Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Closing the Memory Hole
Exploring old tech journals helps to close the Memory Hole, helps to destroy the lies of Innovative Disruption. We have standard Shared Lies about every invention. Elon is taking the art to new heights. Every invention by Elon is NEW NEW NEW and NOBODY EVER THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE.
Four examples from just two months in 1914, from The Automobile.
1. On p 360 of the PDF, the Ruetschi full synchromesh gearbox. As I've noted with Smith, GM claimed to have the first sync in 1929. Smith had it in 1906, Ruetschi in 1914. In fact the Big Three didn't get FULL sync until 1963. Smith and Ruetschi had sync on all gears.
2. On p 443, an adaptive air suspension that automatically responds to load conditions.
3. On p 791, the Zeitler full automatic, with a selector knob that looks a lot like the HydraMatic selector. I've noted the earlier 1905 Sturtevant full automatic. Both well before the Innovative Disruptive 1940 HydraMatic.
4. Less important but still well before the Shared Lie. On p 358, this Duryea convertible had a fully concealed top and spare tires in the trunk. We normally believe that the '34 Airflow started the hidden spare trend, and the first concealed soft top was the '55 Tbird. The Duryea has nice graceful lines. Too bad they didn't slant the windshield.
General observation: Most 1915 cars were trending toward smoothness and streamlining. The trend reversed after WW1, and most cars in the '20s were rigidly square and essentially identical. The trend toward smoothness and real variety restarted in '33 when the Depression forced automakers to think outside the rigidly square box.
General observation: Most 1915 cars were trending toward smoothness and streamlining. The trend reversed after WW1, and most cars in the '20s were rigidly square and essentially identical. The trend toward smoothness and real variety restarted in '33 when the Depression forced automakers to think outside the rigidly square box.
Labels: 1901, Shared Lie
¶ 3:10 PM
