PACKARD AUTOMOBILE'S - THE EARLY YEARS
Part 3
From the William Cary Collection
The gasolene tank holds sufficient gasolene for a run of from 150 to 200 miles, depending upon the condition of the roads. It is provided with a glass sight gauge which shows at a glance the amount of gasolene in the tank.
The water tank holds sufficient water for a season's -a little over four
gallons. The cylinder is cooled use in the usual manner with a water jacket
provided with a circulating pump, regulating tank, and a special set of
coolers or radiators placed under the footboard of the machine.
Positive circulation is insured by a simple gear pump which cannot get
out of order. The annoyance from renewing cooling water or worrying about
the amount of water left in the tank is thus removed.
Oiling of all important bearings is accomplished by one movement of a
lever, the supply coming from a single oil box of large capacity.
The gear and chain drive is used. The reverse is a slow speed, giving
with varied speeds of the engine from six to ten miles per hour.
The hill-climbing gear is approximately the same speed, and is sufficiently
strong to carry the vehicle over any hill or through the deepest sand
and mud.
The high or working speed varies from 7 to 22 miles or over per hour,
dependent upon the speed of the engine.
The vehicle can be geared as required for different localities.
We employ the so-called float feed type of carbur¬eter, such as is
used without exception by the European automobile manufacturers. This
device has been so perfected that carburetion is automatic and positive.
It requires no adjustment or attention whatever; is unaffected by heat
or cold, and will use any ordinary grade of gasolene.
The speed of the engine is controlled by a foot pedal that
is instantaneous ia action.
The two forward speeds, the reverse,and the brake are controlled by a
single lever. Any one of these operations can be performed instantly without
regard to intermediate functions—that is, the lever may be thrown to the
high speed notch at once without necessity of pausing on the slow speed.
The utmost simplicity as well as quickness of operation is thus secured.
In ordinary running no manipulation of the clutch is required. A further
advantage of this arrangement is that it practically does away with all
noise, and saves power as well.