Unusually, the great covering immediately behind the front axle. It contains the engine and in particular the various belt drives, which by changing axle bases result in an easily implemented clutch and by additional with various wheel diameters a transmission. Of course one must always have in mind the relatively low performance of about 4 kW, otherwise such a drive with leather belts would probably not at all durable. After all, each 1.250 kg empty weight and payload are transported.
In addition, you should know that this first truck people just do not knock off their feet. The potential buyers do not stand in line, because a strong brewery horse is perhaps a little slower, but it brings a much higher payload. It must also not constantly to the blacksmith in repair and continually are supplied with oil at all possible points. And the food is bought not in 10-liter-manner at the pharmacy. Then there is the competition of the electric and steam cars, both of which can ultimately be fed by coal.
Passenger cars or specially prepared race vehicles find their buyers in the high society, but commercial vehicles are to be strictly economic. Here, the acquisition and maintenance costs must be in a good proportion to the profits are recoverable. That the series keeps very small and does not just turn to reduction in costs. Fortunate, that Gottlieb Daimler still tried some other use for his engines.
Though the wheels and their suspension look a lot like carriage, the vehicle has at least one axle pivot steering, without which it probably would be not sensibly manoeuvrable when fully loaded. Indeed, the driver is sitting as on a coach-box, but his legs have some protection against wind and weather. But overall it will still take some time, until Daimler's trucks and buses become accepted in the world. 04/09
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