The Motor Chassis
Pedal Car or Model Car?
Many older Swedish driving schools have a cutaway model of a car in their classroom or shop window. This one, spotted on Folkungagatan in the southern part of Stockholm City, dates from the 1950s and is about the size of a pedal car.
Image copyright: Meccano Ltd., Old Swan, Liverpool, England.
The "Meccano Motor Chassis" is one of the renowned "Super Models" from the 1920s. Sporting an electric motor, a three-speed and reverse gearbox and internal drum brakes it's almost as detailed as the educational models of the Swedish driving schools!
Here's my own interpretation of the Meccano Motor Chassis, using the three-speed and reverse gearbox from the 1920's book of Standard Mechanisms.
In this close-up, the clutch mechanism, gearbox and differential are clearly visible. Whereas the gearbox is of 1920s fashion, the clutch and diff were copied from the 1950s' Ten Set model leaflets, viz. those for the Sports Motor Car and Double Deck Bus.
Then I made up my mind to try building a planetary gearbox after the self-same Book of Standard Mechanisms - and to play a little with my oddball Teknik parts to make up some really BIG universal joints and a two-inch differential ...
In this close-up, the dog clutch, two-speed and reverse planetary gearbox and gear shift linkage is clearly visible. And I assure you that the sound of a planetary gearbox in action is pure mechanical as well as musical delight!
Here's another type of planetary gearbox with 4 speeds and reverse, taken from the Standard Mechanisms book of 1934. Here it is shown in the crucial state of construction called "only small adjustments needed". The picture in Standard Mechanisms isn't a paragon of clarity, either ...
And here's the finished chassis. Note the crutch-type gear-lever protruding through the instrument panel.
This two-speed and reverse gearbox was built with the FAC engineering set.
And here's the corresponding differential ...
Then I just had to build a complete FAC chassis! (Compare its size with that of the Tipping Lorry). As you may see in the picture, I was toying with the idea of a centifugal clutch (I never put this into practice, though).
Close-up of the steering mechanism.
Close-up of the suspension. (Note Meccano springs!)
Ready to go ... if it had an engine, that is!