’s they made steam
in >30 seconds. Company was plagued by bad
management and folded)
b. Expensive, complicated, perceived as dangerous
Steam was fairly-well developed, having been used on
c. ships and trains for years
p. 4 of 6
2. Electric (Baker, Detroit - 299 mfgs)
a. Immediate running
b. Clean
c. Easy to drive
d. Limited range (city use only)
e. Limited speed
3. Diesel (Otto Cycle by Benz) manufacturing and
metallurgical difficulties
4. Gasoline (Duryea, Ford, Buick, Maxwell, Oldsmobile,
Mitchel, Franklin, Carter, REO and many others)
a. Immediate running
b. Dirty and smelly
c. Dangerous to drive, especially to start
d. Volatile fuel
e. Gas only available in small quantities usually sold by
drug stores by the can or bottle
5. Hybrid Gas/Electric
E. All autos were “…expensive playthings for the rich.”
The Automobile Comes of Age (Eduardian “Brass Era” Autos
1907-1915)
A. 18-60 HP
B. 20-60 MPH
C. Autos began to improve – engines, brakes, transmissions,
tires, etc.
D. Roads improved – drainage, pavement (MacCadam),
bridging
E. Speed goes up
F. Fuel distribution systems emplaced
G. Electric starting and lights (1913 Cadillac) made gasoline
engines the hands-down choice for power
IV.
V.
Automobiles for the Common Man
A. Oldsmobile/Ford improvise mass production techniques from
meat packing plants to automotive use
B. “Economy of scale” production
p. 5 of 6
C. Economic and Social changes
1. Industry
2. Economics
a. Inexpensive transport of people and goods – market
availability
b. Standard of living rises
c. Wages rise producing financial freedom
3. Auto-centric construction to accommodate autos
a. People could now live away from work, even in the
country!
b. Cities expand geographically
c. Lower density of towns, cities
4. Personal freedom
a. Vacations for the common person
b. Picnics and day trips
c. Travel for pleasure – national parks, tourism
d. Distance evaporated – at the worst, it took only
1/10th of the time to get anywhere
5. Moral connotations
a. Loss of family control
b. Incognito/ immoral activities
c. Rise in crime
VI.
Auto Demonstration (Show your car!)
A. Body construction
1. Built by carriage makers, many all handmade
2. Wood with metal overlay (most all wood before 1910)
3. Painted by craftsmen by brush –appx. 22 coats and about
a month to paint each one!
4. Windshields became necessary as speeds went up
5. Open bodies were usual – still like a carriage – mostly fairweather travel
6. No heater
B. Lights
1. Acetylene gas generated by mixing water and carbide
(give carbide demonstration lighting acetylene with clear
glass jar (open top), water, and a few pellets of carbide –
the “voosh” gets their attention!)
2. Kerosene
p. 6 of 6
C. Tires & Wheels
1. Solid Tires
2. Permanent mount
3. High-pressure “Clincher” tires
4. “Straight Side” lock-ring tires
5. Wheels – Wood, wire or disc
D. Brakes
1. Only rear wheels
2. External constricting band and/or internal expanding shoe
3. Transmission, driveshaft, or wheel braking
E. Ignition system
1. Battery/trembler coil (multiple spark)
2. Magneto (single spark)
3. Dual ignition
F. Transmission
1. Band-operated planetary
2. Friction disc drive
3. Belt drive
4. Rope drive
5. Sliding selector gear
G. Fuel
1. Gasoline
2. Ethanol alcohol (moonshine)
3. Kerosene
4. Coal oil
5. Coal dust
6. Wood smoke (by generator)
H. Engine construction
1. Low horsepower
2. High torque
3. Separate castings or mono-bloc
4. Removable heads or solid heads
5. Thermo-siphon or pump circulation coolant
6. Air cooling or water
I. Demo starting/driving
VII. Questions
VIII. Conclusion