Suspension systems were afterthoughts in automobiles. The earliest buyers were happy if they could just get their Hupmobile or Franklin started and moving. The only protection from potholes, ruts, and debris in the road were leaf springs. They compressed when a tire hit an obstruction to absorb some of the shock, but they also raised the chassis. This solved only half the problem. When the spring relaxed, the chassis fell, pressing against the springs and producing a second bump.
So the snubber was invented. It held an enclosed belt attached to the axle that would lower the axle more slowly.
The “tube” model of shock absorbers, similar to what we use today, started to be used around 1920 and became standard equipment for Ford’s Model A in 1927. Incidentally, the Gabriel company, founded in 1907, is still producing shock absorbers and smoothing motorists’ road through life.
This article is featured in the May/June 2025 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.
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Comments
Shock absorbers were a major breakthrough for sure. Interesting ad otherwise, too. I’m glad the company is still around, which is certainly a testament to their quality and reliability.