ELECTRIC LAND AND MARINE CARRIAGES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1671, 5 March 1890, Page 3

ELECTRIC LAND AND MARINE CARRIAGES.

A combination electric land and marine carriage, a very novel invention, is an object of not & little curious interest to those who have sepn it. Tha inreutor is a MraTmax. Her invention resembles a two-seated sidebar Surrey wagon, with top, and about the same length and truck. The wheels are like those of a bicycle, but heavier. The steering apparatus is placed in front, and connects with the front axle. The propelling power is connected with and turns the hind axle by a system of gears. The electric motor in this invention is the important feature, and it is with the greatest pride that the inventor speaks of it. It is placed in the bottom of the carriage, and takes up but little room. It has a " vibrating " armature instead of rotary motor, and the horse power can be increased without the necessity of constructing a larger motor by simply using more battery. With an eight Volt battery a constant current can be kept up for three hours, and this, too, at a test speed of fifteen miles an hour. A dry primary battery is to be used. Underneath the carriage are air-tight metal tubes, cigar shaped, of suitable size to buoy up the carriage and its load while crossing deep streams, and to the spokes of the hind wheels are ingeniously secured little brass paddles to propel the carriage through the water, and so nicely arranged that they are in no way liable to injury, nor do they interfere with road travel. The carriage has many novel features, such as electric lights, tent, electric stove for cooking and heating, and is altogether a wondrous affair. A speed of fifteen miles an hour is now easily obtained, and the fair inventor is confident of being able to increase it to thirty. Mrs Truax thinks she can apply all these principles to serial navigation, and she expects to skim the air yet on electric wings. — " Progressive Age."