I'm not a history buff by any stretch, but didn't GW set them free shortly after he gained the presidency? From what I recall, his slave's services were no longer required, and therefore, "free" to leave. I don't think they were sold to someone else.

I may be wrong though.

Back to topic, I had learned that on the black paint thing, the actual name of the paint was "Lamplighter Black" for the colour of soot from lighting roadside lamps. And, the quality of paint was so great, it was to have turned out like glass, with no orange peel. Not too bad if you ask me.

 

In the thirties - a peculiar front suspension appeared, the "Dropped Axle", which incorporated a transverse leaf spring, locator rods, and trailing link arms - fore runners of the (modern?) radius arms in the Twin 'I' Beam suspension in most pickups in the FORD line until very recently.

The CORD my father left me has something like this - a leaf spring running side to side with the front suspension linked to it by what I can only describe as 'Riser Bolts' that hook the ends of the suspension to the leaf spring. The rear end however still had 'Buggy Springs' - and they still do in most trucks today.

Pregunta? QUA? Was ist? Why is that? Is it because its so simple and works that its considered not worth it to think of something else? I tend to think so...

So in most trucks, there is a vestige of earlier engineering in many of our machines!
I kinda like that.

But in later years - true independant front suspensions came along. MUSTANGS had McPherson Struts, and there were many varieties and strengths of Torsion bars added to limit sway in cornering (front and rear). But at some point - the invention of the "Independant Front Suspension" (IFS) came along. The thirties wasn't it, I don't think... Any info?

But in the thirties, there was a leaf spring running at right angles to the centerline of the car or truck, and at some point the "SHOCK ABSORBER" was devised and added on...

'Shocks" might be an interesting discussion. When were they added? Who thought of them? How much improvement in road surfaces had to take place?

- Still curious? So am I...


~Wolf

 

Grey. in 1934 GM introduced "Knee action" suspension, developed by a newly aquired Rolls Royce engineer. This was the first truly IFS for American cars that I know of. It was also notorious for premature wear, carrying on a long standing GM tradition

When I said Buggy springs, I meant transverse springs, running across the frame, front and rear.

Shock absorbers have been in use since before 1910, but the earlliest car I've ever seen with them installed from the factory was a mid-20's ******.

this http://www.motorera.com/history/hist08.htm might give you some insight

 

Big.
George's wife freed his slaves, AFTER George was dead, and 25 years after he became President. http://www.post-gazette.com/forum/20010106edslaves2.asp
..........not exactly like George shooed them out the day he was inaugurated.

Henry's black paint was glass like because they dipped the fenders in paint on Model T's, not sprayed.