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Daimler
& Simms
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Daimler
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Simms
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Gottlieb
Daimler
was born in Schorndorf/Wurttemberg on the 17th March 1834.
His name has become ever associated with the invention of
the car engine. He studied machine construction at the Stuttgart
Polytechnic from 1857-59 and during that time he was introduced
to the highly developed level of machine construction in Britain.
In 1885 Daimler, together with Maybach began work on the first
engines that were designed specifically for use in motor vehicles.
They abandoned the existing conventional, open, horizontal
type design with an external flywheel, and arranged the engine
to stand upright with an internal flywheel, and a casting
that was sealed against oil and dust. The engine's output
was 0.37KW (0.5bhp), had a cubic capacity of 164cc, weighed
60kg and produced 700 revolutions per minute. After that,
Daimler and Maybach turned to the problem of liquid fuel.
Finally, they found the best combustible mixture was 91% air
and 9% petrol with a specific gravity of 0.68 g/cubic cm.
This engine was equipped with a carburettor and was built
into a wooden frame. Daimler gave this engine a higher output,
up to 0.76KW (1bhp) and built it into a coach body. He made
his first trip around Bad Cannstatt in this vehicle in September
1886. Later, this engine proved to be excellent for driving
motorboats. In 1887, Daimler purchased a small factory so
he could produce and sell the engine. This two-cylinder V-engine
had an output of 1.5KW (2hp) Gottlieb Daimler died on 6th
March 1900.
Fredrick Simms
an Englishman born in Hamburg, was on the lookout for a power
source to use in his 'Aerial Flights' (overhead railcar) and
befriended Daimler, who at that time was using his new engine
in motorboats. Simms saw the potential for marketing this engine
in Britain. He took up the patent rights and formed a company
in 1893 called 'The Daimler Motor Syndicate Ltd'.
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