1905 CADILLAC

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Model B runabout

In this third year of production, Cadillac fielded five distinct models: Model B, C, D, E, and F. Some people become confused by thinking that Model E, F, K, M, S, and T are distinct models. They are just one model with different body styles. The E, K, and S are runabouts; the F, M, and T are all other body styles.



STYLE

Model No. Body type Seating Price Weight
Model B Touring 4 $900 1450 lb
Model B Surrey 4 $900 1450 lb
Model C Runabout 2 $750 1330 lb
Model C Touring 4 $850 1450 lb
Model D 2-door Touring 5 $2800 2600 lb
Model E Runabout 2 $750 1100 lb
Model F 2-door Touring 4 $950 1350 lb
Model F Delivery 2 $950 1400 lb

ENGINE

Feature Model B Model C Model D Model E Model F
Engine Horizontal, with cylinder to the rear Horizontal, with cylinder to the rear Vertical, in-line, L-head Horizontal, with cylinder to the rear Horizontal, with cylinder to the rear
Cylinders One One Four One One
Block Cast iron Cast iron Cast iron, cast singly Cast iron Cast iron
Water jacket Copper Copper Copper Copper Copper
Bore & Stroke 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm) 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm) 4.375 x 5 in. (111 mm x 127 mm) 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm) 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm)
Displacement 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters) 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters) 300.7 cu. in. (4.927 liters) 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters) 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters)
Brake H.P. "Higher than advertised or calculated H.P." Advertised H.P.: 9 "Higher than advertised or calculated H.P." Advertised H.P.: 9 30 hp "Higher than advertised or calculated H.P." Advertised H.P.: 9 "Higher than advertised or calculated H.P." Advertised H.P.: 9
Main bearings Two Two Five Two Two
Valve lifters mechanical mechanical mechanical with roller tappets and variable lift inlet mechanical mechanical
Engine numbers 4200-5000 with EF (1904) 6600-8200 with EF, 8200-8 with AEF, 13501-13706 with AEF-special Stamped on top of crankcase -- in front of and to the left of number one (front) cylinder. Starting: 10,001. Ending 10,156 4200-5000 with EF (1904), 5000-6600 with F, 6600-8200. with CF, 8200-8350 with ACF, 13501-13706 with ACF-special 4200-5000 with BE (1904), 5000-6600 with E, 6600-8200 with CE, 8200-8350 with ACE, 13501-13706 with ACE-special, 13728-14200
Carburetor Updraft mixer carburetor manufactured by Cadillac. Updraft mixer carburetor manufactured by Cadillac. Cadillac updraft mixer with auxiliary air valve Updraft mixer carburetor manufactured by Cadillac. Updraft mixer carburetor manufactured by Cadillac.

CHASSIS

Feature Model B Model C Model D Model E Model F Model F Delivery
Brake type Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical
Brake wheels two wheels two wheels two wheels two wheels two wheels two wheels
Brake contraction on inboard drums on inboard drums on two wheels - service - lever - rear drums - emergency - pedal - drive shaft on inboard drums on inboard drums on inboard drums
Wheels 12 spoke wood wheels -- 24 in. 12 spoke wood wheels -- 24 in. 12 spoke wood artillery wheels -- 25 in. 12 spoke wood wheels -- 22 in. 12 spoke wood wheels (14 spokes on prototype) -- 23 in. 12 spoke wood wheels (14 spokes on prototype) -- 23 in.
Tires 30 x 3 Clincher 30 x 3 Clincher 34 x 4.5 Dunlops 28 x 3 Clincher 28 x 3.5 Clincher 30 x 3.5 Clincher
Wheelbase 76" (1.93 meters) 76" (1.93 meters) 100" (2.54 meters) 74" (1.88 meters) 76" (1.93 meters) 76" (1.93 meters)
Overall length 9' 4" (2.37 meters) 9' 4" (2.37 meters) 12' 10" (3.26 meters) 9 feet (2.29 meters) 9' 4" (2.37 meters) 9' 4" (2.37 meters)
Height 5' (1.27 meters) 5' (1.27 meters) 5' 9" (1.46 meters) 4 feet 8 inches (1.19 meters) 5' 4" (1.35 meters) 7' (1.78 meters)
Front / Rear Tread 56.5" (1.44 meters) 56.5" (1.44 meters) 56.5" (1.44 meters) 56.5" (1.44 meters) 56.5" (1.44 meters) 56.5" (1.44 meters)
Optional Front / Rear Tread 61" (1.55 meters)     61" (1.55 meters) 61 opt. (1.55 meters)  
Weight   1330 lbs (604.5 kg) (two passenger runabout) 2600 lbs (1182 kg) 1100 lb (500 kg) 1350 lb (613.6 kg) 1400 lb (636 kg)

DRIVETRAIN

Feature Model B Model C Model D Model E Model F
Transmission type Planetary transmission Planetary transmission Planetary transmission Planetary transmission Planetary transmission
Speeds Two Forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse Two Forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse Three Forward and one reverse Two Forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse Two Forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse
Controls low -- foot pedal, rev., high -- lever to right low -- foot pedal, rev., high -- lever to right Right hand drive, controls to right low -- foot pedal, rev., high -- lever to right. low -- foot pedal, rev., high -- lever to right.
Clutch Low and reverse -- bands, high -- disc clutch. Low, rev. -- bands, high -- disc clutch. twin disc in flywheel, disc and 3 bands on transmission Low, rev. -- bands, High disc clutch Low, rev. -- bands, High disc clutch
Drive Chain drive Chain drive Shaft drive Chain drive Chain drive
Differential Spur gear differential Spur gear differential Live axle, bevel drive, spur gear differential Spur gear differential with overall ratio 3.1:1 to 5:1 Spur gear differential with overall ratio 3.1:1 to 5:1
Overall ratio 3.1:1 to 5:1 (Different combinations of 9 or 10 tooth driving sprocket with 31, 34, 38, 41, or 45 tooth driven sprocket gave ten possible ratios from 3.1:1 to 5:1. Lower ratios for runabout to be run on smooth, level roads to higher ratios for loaded Delivery to be run on rough, hilly roads. Instructions for changing sprockets were furnished to owners, but the change involved disassembly of the transmission and rear axle -- definitely not a "quick-change" setup.

OPTIONS

Model B Bulb Horn. Lights. Rear deck to replace tonneau $10.00
Model C Price of two passenger runabout $750
Model C Price of four passenger touring $850
Model C Bulb Horn. Lights  
Model E Bulb Horn. Lights. Leather top w/sides & storm apron $50.00
Model E Rubber top w/sides & storm apron $30.00
Model F Bulb Horn. Lights --

HISTORICAL NOTES

Model B

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac rear entrance tonneau

The Model B was introduced in 1904. The single cylinder Model B remained unchanged from the 1904 Cadillac. The horsepower was now rated at 9 instead of 8.5. In 1904, the optional 60 inch (1.525 meters) (wide track was not available on the Model B; but this year a 61 inch (1.55 meters) tread was also made optional by the use of tubular axle to replace the pressed steel axle with standard tread.

Model C

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac

Introduced Summer, 1905. The Model C was a mid-year offering, at a reduced price. It was a single cylinder Model B with a Model F "hood" and radiator. Cadillac called the Model C "an accommodation to customers who want a detachable tonneau." The tonneau of the Model F was non-detachable. The introduction of the Model C may be interpreted as "a program to move out the remaining chassis."


Model D

The price of the Model D was $2800. Calendar year sales and production was 156 units. Model year sales were also 156 units.

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Osceola

Introduced Jan., 1905. Innovations: Three speed planetary transmission. Governed throttle. Variable lift inlet valve gear on multi-cylinder engine. Notes: The four-cylinder Model D had a five passenger touring body with side entrance tonneau doors and a wood body. Aluminum skins were available at extra cost. It also featured running boards and an aluminum dash. It also had a carrying lubricator and running fuel tank with gravity feed to the mixer. The storage fuel tank was located at rear of chassis. Fuel transfer was made to the running tank by exhaust pressure.

The chassis emphasized strength and durability with a pressed steel frame. It had two half-elliptic springs in front and a platform spring in the rear. It featured right hand steering with controls to right. The brake lever operated the service brakes on the rear drums. A foot pedal operated the emergency brake on drive shaft. The application of either brake system disengaged the flywheel clutch through an interlock. The engine and transmission were mounted in a tubular subframe. It also had a patented double syphon muffling system.

The driveline had a three-speed planetary transmission (3:1, 2:1, 1:1). All speeds were activated progressively with a single lever. There were twin clutch discs in the flywheel; a disc clutch and three bands on the transmission; and an emergency brake drum behind transmission. Instead of being chain driven, it had a shaft drive with two U-joints linked to a bevel gear. The live rear axle had a spur gear differential.


1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Roadster

The four cylinder vertical in-line L-head engine had counterclockwise cranking. Individual cylinders had copper water jackets and the heads were detachable with factory equipment. The lower section of the two-piece crankcase held the carrying mains and a patented sloping-trough splash lube system which insures lubrication to each cylinder regardless of grade. The horizontal commutator shaft projected forward into cavity in radiator. The commutator was serviced from the front of vehicle. The number one cylinder was over the front axle with a stretched out accessory section on the front of the engine. The radiator extended forward of the front tires. The hood is one quarter the length of the car.


1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Model F

Engine throttle control was a complicated variation of the one cylinder throttling arrangement. The L-head valves were operated by in line push rods and roller tappets riding on extra wide cams on a spring loaded, sliding camshaft. Exhaust cams were of constant cross section but inlet cams were cone shaped to produce varying lift and timing as the camshaft moved along its axis. The axial motion of the camshaft against its return spring was by a hydraulic piston which received pressure from an engine driven pump. The throttle control on the steering column operated a bypass valve in the hydraulic loop. The position of this valve regulated the percentage of system pressure acting on the camshaft piston, thus the nominal axial position of the camshaft. The governor action was automatic due to interaction between the engine driven pump speed, hydraulic pressure, and cam position (overspeed increased the pressure and drove the cam back to a lower speed position). As on the one cylinder engines, the inlet valve opening automatically determined the amount of fuel supplied by the mixer. The mixer was identical to the one cylinder mixer except for the addition of an auxiliary air intake valve.

In addition to patents pertaining to one cylinder cars, Alanson Brush also held patents on the splash lubrication system and the muffler system used on Model D. Although not patented, counterclockwise cranking was a Brush "trademark."

Model E

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Model E runabout

The price of the Model E was $750. Calendar year sales and production (combined with the B, C, and F models) was 4029. The model year sales was the same.

Introduced January, 1905. The one-cylinder Model E was the same as 1904 except there was a more normal looking "hood" with sharp corners and side louvers. The radiator was raised to fit the shape of the "hood." The detachable tonneau was not available. The front axle was now tubular and arched with a truss. Introduced at mid-year, the rocker shaft was located between the front axle and spring. The linkage on transmission bands was balanced.



Model F

The Model F cost $950. Calendar year sales and production (combined with the B, C, and E models) was 4029. The model year sales were the same number.

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Model F

Introduced January, 1905. The new front end styling was recognized as a desirable improvement. Not only did Cadillac update Model B's with the Model F "hood" and radiator (Model C), but owners of A's and B's had the new nose grafted to their cars. There was even an aftermarket supplier of update kits. The Model F had the same chassis as Model E except for a two inch longer wheelbase. One body style was the first Cadillac one cylinder touring car with non-detachable tonneau and two side doors for tonneau entrance. Another body style was a delivery vehicle.

The president of Cadillac was C. A. Black. After designing the one cylinder and Model D Cadillacs, Alanson Brush left Leland & Faulconer/Cadillac and extracted a lump sum and royalty payments for use of his patents. This action triggered a plan to purge Cadillac design of Brush influence. Cadillac Automobile Co. and Leland &Faulconer merged in Oct., 1905 to form Cadillac Motor Car Co., Henry Leland became General Manager of the new company. Maximum production capability one car every ten minutes of each ten hour working day.

Serial numbers were not used on any of these models. Engine numbers were stamped two places on crankcase.

  1. Top, right edge of cylinder flange, near water outlet.
  2. Right, front face, just below top cover.

(Blank spaces on patent plate are for additional patent dates, not engine number.)

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac Model F

1905 Cadillac

Click to supersize
1905 Cadillac



LITERATURE & LINKS




1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909