Acme Model A

Cadillac / Acme
	Typical Acme dump truck in a 1919 advert.
Model A (2 sh.tn.)
Manufacturer:	Cadillac Auto Truck Co. 1917-1918 ; Acme Auto Truck Co. 1917-1931
Production period:	1915 - approx. 1923
Previous model:	without
Successor:	Model 40 , 40L
	Technical specifications
Engines:	Continental four-cylinder
Power:	29.8 kW
Wheelbase:	3760 mm
Payload:	1.8 t

The Cadillac Model A , from 1917 Acme Model A , was an American truck produced from 1915 to around 1923 . The manufacturer was initially the Cadillac Auto Truck Company in Cadillac , Wexford County ( Michigan ), which was known as the Acme Motor Truck Company from 1919 at the latest .

Brand and company history

The Cadillac Auto Truck Company was founded in 1915 and, under the brand name Cadillac, produced commercial vehicles in the light and medium-power class of the time with payloads of 0.75 to 3.5 shillings. tn. (0.7 to 3.2 t). The company, which was named after its headquarters and had no relation to the Cadillac Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan , lost a trademark litigation against this older and larger automaker in 1917. This was followed by the changeover to the brand name Acme and the company name Acme Motor Truck Company . The latter can be traced back to 1919, and the brand name seems to have been changed immediately. This was followed by even larger models, truck tractors - tractors and buses , before the company was forced to close the 1,931th

All models of the two brands were " assembled vehicles ". In other words, the manufacturer bought components such as engines, transmissions, axles, etc. on the free market and assembled his vehicle range from them. Acme vehicles enjoyed a good reputation.

Model history

The literature on the Cadillac models is sparse. The name change is clearly documented and no source reports major technical changes at this time. It can therefore be assumed that the Acme models were the continuation of the corresponding Cadillacs .

The list price for a Model A chassis was US $ 2,200. Seats, headlights, horn, jack and tools were included, which suggests that a cabin was included. A factory illustration shows one with a fixed roof but no doors. In addition, there was the structure that the work was able to produce itself according to an advertisement from 1919.

The Model A was replaced by the Acme Model 40 and 40L in 1924 . These were also two-ton trucks. Their wheelbase was shorter at 141 inches (3581 mm) and 147 inches (3734 mm), and the two versions also differed from each other in terms of their engines.

technology

engine

Cadillac and Acme consistently used four-cylinder in - line engines from Continental until 1927 . Details about the Cadillac Model A are missing, but may correspond in whole or in part to the Acme Model A. This received a water-cooled four - stroke engine in monoblock design with 280.6 ci (4599 cm³) displacement , calculated from a cylinder bore of 4.125 inches (104.775 mm) and a stroke of 5.25 inches (133.35 mm). The power was 40 bhp (29.8 kW). The power calculated from the borehole using the ALAM formula , but not measured , was 27.23 HP.

The thermosiphon was supported by a water pump support and the lubrication was carried out by an oil pump in the spinning process . Acme used a Rayfield - carburetor and Eisemann - magneto ignition .

Power transmission

In all Acme trucks, power was transmitted to the Timken rear axle by means of a three-speed manual gearbox with reverse gear, a single-disc dry clutch and drive shaft , where it was distributed by means of a worm gear . The arrangement of the gearshift lever and handbrake lever in the center of the vehicle instead of outside was modern.

Chassis and suspension

The box frame was made of heat-treated extruded steel section 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide. The wheelbase was 148 inches (3760 mm), the track front and rear 58.5 inches (1486 mm). The vehicle had rigid axles at the front and rear . The front one was forged. The rear axle was designed to be full-floating , i.e. H. the half-shafts that transmit power are largely relieved of transverse forces by rolling bearings and the wheel hub . Both were suspended from semi-elliptical leaf spring packages. The vehicle had a worm steering and was left-hand drive . Hand and foot brakes worked on drums on the rear axle. The above illustration shows a vehicle with artillery wheels . The tire dimension was 36 x 6 inches. On request, double wheels 36 × 4 inches were available on the rear axle.

Remarks

↑ The ALAM formula goes back to the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers , which introduced it in 1903. It was taken over by both the successor organization NACC ( National Automobile Chamber of Commerce ) and the SAE ( Society of American Engineers ). The latter later developed the measurement method for SAE-PS , which was valid until 1972 as SAE gross horsepower (“gross SAE-PS”). The "SAE-PS" noted in the source from 1917 are therefore identical to the value from the ALAM formula. The benefit is calculated; Cylinder bore ² × number of cylinders; the result is divided by 2.5.

literature

Albert Mroz: Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles. Krause Publications, Iola WI, 1996; ISBN 0-87341-368-7 .
Albert Mroz: American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I: Illustrated Histories of 224 Manufacturers. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Jefferson NC, 2006; ISBN 0-7864-3967-X .
John A. Gunnell (Ed.): Standard Catalog of American Light Duty Trucks, 1896-1986. MBI Motor Books International, Osceola WI, 1993; ISBN 0-87341-238-9 .
GN Georgano (Ed.), G. Marshall Naul: Complete Encyclopedia of Commercial Vehicles. MBI Motor Books International, Osceola WI, 1979; ISBN 0-87341-024-6 .
Beverly Rae Kimes (ed.), Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI; 1996; ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9 .
Beverly Rae Kimes: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America. Ed. SAE ( Society of Automotive Engineers ) Permissions, Warrendale PA, 2005; ISBN 0-7680-1431-X .
National Automobile Chamber of Commerce : Handbook of Automobiles 1915–1916. Dover Publications, 1970.

Web links

Commons : Cadillac Auto Truck Company - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

csgnetwork.com: cubic inch calculator (accessed April 19, 2018)

Individual evidence

^ Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Light Duty Trucks, 1896-1986. 1993, p. 676. (Cadillac Truck).
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Mroz: Ill. Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles. 1996, pp. 8-9 (Acme)
^ Mroz: American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I , 2009, p. 5 (Acme)
↑ trombinoscar.com: US truck .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mroz: American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I , 2009, p. 5 (Acme A, B, C; 1917–1918)

[6] The ALAM formula goes back to the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers , which introduced it in 1903. It was taken over by both the successor organization NACC ( National Automobile Chamber of Commerce ) and the SAE ( Society of American Engineers ). The latter later developed the measurement method for SAE-PS , which was valid until 1972 as SAE gross horsepower (“gross SAE-PS”). The "SAE-PS" noted in the source from 1917 are therefore identical to the value from the ALAM formula. The benefit is calculated; Cylinder bore ² × number of cylinders; the result is divided by 2.5.

[Gunnell(1993)676-1] Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Light Duty Trucks, 1896-1986. 1993, p. 676. (Cadillac Truck).

[MrozIll(1996)8–9-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Mroz: Ill. Encyclopedia of American Trucks and Commercial Vehicles. 1996, pp. 8-9 (Acme)

[MrozWW1(2009)5-3] Mroz: American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I , 2009, p. 5 (Acme)

[trombino-4] trombinoscar.com: US truck .

[MrozWW1(2009)6-5] Mroz: American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of World War I , 2009, p. 5 (Acme A, B, C; 1917–1918)