"Crankcase showing bearings. The heart of the automobile is the engine. It is built around the crankcase, which is its foundation or base." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 01: Crankcase

"Crankcase showing bearings. The heart of the automobile is the engine. It is built around the crankcase,…

"Crankcase with crank-shaft and fly-wheel added. The crankshaft serves the same purpose in an automobile as the pedals do on a bicycle. The fly-wheel on the end helps it to keep turning at an even speed." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 02: Crank-Shaft and Fly-Wheel

"Crankcase with crank-shaft and fly-wheel added. The crankshaft serves the same purpose in an automobile…

"Cylinders showing piston in place and connected to crankshaft. Gasoline vapor is exploded in the cylinders. This pushes the piston down, and as the piston is connected to the crankshaft it starts the crankshaft turning. The piston and the rod that connect it to the crankshaft are just like the feet and limbs of any one riding a bicycle." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 03: Cylinders Showing Piston and Crankshaft

"Cylinders showing piston in place and connected to crankshaft. Gasoline vapor is exploded in the cylinders.…

"The gears or 'cogwheels' are for running the fan, the pump and other parts." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 04: Cogwheels

"The gears or 'cogwheels' are for running the fan, the pump and other parts." -Bodmer, 1917

"Cylinder added to crankcase. The cylinders are next bolted down to the crankcase, the pistons and crankshaft having been connected. A cover is placed over the gears to keep them clean." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 05: Cylinder Added to Crankcase

"Cylinder added to crankcase. The cylinders are next bolted down to the crankcase, the pistons and crankshaft…

"An oil pan or reservoir is attached to the bottom of the crankcase to hold oil for the engine." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 06: Reservoir Added

"An oil pan or reservoir is attached to the bottom of the crankcase to hold oil for the engine." -Bodmer,…

"The carburetor furnishes the gasoline vapor for the cylinders. It is connected to the engine by a crooked pipe called the intake manifold. After the gasoline has been exploded a valve opens and allows the burned gases to escape through another pipe, called the exhaust manifold." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 07: Carburetor

"The carburetor furnishes the gasoline vapor for the cylinders. It is connected to the engine by a crooked…

"Oil pump and filler added to motor. Oil is poured in the spout which is at the left of the carburetor. It runs down into the reservoir and is pumped up through the engine a little at a time." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 08: Oil Pump and Filler

"Oil pump and filler added to motor. Oil is poured in the spout which is at the left of the carburetor.…

"The electric generator makes electricity to be used for starting the engine and lighting the car." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 09: Electric Generator

"The electric generator makes electricity to be used for starting the engine and lighting the car."…

"The magneto gives an electric spark, which explodes the gasoline in the cylinders. The water pump keeps water flowing around the cylinders to prevent them from getting too hot. This water comes back to the pump through the radiator at the front of the car. Wind blows through the radiator and cools off the water. The tire pump on up-to-date cars is run by the engine. It does not pump except when the gears, which are shown in the picture, are pulled together." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 10: Magneto

"The magneto gives an electric spark, which explodes the gasoline in the cylinders. The water pump keeps…

"An electric motor starts the engine by turning the fly-wheel. This makes it unnecessary to get out and crank the car by hand." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 11: Motor

"An electric motor starts the engine by turning the fly-wheel. This makes it unnecessary to get out…

"The transmission is added. The transmission makes it possible to reverse the car. It also enables the driver to go into high-speed gear when on level roads and low-speed gear for starting and for pulling hills." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 12: Transmission

"The transmission is added. The transmission makes it possible to reverse the car. It also enables the…

"Double-drop pressed steel frame. The frame on which the car is built." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 13: Frame

"Double-drop pressed steel frame. The frame on which the car is built." -Bodmer, 1917

"Addition of semi-elliptic and three-fourths-elliptic springs to frame. Large springs are placed at the front and rear of the frame. The make the car ride smoothly." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 14: Elliptic Springs

"Addition of semi-elliptic and three-fourths-elliptic springs to frame. Large springs are placed at…

"Adding the front axle." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 15: Front Axle

"Adding the front axle." -Bodmer, 1917

"Showing addition of full-floating rear axle." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 16: Rear Axle

"Showing addition of full-floating rear axle." -Bodmer, 1917

"Completed engine and transmission is next fastened to the frame and connected to the rear axle by the drive shaft." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 17: Engine and Transmission Attached to the Frame

"Completed engine and transmission is next fastened to the frame and connected to the rear axle by the…

"Showing addition of gasoline tank and gas lead to carburetor." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 18: Gasoline Tank

"Showing addition of gasoline tank and gas lead to carburetor." -Bodmer, 1917

"Showing how steering gear is connected." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 19: Steering Gear

"Showing how steering gear is connected." -Bodmer, 1917

"Wheels are next added to chassis." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 20: Wheels

"Wheels are next added to chassis." -Bodmer, 1917

"Completed chassis with radiator added. The water which keeps the engine from getting too hot is pumped around the cylinders and then through the radiator. The wind blows through the little openings in the radiator, and cools off the water. Then the water is pumped around the cylinders again." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 21: Radiator

"Completed chassis with radiator added. The water which keeps the engine from getting too hot is pumped…

"The steps and fenders are next attached." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 22: Fenders

"The steps and fenders are next attached." -Bodmer, 1917

"The finished car." -Bodmer, 1917

Building an Automobile, Step 23: Finished Car

"The finished car." -Bodmer, 1917

An automobile starter is an electric motor which uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, very typically through the interaction of magnetic frields.

Automobile Starter

An automobile starter is an electric motor which uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy,…