All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements
Forfatter: Frederick A. Talbot
År: 1916
Forlag: Cassell and Company, LTD
Sted: London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne
Sider: 376
UDK: 6(09)
With a Colour Plate and numerous Black-and-White Illustrations.
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Motor-Propelled Vehicles 317
miles. This competition served to rivet public atten-
tion upon the possibilities of motor traction and to
foreshadow that, no matter what opposition might
be launched against the new idea, it had progressed
too far to be killed by public opinion.
After Butler’s abortive effort to circumvent the
drag of the Red Flag Act, little attention was devoted
to the project in this country until 1895. Then an
English gentleman, Mr. John Henry Knight, a well-
known engineer, once more took up the cudgels on
behalf of British effort. He had previously built,
some years before, a steam-car, but now he embraced
the latest idea—the oil engine. He had already
invented an engine of this type, which had proved
a distinct commercial success, and he decided to
adapt it to a three-wheeled carriage. This was subse-
quently converted to the familiar four-wheeler to secure
greater safety. While this car could not be called a
“ flier,” it aroused attention by notching 8 miles an
hour, which was twice the limit allowed by law.
It was this car which played a prominent part in
bringing about the repeal of the iniquitous Red Flag
Act. One day, while joy-riding at some 6 miles
an hour, a policeman swooped down upon Mr. Knight.
He was prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law
upon two indictments, to wit, not having a traction-
engine licence and not being preceded by a man with
the red flag. Fortunately, he fell into the hands of
somewhat enlightened magistrates, who, having to fulfil
the law, considered justice was adequately met with a
fine of half a crown and costs upon each summons!
This prosecution led to a far-reaching outcry
against the handicap under which British inventors