Porter Model 45

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porter
Porter Model 45 7-passenger Touring (1919)
Porter Model 45 7-passenger Touring (1919)
Model 45
Model 46
Production period: 1919-1922
Class : Upper class
Body versions : Roadster , touring car , Coupé de Ville
Engines: Otto engine :
7.3 liters (74.6 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase : 3607 mm
Empty weight : Chassis: from 1590 kg
Previous model FRP Model 45
successor without

Porter Model 45 and Porter Model 46 were US passenger cars of the highest price and performance class. The manufacturer was the American & British Manufacturing Corporation .

prehistory

American & British Manufacturing Corporation (A & BMC)

Little is known about the manufacturer of the Porter . The American & British Manufacturing Corporation (A & BMC), based in Bridgeport (Connecticut), was an engineering company with a focus on machine and engine construction as well as armaments. Produced steam engines and guns . The A & BMC was from 1905, the parent company of the Corliss Steam Engine Company , a respected manufacturer of balancier -Dampfmaschinen after by George Henry Corliss developed (1817-1888) principle. Between 1914 and 1922, commercial vehicles were also manufactured, including mainly technically interesting Avant-Trains with gasoline-electric drives . These vehicles were sold under the brand names A & B and American & British .

Finley Robertson Porter

Charles Bigelow and race mechanic on a Mercer 35 Raceabout in an unknown car race circa 1911

Finley Robertson Porter (1871-1964) from Lowell, Ohio was a design engineer with no formal engineering degree. As plant manager, chief engineer and head of the racing team of the Mercer Automobile Company in Trenton (New Jersey) , he was responsible for the construction and operation of what was probably the most successful sports and racing car of its time, the Type 35 Raceabout with T-head engine .

Finley Robertson Porter Company and FRP

Brand logo
FRP Model 45 Series B Touring (1915)

Porter left Mercer in a dispute over the future technical direction of the vehicles and went into business independently in 1914 to implement his ideas. To this end, he founded the Finley Robertson Porter Company in Port Jefferson ( Suffolk County on Long Island in the state of New York ). The FRP Model 45 luxury sports car was one of the most powerful and exclusive passenger cars in the United States. In doing so, Porter consistently exploited the lightweight construction methods known at the time; Both the chassis and the engine were massive, but relatively light. However, only a small number could be produced before the company was sold to the US government in 1916 and switched to the manufacture of armaments, especially aircraft engines. This short time was enough to impress the professional world. The short development time and the scarce resources suggest that it was technically related to the rather unsuccessful Porter-Knight racing car with a slide engine, of which three examples were built. All competed in the Indianapolis 500 in 1915 and all dropped out of the race. The FRP Model 45 was available in three wheelbases, the shortest for speedsters and the longest for representation vehicles. A version of the FRP with four-valve technology no longer seems to have been implemented. During the First World War was one FR Porter as a test engineer for the team in Dayton ( Ohio ) the Liberty aircraft engine developed. The Finley Robertson Porter Company was wound up in 1918. Porter stayed with aircraft construction and worked as a designer for the aircraft manufacturer Curtiss in Garden City (New York) .

Model history

Porter was satisfied in his position at Curtiss and no longer intended to return to the automotive industry. However , he was interested in utilizing his patents from the FRP period. How the contact with A & BMC came about and how the conditions were structured is unknown. It is possible that A & BMC only manufactured to order, but it is more plausible that the company received rights of use and still existing components of the FRP Model 45 and operated the production for its own account. The New York automobile dealer Morton W. Smith Company was entrusted with sales . Robert B. Porter , a son of FR Porter and from 1915 a designer for FRP , took over the technical management as chief engineer.

For the FRP Model 45, Porter consistently exploited the lightweight construction methods known at the time; Both the chassis and the engine were massive and yet relatively light. The original design was a few years old, but it only had to be slightly revised for the new model. From 1919 to 1922 it was produced as the Porter Model 45 and 46 . The performance was now recorded as 125 HP and only a chassis was offered that was suitable for the market for representation cars with a 142 inch (3607 mm) wheelbase . The chassis alone cost US $ 6750, - which was about the equivalent of 12 complete Ford Model T. - With the body, a Porter could easily cost over US $ 10,000. The car could not withstand the enormous competitive pressure in this market segment and the economic crisis of 1922.

technology

engine

The heart of the Porter is the powerful engine designed by Finlay Porter. As we have seen, it has been adopted by the FRP . In 1919 it was still one of the most powerful car engines made in the United States. One source suggests that its performance has continued to improve. 125 bhp (93.2 kW) for the Porter and 100 bhp (74.5 kW) for the FRP are mentioned. The sources do not reveal how the increase in output was achieved. Porter had designed a version with a four-valve cylinder head for the FRP , but it seems that it was no longer used. It is unclear whether this was the case for the porter . The following description of a two-valve engine was created for the FRP Model 45 .

It is designed as a very large, water-cooled four - cylinder and weighs only 580 lb (approx. 260 kg). It consists mainly of aluminum alloys, including the one-piece cast engine block . In addition, the crankshaft , camshaft and even the valve tappets are hollow, respectively. provided with holes for weight reduction. The engine is described as valve-in-head , i.e. with overhead valves, at the same time it is mentioned that the camshaft is also attached at the top. The current designation OHC valve control therefore applies to this design. The effect of the valve springs on the rocker arms is reinforced with additional springs.

The camshaft is driven by means of a shaft with a worm drive attached vertically to the front of the crankshaft in an oil bath. Each cylinder has one inlet and one outlet valve controlled by a rocker arm . When closed, the valves form a hemispherical combustion chamber. The chrome vanadium steel crankshaft has three bearings.

The engine is lubricated by means of a combined oil pump and centrifugal lubrication .

The water cooling works with a water pump , which is designed as a centrifugal pump , at least for the FRP .

There are slightly different specifications for the cylinder bore and consequently also for the displacement . Most sources state a bore of 4.6 inches (116.84 mm) and a stroke of 6.75 inches (171.45 mm). This results in a displacement of 448.7  ci (7353 cm³). Alternatively, a 4⅝ hole corresponding to 4.625 inches (117.475 mm) is named; with the same stroke this results in 453.6 ci (7433 cm³) or rounded 454 ci. Several sources cite this displacement. It is not possible to directly check which information is correct. However, the NACC rating calculated from the bore and the number of cylinders , which is noted as 33.86 HP, provides an indication . According to the table, a bore of 4½ inches results in 32.40 HP and 4.625 inches respectively. 4⅝ inch 34.23 HP.

The mixture was prepared with a Zenith carburetor.

One source repeatedly lists Herschell-Spillman as an engine supplier. A series engine from this well-known manufacturer is not noted in any other source. The company may have supplied engine blocks and other components based on FR Porter's specifications. At FRP it was still important to manufacture practically every component itself. The Old Motor mentions a report in The Motor Age dated March 31, 1917 that a four-valve head was to be developed. The report is not available; an actual realization cannot be proven. After all, this data seems to have found its way into some reference works. This is confusing because production ended in 1916 and has not started again.

Power transmission

The power is transmitted via a four-speed manual transmission , the top gear of which is directly designed. A single disc cone clutch is also used. The cardan shaft is led to a differential designed as a bevel gear .

Chassis and suspension

The vehicle is designed as a right-hand drive. Regarding the chassis, it is mentioned that it is also made of chrome vanadium steel. Henry Ford's metallurgist Childe Harold Wills had such an alloy for the Model T Ford developed. Contemporary illustrations show a massive conventional ladder frame with rigid axles at the front and rear. Semi - elliptic leaf springs are used on the rear axle, and are visible in illustrations on the front axle . The rear axle is described as full floating . Accordingly, it is designed in such a way that its half-waves are relieved of transverse forces. The outer shaft end is in the wheel hub .

The foot brake acts on drums on the rear axle and the handbrake lever acts on another brake drum on the transmission.

Wheels measuring 35 × 5 inches were planned; Demountable rims , i.e. removable rims , were common in this car class .

Bodies

Porter Model 45 Sedan (1919)

The long chassis was a very good basis for representation cars. Superstructures from leading bodybuilders such as Brewster , Demarest or Fleetwood are known . As with the FRP, Holbrook provided factory bodies, including a Speedster. With 12 vehicles, however, the Blue Ribbon Body Company in Bridgeport built most of the porters . The design has been modernized and given stricter lines. The shape of the radiator was reminiscent of Rolls-Royce.

Overview Porter Model 45 and 46

Model
rating 		MJ engine Displacement Power
bhp / kW 		wheelbase body price Remarks
45/46
33.86 HP 		4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm chassis US $ 6750.00 This price appears to have been reduced; see. 1922.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1919 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring
45/46
33.86 HP 		1920 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Roadster , 2 pl. US $ 9200.00 Roadsters were common with 2, 3 or 4 seats.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1920 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring, 7 pl. US $ 9400.00
45/46
33.86 HP 		1920 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Chauffeur limousine
45/46
33.86 HP 		1920 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Inside drive limousine
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Roadster, 2 pl.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Roadster, 4 pl.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring, 6 pl.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring, 7 pl.
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Chauffeur limousine
45/46
33.86 HP 		1921 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Coupé de Ville What is meant is apparently a Town Brougham with an open driver's seat and 2-3 seats in the rear
45/46
33.86 HP 		1922 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 3607 / 93.2 3697 mm Roadster US $ 6750.00
45/46
33.86 HP 		1922 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring, 5 pl. US $ 6750.00
45/46
33.86 HP 		1922 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Touring, 7 pl. US $ 6750.00
45/46
33.86 HP 		1922 4 cyl .; Line; ohc
Porter /
Herschell-Spillman 		7353 cc 125 / 93.2 3607 mm Sedan US $ 7800.00

Production numbers

There are no exact figures about the number of pieces. What is certain is that material for 10 FRP vehicles has been purchased. Depending on the source, between 3 and 12 FRP were produced ; the Seal Cove Museum names nine. The Porter was built from 1919 to 1922. Depending on the source, only 34, 36 or 40 copies were made.

The low number of units of the FRP is understandable because of the fact that practically all components are manufactured in-house and because of the discontinued production after the government took over. The fact that so few Porters were built is due to a wrong assessment of the market, the difficult economic environment and the fact that the concept of the Porter was no longer new and high-priced four-cylinder automobiles were less and less in demand. This was also the experience of those manufacturers who used similarly exotic Duesenberg Walking Beams and Rochester-Duesenberg four-cylinder cylinders, including Argonne , Biddle , Kenworthy , Meteor , Revere , Richelieu and Roamer .

FRP and Porter today

For a long time it was assumed that none of these vehicles would exist anymore, which sparked a kind of legend about the most powerful American passenger car of its time. The entrepreneur and founder of one of the largest collections of his time, William F. Harrah (1911–1978), publicly looked for such a vehicle from the 1960s. It was at the top of his search list, and he even offered a reward for clues that led to a purchase. In fact, an FRP Series B (built in 1915, chassis no. 5) with a touring body could be purchased from Brewster in October 1975 and restored until 1977. The car is now owned by the Seal Cove Auto Museum on Mount Desert Island ( Maine ). Meanwhile, an FRP Series A Speedster from 1914 is also known.

On the other hand, no porter seems to exist anymore.

Comparable models (selection)

Pierce-Arrow Model 66-A-4 Don Lee Touring (1919)
Duesenberg Model A Millspaugh & Irish Touring (1922)
H also with Rochester-Duesenberg G-1 ; 5.6 liters; 81 bhp

Remarks

  1. ↑ This rating goes back to the ALAM ( Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers ), which was the first to introduce standards in the USA. The power is calculated: cylinder bore ² × number of cylinders; the result is divided by 2.5. The formula initially applied to one, two, four and six-cylinder engines and was expanded to include eight and twelve-cylinder engines from around 1912 by the successor organization NACC ( National Automobile Chamber of Commerce ). The formula is also based on the British tax horsepower at the time. The rating was replaced by the SAE-PS in the 1920s . When the method was introduced, reasonably accurate values ​​could be calculated. Only around 10 years later, the discrepancy between calculated and measured performance is considerable. With the FRP it is 33.86 HP against 100 bhp.
  2. ↑ To make work easier after a flat tire, only the removable wheel rim and tires were replaced, the hub and wooden spokes remained on the vehicle. Such demountable rims were common in the 1910s and 1920s, but were initially not available on wire-spoke wheels.

literature

  • Automobile Quarterly, Volume 31, No. 4, Summer 1993. (FRP)
  • Dean Batchelor: Harrah's automobile collection: One man's tribute to the great automobiles of the world. Publisher: GP Pub, 1984; without ISBN. is not available.
  • Beverly Rae Kimes (ed.), Henry Austin Clark Jr.: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. 3. Edition. Krause Publications, Iola WI 1996, ISBN 0-87341-428-4 .
  • Robert D. Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era: Essential Specifications of 4,000+ Gasoline Powered Passenger Cars, 1906-1915, with a Statistical and Historical Overview. Mcfarland & Co Inc. publishers, Jefferson NC, 2013; ISBN 0-78647-136-0 .
  • GN Georgano (Ed.): Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present. Dutton Press, New York, 2nd edition (hardcover), 1973; ISBN 0-525-08351-0 .
  • "The Automobile," November 12, 1914: FRP 100-horsepower chassis, $ 5,000. ; online at The Old Motor, May 12, 2014: The FRP - Finley Robinson Porter's Masterpiece .
  • National Automobile Chamber of Commerce : Handbook of Automobiles 1915–1916. Dover Publications, 1970.

Web links

NACC rating . This formula was introduced in 1903 and remained in use in the USA until it was superseded by the SAE-PS in the 1920s
Commons : Porter Model 45  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j "The Automobile," November 12, 1914: FRP 100-horsepower chassis, $ 5000.
  2. ↑ Crismon: Fire Engines. 1997, p. 20.
  3. ↑ Crismon: Fire Engines. 1997, p. 24.
  4. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 619 (FRP).
  5. ↑ a b Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 958 (Mercer).
  6. ↑ Gooding: FRP - Ahead of its Time, Left Behind by History. Automobile Quarterly , Vol. XXXI, No. 4 (1993), p. 8.
  7. ↑ Kimes: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels. 2005, p. 427.
  8. ↑ a b c d Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 1238 (Porter).
  9. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 5820 (Ford T, 1919).
  10. ↑ a b The Old Motor: The FRP - Finley Robinson Porter's Masterpiece .
  11. ↑ a b c d Classic Car Database: 1918 FRP 45B Series Standard Specifications.
  12. ↑ a b c d Classic Car Database: 1919 Porter 46 Series, 142 in. Wheelbase; Herschell-Spillman.
  13. ^ A b c Classic Car Database: 1920 Porter 45 Series, 142 in. Wheelbase; Own.
  14. ↑ a b c d e Classic Car Database: 1921 Porter 46, 142 in. Wheelbase; Herschell-Spillman.
  15. ^ A b c Classic Car Database: 1922 Porter 46, 142 in. Wheelbase; Herschell-Spillman.
  16. ↑ a b Dluhy: American Automobiles of the Brass Era , 2013, p. 79 (FRP)
  17. ↑ a b c d Supercars: 1914 → 1916 FRP Series B
  18. ^ A b c d Conceptcarz: FRP Series B (1915) .
  19. ^ Carfolio: 1917 FRP 45 16 Valve technical specifications.
  20. ↑ a b c d Seal Cove Auto Museum: 1915 FRP.
  21. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 620 (FRP).
  22. ^ Coachbuilt: Brewster & Co.
  23. ↑ Coachbuilt: AT Demarest & Co.
  24. ^ Coachbuilt: Fleetwood Metal Body Co.
  25. ↑ Coachbuilt: Holbrook Co.
  26. ↑ Coachbuilt: Blue Ribbon Body Co.
  27. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, pp. 62-63 (Argonne).
  28. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 803 (Kenworthy).
  29. ^ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 961 (Mercury).
  30. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 966 (Meteor).
  31. ↑ a b Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, pp. 1174-1175 (Phianna).
  32. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, pp. 1297-1299 (Roamer).
  33. ↑ a b Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, pp. 1344-1345 (Shaw).
  34. ↑ Kimes, Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , 1996, p. 355 (Colonial).