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Fredrick Simms 1863-1944 |
Gottleib Daimler 1834-1900 |
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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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