The Loup City Northwestern

Here's the Ice Automobile

While all the rest of the world is experimenting with automobiles, snow-clad and ice-bound Russia has had to look on in idleness, but now comes M. Clement J. Charnock of Sereda, Russia, with an automobile sleigh, autosleigh or motor-sled, or indeed anything you would like to call it. The inventor already has an experimental machine which has given entirely satisfactory results. This machine is shown in the picture printed above, having sharp edges bent down, so that as the plate rests flat upon the snow its sharpened edge grips the snow or ice surface, taking up just enough of the sled's weight to keep the plate from slipping.

The picture does not show the driver's seat, which is immediately in front of the big cylinder, and from which he manipulates his engine and also steers with the tiller, which is shown. The little vehicle is fitted with a whistle, and as it glides over the snow it is an object of never-ending wonder to the Russian peasants. Charnock is now building a larger machine.

which is from a photograph taken for the London Illustrated Mail. The motor-sled runs on three broad runners, which have sharp shoes, two of these runners are at the back of the machine and one in front, the front one being movable, is used in steering. The motive power is steam generated by gasoline, and the power is transmitted to a large cylinder which is shod with flat steel plates,