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Show WHO CONSTRUCTED THE FIRST AUTO? ! 7Sjr?jra57i57iS7iST5H57d57i57iSZ5 I It Is u safe wager that not more than oue In every five thousand people can answer the question as to who built the first automobile. The first automobile, shown in this old cut, was constructed hy a Frenchman French-man named Cugnot In 1703 just 159 years ago. It was then exhibited before the Marquis de Saxe and In 1769 Cngnot built an improved model at the expense ex-pense of the Frenoh monarch. The motor consists of two single-action steam cylinders, alternately propelling the single front "wheels. Owing to the small size of the boiler It was Impossible to travel faster than four miles per hour or longer than fifteen minutes without stopping to get up steam. Though a crude machine, Cugnot's first car was ingenious in many respects and a creditable piece of work considering the times. After several successful experiments, which excited much Interest, It overturned with a crash while rounding a corner at three miles per hour and was promptly locked up In the arsenal as a public menace. Cugnot's automobile is still to be seen In the Museum of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers In Paris and Is a most interesting relic of eurly locomotion. |