Lambert (automobile)

Lambert
Industry	Automobile
Founded	1905
Defunct	1917
Fate	went out of business
Headquarters	Anderson, Indiana, ; United States
Products	automobiles

1907 Lambert automobile

The Lambert automobile and Lambert truck were vehicles built from 1905 through 1916 by the Lambert Automobile Company in Anderson, Indiana, United States. The Lambert automobile was an outgrowth from the Union automobile made by the Union Automobile Company, a previous vehicle that was being manufactured by John William Lambert. The factory manufactured about 3,000 automobiles and trucks per year by 1915 and had several models ranging in price from $1,200 to $3,000 at the time. The vehicles came with a gearless friction drive transmission. The demise of the manufacture of automobiles and trucks came about because of World War I.

Background history[]

The Lambert automobile is a 1905 outgrowth from the Union automobile that was being constructed by the Union Automobile Company in Union City, Indiana. The Union automobile changed its name to the Lambert automobile and all production was moved to Anderson, Indiana. The new automobile models were then manufactured by the Lambert Automobile Company, which was a subsidiary of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company. The new factory was 300,000 square feet (28,000 m²) in size. The first Lambert car from the automobile plant was sold on June 1, 1905. By 1906 the new automobile had a wide range of models and the company was one of the most successful car manufacturers in the United States at the time. Production reached 3,000 automobiles per year by 1915; trucks and tractors were also made.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The Lambert automobile was the main product of the Lambert Automobile Company from 1905 through 1916, although in the 11 years of production the company also produced trucks, fire engines, and agricultural tractors. The company made its own body parts and designed its car motors. The upholstery used in the manufacture of the automobile was of the best quality available and the finish of the body had 15 layers of paint. When the United States entered into World War I in 1917 the Lambert automobile manufacturing plant was converted into national defense and manufactured war products. The Lambert automobile ended production of the car when the war ended.^[4]

Chassis and suspension[]

All Lambert chassis integrated a high end three-point suspension to save driving power. It decreased the lift required of the automobile body because variations in the road surface. It saved wearing away of the automobile body parts. Most other automobiles of the time used ordinary shock absorbers. On some models a shaft drive was provided, however most Lambert automobile models were built with a chain drive directly to the rear axle.^[5]

Powertrain[]

Lambert car advertisement 1907

The Lambert automobile chassis with the gearless friction drive speed change transmission was the basis for all the Lambert vehicles built from 1906 to 1917 including their trucks. The friction system was used for the transmission of motor power to the axle to drive the wheels that propelled the automobile. The flywheel of the motor had a disc that had metals characterized for their special friction qualities. A friction wheel is applied direct to the face of this motor flywheel disc plate by a foot control.^[6]

The friction wheel was moved in either direction on the shaft across the face of the motor flywheel friction plate by means of a controller lever. When the friction wheel was in contact with the extreme outer circumference of the motor flywheel friction disc the vehicle was at its highest speed. When the friction wheel was moved towards the center of the car motor flywheel disc the speed would decrease and come to a complete standstill in the center. If carried beyond the center of the flywheel the direction of its rotation would be opposite and the vehicle would be in reverse. This method of transmission of motor power to the driving axle that propelled the vehicle was smooth. This was in contrast to the ordinary toothed gear transmission of other cars that then had a "start with a jerk" motion that was noticeable.^[6]

Motor[]

The Lambert automobile motor in the early part of manufacturing moved around on the chassis. It was on the back of the chassis, then in the center, then to the front, and back again to the rear of the automobile. The early motors were built at the Lambert factories of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company and later they were outsourced to other proprietary manufactures.^[7]

The valve action of the motors were hardened steel cams that worked off the cam shaft. The cam faces were convex and worked on hardened rollers. They were carried in swinging forks which bore against square ended sliders. The valves were aluminum heads driven to shoulder on riveted steel stems and were direct with no side action. The compression was 50 to 55 pounds of pressure.^[5]

The Lambert opposed cylinder motor had features not common in the gas engine of that time period. For one thing, the oiler was of the type in which a ratchet actuated worm drive drove a spring successively over the oil leads to be supplied. The plunge spring was compressed by a circle of wedges and the rise from each compression being regulated by a screw. Oil leads dropped oil on the crank wrist rod ends appropriately.^[5]

Racing success[]

Lambert participated in an automobile race in 1905 from Chicago to St. Paul and came in second place. There were a total of 53 automobiles entered into the race and Lambert's was the only gasoline powered automobile to finish. The success of Lambert's 16 horsepower (12 kW) automobile against others of 40 horsepower (30 kW) was attributed to the Lambert friction gearing disk drive transmission.^[5]

Lambert automobiles[]

Some of the models of the Lambert automobiles and trucks are described below.^[8]


Model name	Cost	Weight	Wheelbase	Gauge	Wheel size	Description
1906 Lambert model 4	$1050 ($30,244 in 2020)	1,800 pounds (820 kg)	94 inches (2,400 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	5-passenger automobile that came with a detachable tonneau. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 6 inches (150 mm) in diameter with a stroke length of 4 inches (100 mm) that were set in the back part of the vehicle. ^[9]
1906 Lambert model 5	$1200 ($34,564 in 2020)	1,800 pounds (820 kg)	94 inches (2,400 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	5-passenger automobile that came with a detachable tonneau. The cost included side oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. It had a more powerful motor than the model 4 which was set far to the front of the vehicle.^[10]
1906 Lambert model 7	$2000 ($57,607 in 2020)	2,000 pounds (910 kg)	94 inches (2,400 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	32 inches (810 mm) by 4 inches (100 mm)	Side entrance touring automobile with room for 5 passengers. The cost included five oil lamps, mats, horn, and full tool equipment. The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 6 X 4 inches (100 mm), set far to the front of the vehicle. The 4 cylinder motor was carried on a sub-frame supported forward on front springs. It came with a friction drive that drove the rear wheels. The body was designed with 3 point suspension for extended traveling.^[11]
1906 Lambert model 8	$3000 ($86,411 in 2020)	2,200 pounds (1,000 kg)	98 inches (2,500 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	34 inches (860 mm) by 4.5 inches (110 mm)	Side entrance touring automobile with room for 5 passengers. The cost included five oil lamps, mats, horn, generator, Jones Speedometer, and full tool equipment. The motor was four 4-cycle water-cooled vertical cylinders, tandem 4.5 X 5 inches (130 mm). The body was designed with 3 point suspension for extended traveling.^[10]
1906 Lambert model A	$900 ($25,923 in 2020)	1,800 pounds (820 kg)	78 inches (2,000 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	2-passenger automobile. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools.^[9]The motor can be seen placed in the rear with the engine cover raised. This is the lowest cost of the Lambert automobiles. This is done by placing the motor with a pair of opposed cylinders in the rear. It is also the most accessible motor location and also places the most weight on the drivers of the wheels.^[9] Lambert Model A runabout with the chassis side shown. It was suitable frame for a light low-priced automobile. This was the smallest, lightest and lowest priced 1906 model. The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 6 X 4, set over the rear axle of vehicle. It came with a friction disk drive transmission for rear wheels.^[9]
1907 Lambert model F	$3000 ($83,325 in 2020)	2,900 pounds (1,300 kg)	106 inches (2,700 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	34 inches (860 mm) by 4.5 inches (110 mm)	Side entrance touring automobile with room for 5 passengers. The cost included five oil lamps, mats, horn, generator, Jones Speedometer, and full tool equipment. The motor was four 4-cycle water-cooled vertical cylinders, 40 horsepower (30 kW), tandem 4.5 X 5 inches (130 mm). It was designed for extended traveling.^[12]
1908 Lambert model 18	$800 ($23,043 in 2020)	2,300 pounds (1,000 kg)	95 inches (2,400 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	2-passenger automobile. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 6 X 4 set over the rear axle of the vehicle. It came with the patented friction disk drive transmission that propelled the automobile.^[12]
1909 Lambert model 30	$1250 ($36,005 in 2020)	2,900 pounds (1,300 kg)	110 inches (2,800 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	34 inches (860 mm) by 4.5 inches (110 mm)	5-passenger automobile that came with a detachable tonneau. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a 4-cycle 28 horsepower (21 kW) engine set in the front of the vehicle.^[12]
1910 Lambert model 36	$1275 ($35,413 in 2020)	2,400 pounds (1,100 kg)	110 inches (2,800 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	5-passenger automobile that came with a detachable tonneau. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a 4-cycle 35 horsepower (26 kW) engine set in the front of the vehicle.^[12]
1912 Lambert model 99	$1250 ($33,522 in 2020)	3,200 pounds (1,500 kg)	117 inches (3,000 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	34 inches (860 mm) by 4.5 inches (110 mm)	2-passenger automobile. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a 4-cycle 40 horsepower (30 kW) engine set in the front of the vehicle.^[13]
1914 Lambert model 46-C	$1200 ($31,005 in 2020)	2,500 pounds (1,100 kg)	112 inches (2,800 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	5-passenger automobile. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a 4-cycle 23 horsepower (17 kW) engine set in the front of the vehicle.^[13]
1915 Lambert model 48-C	$1200 ($30,699 in 2020)	2,500 pounds (1,100 kg)	112 inches (2,800 mm)	56 inches (1,400 mm)	30 inches (760 mm) by 3.5 inches (89 mm)	5-passenger automobile. The cost included two oil lamps, mats, horn, and tools. The motor was a 4-cycle 23 horsepower (17 kW) engine set in the front of the vehicle.^[13]

Lambert trucks[]

Model A[]

1906 Lambert model A truck

The Model A truck came with a wheelbase of 96 inches (2,400 mm) and a gauge of 56 inches (1,400 mm). It was a 2-passenger truck. The rear Firestone wheels were 32 inches (810 mm) in diameter by 4 inches (100 mm) wide. The front Firestone wheels were 32 inches (810 mm) in diameter by 3.5 inches (89 mm) wide. The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 5.5X6 set in rear of driver's seat of the vehicle. It came with the standard friction disk drive transmission put on all Lambert vehicles. It weighed 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) and had a pay load capacity of 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg). It cost $2000 ($57,607 in 2020). A truck platform and a driver's hood was an extra option.^[14]

Model B[]

The Model B truck weighed 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg) and had a 1,500-pound (680 kg) payload capacity. It cost $1500 ($43,206 in 2020). The motor was a pair of opposed cylinders 6X4.5 set in rear of driver's seat of the vehicle. It also came with the standard truck friction disk drive transmission. Model B Truck came with a wheelbase of 96 inches (2,400 mm) and a gauge of 56 inches (1,400 mm). It was a 2-passenger truck. The rear Firestone wheels were 32 inches (810 mm) in diameter by 4 inches (100 mm) wide. The front Firestone wheels were 32 inches (810 mm) in diameter by 3.5 inches (89 mm) wide. A truck platform and a driver's hood was an extra option.^[14]

References[]

^ Lucendo 2019, p. 1863.
^ Naldrett 2016, p. 73.
^ Wise 2000, p. 348.
^ Lucendo 2019, p. 1864.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Nawale 2014, p. 185.
^ ^a ^b "Trucks and Car Motor Car made by Lambert". Anderson Daily Bulletin. Anderson, Indiana. 28 December 1967. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Kimes 1996, p. 835.
^ Dolnar 1906, pp. 226–227.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dolnar 1906, pp. 226.
^ ^a ^b Dolnar 1906, p. 225a.
^ Dolnar 1906, pp. 227.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kimes 1996, p. 836.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kimes 1996, p. 837.
^ ^a ^b Dolnar 1906, pp. 226a.

Sources[]

Dolnar, Hugh (1906). "The Lambert, 1906 Line of Automobiles". Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal. 10 (7): 225–229.

Lucendo, Jorge (2019). Cars of Legend. Jorge Lucendo Publications.

Naldrett, Alan (2016). Lost Car Companies of Detroit. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated.

Nawale, Suraj Dattatray (2014). "Multispeed Right Angle Friction Gear". International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR). 2 (9): 184–191. ISSN 2321-0869.

Kimes, Beverly Rae (1996). Standard Catalog American Cars, 1805–1942. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.

Wise, David Burgess (2000). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. Edison, New Jersey: Quantum Publishing. ISBN 0-7858-1106-0.