nzcarnerd Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 A photo taken in Christchurch, New Zealand, at a date unknown. Although the library notes it as 'circa 1910' I think it might be a few years later. I can see no sign of rear springs so I assume it either has quarter elliptics or maybe even a transverse rear spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 Nice pic! The unusual shape of those hubcaps ought to be a decent clue. I have no idea what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 1912 Paige. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share Posted July 6, 2019 Thanks. I don't know how many of the early Paige cars were sold in NZ but in the 1920s the Jewetts and later Graham-Paiges were very popular and there are several survivors. There is a very nice 1922 Paige which has been with the same owner for many years. It has the front wheel brake setup from a circa 1924 car - and a modern five-speed light truck gearbox to enable it to cruise at open road speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Paulsen Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Layden is correct (as usual). It's a 1912 Paige-Detroit. Here's our 1911. Very similar chassis, very different body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 That radiator emblem on the car in question is not a diamond shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layden B Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 There is a 1910 Paige for sale on HCCA, third car down. https://www.hcca.org/classifieds.php?cars No diamond-shaped emblem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Paulsen Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 The diamond shaped emblem on our car was added by the dealer in 1928 when it was traded in on a new Paige. It should be round, and you can see the mark where it used to be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Tough crowd here, Chris... LOL! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 5 hours ago, keiser31 said: That radiator emblem on the car in question is not a diamond shape. Maybe the diamond shape came when the cars went from being Paige-Detroit to just Paige? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 10, 2019 Author Share Posted July 10, 2019 6 hours ago, Chris Paulsen said: Layden is correct (as usual). It's a 1912 Paige-Detroit. Here's our 1911. Very similar chassis, very different body. Perhaps you could post a rear view photo to illustrate the unusual rear spring arrangement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Paulsen Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Here it is. The top of the spring assembly mounts on the frame. The bottom of the spring assembly mounts on a bracket cast right into the rear axle housing. Sorry, these are the best photos I have right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Not unusual. Just a standard elliptical leaf spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 But a transverse full elliptic rear spring isn't very common in my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 Yes, I don't know of another one, but I guess there are a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Didn't some late '20s Cadillacs have a transverse rear spring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 No, last one was 1914... just before they went to the V8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 I don't know just when Cadillac did away with the extra rear spring. This photo turned up on a Facebook page a couple of days ago. The hubcaps say it is a Cadillac - I think. The windshield says to me it is some sort of Fleetwood Custom body (maybe??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 This 1918 car certainly has a transverse spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 7 hours ago, edinmass said: No, last one was 1914... just before they went to the V8. From a quick internet search it would appear that Cadillac retained the extra transverse rear spring until 1925. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 But it is a semi-elliptic spring, not a full elliptic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 I have a vague memory of a story told by a Cadillac driver on our 1996 International Rally. We drove beside the Tekapo Canal for a while. The Cadillac driver said he was just driving along enjoying the scenery and the back pulled out to pass him. The car just spun. He had no idea what caused it, but there were mumblings that the rear spring arrangement was believed or known to cause some instability. My further vague memory is that it had the transverse spring mounted on the ends of quarter elliptic cantilever springs. Am I going potty or is this possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Tinindian said: But it is a semi-elliptic spring, not a full elliptic. I responded to Spinneyhill's question about 1920s Cadillacs having transverse springs. Yes they are a semi elliptic spring - and not a full elliptic - as an addition to the regular fore and aft springs. Called 'platform' springing - I think. Several heavier cars used it but it would seem that Cadillac was the most prolific user of the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 53 minutes ago, Spinneyhill said: I have a vague memory of a story told by a Cadillac driver on our 1996 International Rally. We drove beside the Tekapo Canal for a while. The Cadillac driver said he was just driving along enjoying the scenery and the back pulled out to pass him. The car just spun. He had no idea what caused it, but there were mumblings that the rear spring arrangement was believed or known to cause some instability. My further vague memory is that it had the transverse spring mounted on the ends of quarter elliptic cantilever springs. Am I going potty or is this possible? As I noted in my last post the Cadillacs with 'platform' suspension have conventional semi elliptics with the transverse semi elliptic spring. It was Buick that used a cantilever rear springs - and they were semi and not quarter elliptic. Rolls-Royce used the same idea. I have an idea some Rolls-Royces may have had platform rear springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Friederich Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 The Rolls-Royce 40/50 of 1907 had platform rear suspension; from 1908 it was equipped with three quarterback elliptic rear springs witch were superseeded in 1912 with cantilevers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rust Rustler Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 On 7/5/2019 at 8:43 PM, nzcarnerd said: A photo taken in Christchurch, New Zealand, at a date unknown. Although the library notes it as 'circa 1910' I think it might be a few years later. I can see no sign of rear springs so I assume it either has quarter elliptics or maybe even a transverse rear spring. I believe this car has survived and is in our possession. Have sent NZCARNERD a message. Awaiting a reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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