Automobile Medal

Last week in Manhattan, a new medal was awarded for the first time by the Society of Automotive Engineers. It was given to Col. Howard Marmon, vice president and chief engineer of the Marmon Motor Car Co., Indianapolis. Colonel Marmon comes from an engineering family. Nordyke & Marmon, flour mill machinery, was founded by his father in Indianapolis 80 years ago. During the War, Engineer Marmon was one of the developers of the Liberty Motor. Frederick E. Moskovics, president of Improved Products Co. (promoters), onetime officer of Marmon Co., was donor of the award. He stipulated that each year it should be given to the American engineer making the most outstanding contribution to the design of the passenger automobile. Col. Marmon's contribution, which the S. A. E. considered most important for 1930, was the development of a 16-cylinder engine, exhibited last month at the Automobile Show in Manhattan. The motor's most radical, significant feature: It is constructed almost entirely of aluminum alloys, furnishes 200 h. p. with a weight of only 930 lb., one h. p. for 4.65 Ib. engine weight. The average engine furnishes one h. p. per 8 lb. of engine weight. Only other U. S. 16-cylinder engine, put out by Cadillac, was developed two years ago by William Strickland, engineer, has sold more than 2,000 cars since its introduction. Because the Moskovics prize was given only for achievements announced in 1930, Engineer Strickland did not qualify.

If, in the decade before 1930, there had been a medal to award, S. A. E. must have considered among other improvements generally adopted:

New braking arrangements--four wheel brakes, servo-type brake which amplifies foot pressure on the pedal.

Improvements in gears--synchromesh transmission, four speed internal gear transmission, quiet second gear.

Aluminum alloy pistons resulting in higher speeds, lighter weight, decreased vibration.

Improvements in carburetion involving better fuel distribution, special wells, jets, pumps, making it possible to start a cold car.

Non-shatterable glass.

The use of rubber in mounting engines, resulting in absorption of engine vibration.

Plate clutch, making gear shifting and repairs easier.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.