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
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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.
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In a friendly manner, let your audience know of any special rules before you start. A good list might be:
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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.
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Stay behind the lines unless you are given permission to come up.
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Put candy wrappers in the trash.
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Keep the segments of your presentation simple and appropriate to the age of your audience, usually no more in minutes than their age.
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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.
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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).
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Three-dimensional models seem to work better than pictures as examples. Of course, the real thing is the best.
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Cover boxes for your models help keep attention on what you are doing, especially among children. They help prevent distracting “overload.”
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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.
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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.
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Skits and light comedy work well – if you’re having fun, so is your audience.
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This lesson plan is only a guide. Please modify it to meet your needs.
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Questions? Please contact Bill Carpenter (702) 641-6890 home, (702) 994-7740 cell, or carp6240@aol.com e-mail.
p. 3 of 6 LESSON PLAN
I.Introduction -
HCCA – Who we are, what we do.
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Self/Assistants
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Short background on each.
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Have each present his/her period dress.
II.Early Travel -
Road conditions
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Nobody traveled very far – most < 50 mi from birthplace.
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Modes of travel
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Foot (3 MPH) great majority of people walked
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Horse & Buggy or wagon (3-5 MPH)
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Bicycles (c. 1880 10-15 MPH hampered by poor roads)
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Streetcars in developed cities (inter-urban trolleys were widespread by 1905 and low cost)
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Trains/ships (very expensive)
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Discuss shortcomings of various modes
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Expense of horse, horse gets tired
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Limited coverage of streetcars, trains and ships
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Slowness of travel
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“Veteran” Autos c. 1896-1906 (Show models as discussed)
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First US auto manufacturer 1896 Duryea
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Low power 2-10 HP, 1 or 2 cylinder, 10-20 MPH
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Converted carriages – “Horseless Carriage”
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Modes of Power
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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)
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Expensive, complicated, perceived as dangerous
Steam was fairly-well developed, having been used on
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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
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Gasoline (Duryea, Ford, Buick, Maxwell, Oldsmobile, Mitchel, Franklin, Carter, REO and many others)
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Immediate running
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Dirty and smelly
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Dangerous to drive, especially to start
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Volatile fuel
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Gas only available in small quantities usually sold by drug stores by the can or bottle
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Hybrid Gas/Electric
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All autos were “…expensive playthings for the rich.”
III.The Automobile Comes of Age (Eduardian “Brass Era” Autos 1907-1915) -
18-60 HP
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20-60 MPH
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Autos began to improve – engines, brakes, transmissions, tires, etc.
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Roads improved – drainage, pavement (MacCadam), bridging
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Speed goes up
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Fuel distribution systems emplaced
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Electric starting and lights (1913 Cadillac) made gasoline engines the hands-down choice for power
IV.Automobiles for the Common Man -
Oldsmobile/Ford improvise mass production techniques from meat packing plants to automotive use
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“Economy of scale” production
p. 5 of 6
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Economic and Social changes
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Industry
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Economics
a. Inexpensive transport of people and goods – market availability
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Standard of living rises
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Wages rise producing financial freedom
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Auto-centric construction to accommodate autos
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People could now live away from work, even in the country!
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Cities expand geographically
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Lower density of towns, cities
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Personal freedom
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Vacations for the common person
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Picnics and day trips
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Travel for pleasure – national parks, tourism
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Distance evaporated – at the worst, it took only 1/10th of the time to get anywhere
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Moral connotations
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Loss of family control
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Incognito/ immoral activities
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Rise in crime
V.Auto Demonstration (Show your car!) -
Body construction
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Built by carriage makers, many all handmade
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Wood with metal overlay (most all wood before 1910)
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Painted by craftsmen by brush –appx. 22 coats and about a month to paint each one!
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Windshields became necessary as speeds went up
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Open bodies were usual – still like a carriage – mostly fair-weather travel
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No heater
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Lights
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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!)
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Kerosene
p. 6 of 6
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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
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Brakes
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Only rear wheels
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External constricting band and/or internal expanding shoe
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Transmission, driveshaft, or wheel braking
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Ignition system
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Battery/trembler coil (multiple spark)
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Magneto (single spark)
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Dual ignition
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Transmission
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Band-operated planetary
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Friction disc drive
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Belt drive
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Rope drive
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Sliding selector gear
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Fuel
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Gasoline
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Ethanol alcohol (moonshine)
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Kerosene
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Coal oil
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Coal dust
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Wood smoke (by generator)
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Engine construction
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Low horsepower
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High torque
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Separate castings or mono-bloc
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Removable heads or solid heads
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Thermo-siphon or pump circulation coolant
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Air cooling or water
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Demo starting/driving
VI.Questions
VII.Conclusion
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