Specifications of the “48″ Locomobile: Type “M” Touring Car

MOTOR

Six-cylinder. Horse-power by A. L. A. M. Formula, 484. Horse-power on test, 70. Large valves, quiet lifters, bronze crank-case.

CARBURETER

Locomobile design and construction.

Float feed, single jet type. Dashboard

control of mixture.

FUEL SUPPLY

25 gallons, gravity feed.

IGNITION

High tension, dual system, imported. Magneto and Storage Battery.

COOLING

Honeycomb radiator with gear-driven centrifugal pump.

LUBRICATION

Motor has self-contained oiling system. Gear pump forces oil from reservoir to bearings in constant stream. Grease cups at all wearing points on the chassis.

OIL CAPACITY

2 gallons, motor, 1,5 gallons, auxiliary tank.

TRANSMISSION

Four-speed selective transmission with bronze gear case. Sixth season of use.

CLUTCH

Multiple disc, very simple. Smooth in operation. Clutch brake.

DRIVE

Propeller shaft-drive through bevel gears and live axles. Two universal joints, enclosed in metal housings.

FRAME

Pressed alloy steel, heat-treated.

SPRINGS

Front, semi-elliptic, 38″ x 2″.

Rear, three-quarter elliptic, 48″ x 2″, shackled at both ends.

All alloy steel. Power does not pass through rear springs, thus they have full play.

FRONT AXLE

I-Beam type. Solid forging, heat-treated.

REAR AXLE

Full floating type with alloy steel tubes and live axles. Locomobile radius rods relieve the rear axle of all driving and braking stresses. The best features of chain-drive and shaft-drive combined.

WHEELS

Artillery type, 36″ in diameter.

MEASUREMENTS

Wheel base, 135″. Extreme width, top

lowered, 5′ “l/1″. Length over all, top

lowered, 16′ 3″. Extreme height, top raised, 7′ 5″.

TIRES

Demountable type. Front, 36′ x 4,4′ ‘ Rear, 37″ x 5″. Interchange. Same tire sizes on all six-cylinder models.

BODY

Four-door Touring Car, seating seven passengers. Flush sides.

UPHOLSTERING

Hand-buffed leather, tufted. The luxurious rear seat cushion and hack are prot-tded ‘with upholstering ten inches thick.

FINISH

Optional within reasonable limits.

EQUIPMENT

Close-coupled headlights with gas tank. Combination oil and electric side lamps and rear lamp. Storage battery, top, horn, ja^k, tool bag and kit of tools. Tire carrier, lire tools, tire pump, tire repair kit. Coat rail, foot rest, storm apron for front seat.

PRICE

$4800, including above equipment.

Here are two very important reasons why the six-cylinder principle is favored by so many motorists:

Minimum Vibration Flexibility of Operation

These advantages make the six-cylinder car the most luxurious type. Other motors can be made to give equal power and speed but no motor, however it may be designed and built, can produce the smoothness of running, the feeling of complete absence of machinery in short, the luxury of motion; made possible by the use of six cylinders.

The six-cylinder Locomobile is the logical choice of the discriminating motorist who wishes to buy a “Six”. It is the most beautiful, the most luxurious, the easiest riding “Six” on the market.

Beauty and distinctiveness of appearance are displayed in the lines of the body; in the compact motor bonnet that eliminates the ungainly effect of most “Sixes”; in the absence of all external hinges and door handles; in the unencumbered running boards; and in the extra tires, carried at the rear. The low lines of the car are most attractive, and the passengers are seated low in the body, which provides a feeling of security with consequent relaxation and enjoyment. The ten-inch upholstery is a remarkable point of superiority. Luxury is illustrated by such features as the upholstering of the inside of the doors and the carpeting of the wood work near the sides and bottom of the tonneau which is ordinarily exposed, and as a result, marred and scratched. The extra seats are exceptionally comfortable, the body being supported the entire length of the back instead of across the shoulders only, as is usual. Running boards are wide, covered with a special linoleum very handsome in appearance, and the shield extending to the frame is so arranged that rain water drains off. The foot rest is a brass rod lightly knurled to prevent the feet from slipping. Cocoa mats are used in all open cars. A handsome cape top is provided, light and strong, and made from durable water-proof material. The coat rail may be adjusted to suit the wraps to be carried.

The Locomobile “Six” is the fastest car, the best hill climber we ever built, and slows down to a foot pace and then speeds up without shifting gears. Years of experience and study of alloy steel have enabled us to reduce the weight of the touring car to such a point that one horse-power is provided for every fifty-seven pounds of weight, and without sacrificing any of the reliability for which our car is famous. Tire economy is another strong point of superiority. A customer in Kansas reports that the original tires are still on his “Six”, unpunctured and in good condition, after 4500 miles of use. We have had excellent reports of tire economy. Conditions are favorable to moderate tire wear and for six reasons: moderate weight; proper balance; free action of the differential, thus preventing grinding action on the rubber; strong but light rear axle, reducing the dead load on the rear tires; large tire sizes; minimum of side sway and thus minimum of side stress on tires.

Economy of fuel consumption is still another very important advantage of our “Six”. The touring car has frequently been driven 1 2 miles on a gallon of fuel. One of our customers drove his “Six” over the mountain roads from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara with seven up, covering eleven miles to the gallon. Another customer reports 14^ miles to the gallon from a “Six” Torpedo. Good reports in this direction are invariable. The reasons why the Locomobile “Six” uses less fuel than others of the same size and power are as follows: Moderate weight; special carbureter; minimum loss of power in transmission mechanism.

From a mechanical standpoint the Locomobile “Six” strongly excels. Owing to the necessary length of a six-cylinder motor, the strength of the crank-case, crank-shaft and cam-shafts becomes an important matter. The Locomobile crank-case is government bronze and never gives trouble; the crank-shaft and cam-shafts are vastly stronger than they need be. The crank-shaft has seven main bearings, one between each connecting rod (see page 110). The cam-shafts have all cams integral. While surface cracks only might develop in an aluminum motor base and keyed-on cams might not cause trouble, the possibilities are such that we believe all thoughtful purchasers will prefer the stronger construction of the Locomobile.

The bronze crank-case is in one piece and so bolted to the frame that it makes a rigid structure. This method of fastening has never given us one particle of trouble. The motor is so skilfully designed and carefully built that with a cylinder bore of 4^ inches, seventy brake horse-power is obtained on the test stand. This is the greatest power that can be obtained from this size of cylinder without affecting reliability. Cylinders are specially designed for the “Six” and have large valves and silent valve lifters.

The lubrication system is self-contained, the oil being pumped to the bearings in a constant stream. An oil by-pass at the rear of the motor combines the advantages of a circulating system with a gravity head, doing away with any oil tank under the bonnet.

The multiple disc clutch is the most desirable type for such a large car as the Locomobile “Six”. Our disc clutch is exceedingly simple and reliable, and can be removed as a unit without disturbing anything else. Theuseof-a clutch brake facilitates the shifting of gears.

The power transmitting mechanism, so great in importance, bristles with points of superiority. The four-speed selective transmission, with its manganese bronze case and alloy steel shafts and gears, never gives trouble. The propeller shaft is very strong and provides straight line drive, increasing efficiency and furthering easy riding. The universal joints are encased in metal housings instead of the usual leather bags and absorb so little power that they run almost indefinitely without regreasing. Power does not pass through the rear springs. The drive is through distance rods as in chaindrive construction. This arrangement in conjunction with the shackles at each end of the rear springs, preserves the alignment of our rear axle when driving over rough roads at speed, enabling the car to be kept in the road and appreciably lessening tire wear. The rear axle is relieved of all driving and braking stresses by the relationship of the brakes and rear axle to the distance rods. An example of neat chassis design is the installation of the brake equalizers, without cutting unnecessary holes in the frame or putting a steel beam across it.

Our “Six” is considered the finest Locomobile ever built. For 1912 a splendid new body provides comfort hitherto unknown in motoring. The rear scat cushion and back are provided with tufted upholstering ten inches thick, creating the restful ease of your most luxurious library chair. Passengers are seated low in the car, giving a sense of security. The extra seats are exceptionally comfortable as the body is supported the length of the back instead of only across the shoulders. The sides are flush, perfectly smooth, with a graceful curve from end to end. There are no external door hinges or handles; running boards are clear on both sides; extra tires are carried at the rear; the battery box is carried under the floor of the body.

The Torpedo type, so attractive and popular, is represented in our “Six” by two different models, one seating four passengers, the other five passengers. The difference is entirely in the carrying capacity of the body. The chassis is the same as used in the touring car, only the angle of the steering column is increased, the levers are placed farther back on the frame, and a gracefully curved shield extends backward from the dashboard to meet the side doors. The car is very smart in appearance and will appeal to those who do not wish a seven-passenger car, but all the luxury and comfort afforded by our larger “Six”. It is also an attractive car to the owner who likes to drive his car.

The Limousine is perhaps the most popular type for all-round service offered by a closed car. Our six-cylinder Limousine partakes of the general character of a torpedo body with smooth surfaces, very attractive in appearance and without any crevices in which dust collects, making the body difficult to clean. The Landaulet is popular because it combines the advantages of an open and a closed car. The Berline, or four-door Limousine, affords complete protection to the occupants of the front seats, and is a handsome model presented in 1912 for the first time.
Six-cylinder closed cars accommodate seven passengers, two in front and five in the rear. The doors are carefully swung, give plenty of room for entrance or exit, and are provided with locks so that they can be secured when the car is left standing.

The upholstering is very luxurious with ten-inch rear seat cushion and back, and very comfortable extra seats. Imported cloths of handsome patterns are employed, trimmed with the finest coach laces. Morocco may be had if sufficient notice is given.

An electric dome light is placed in the roof and operated by a storage battery. It may be controlled from inside the body or from the driver’s seat. Corner reading lamps are used in the Limousine and Berline. These are flush with the upholstering and when used are revolved into position, thus automatically switching on the current. A speaking tube with electric buzzer signals the driver. Arm rests are provided, also a very attractive toilet set. All windows are hung with silk curtains mounted on spring rollers.