mesh

Thread Starter

AnalogKid

Joined Aug 1, 2013
10,987
May 5, 2016

The early part of the century a time of rampant technological change, with new ideas, inventions, and refinements bursting upon the world at a dizzying pace, straining the social and economic fabrics of the time. I’m speaking, of course, of the 1900’s and the automobile. In 1910 there were over 75 manufacturers of automobiles in the US, rising to 175 by 1922.

In the late 1800’s the basis for the modern automobile emerged from the primordial tech-ooze with one engine, four wheels, steering, brakes, and a clutch. Early on they noticed that without a clutch, the engine died at every stop. Next came a basic gear box (transmission) to improve system efficiency, reduce noise and pollution, etc. An early problem that still is around today in old dump trucks is the sound of the gears grinding together while trying to mesh when shifting. This happens because the two halves of the transmission are turning at different speeds, and the teeth of the gears are not synchronized.

To solve this, Cadillac invented the Synchromesh Transmission. This was a big deal, and Cadillac’s lawyers made sure that it was not copied for almost five years. Caddy introduced the new marvel in 1933 at the start of the country’s climb out of the Great Depression, and meeting demand was a problem. It was three years before the first car was sold in Mexico, 80 years ago today, Synchro de Mayo.

ak
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
Could we say then that both OPs are in sync... ? :)
Cute -- but actually it is already no longer true. The problem with posting the same thing in multiple threads is that they almost immediately diverge and people that responded to one are seldom aware that there are two, so you end up with a string of posts some of which are in one and some of which are in the other and it quickly gets hopelessly confused.
 

Hypatia's Protege

Joined Mar 1, 2015
3,228
Oh my! When I saw the title I feared this thread was by way of a further suggestion for Aleph's 'alternatives addendum' -- pleased to learn I was wrong!:eek:;););)


Best regards
HP:)
 
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