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Acrorr the QW o Land Vackr”
Myr. Conklin’s
$25,000 Motor
Gypsy Van and
Its Ingenious and
Luxurious Accom
modations and
Equipment
HE very latest whim of luxury is
T a landgoing yacht, an auto de
signed to carry eight persone
from New York to San Francizco.
While no sea-going yacht or house
boat was ever more luxuriously fitted
and appointed than this new land-cruiser,
the most notable feature about the auto,
perhaps, lles In the ingenuity with
which the comfort and safety of its
guests have been provided for with the
least possible expenditure of space and
weight.
There is something about the way in
which this car has been fitted out which
reminds one very much of the efficiency
displayed by the German army. Nothing
seems to have been overlooked. Every
possible contingency seems to have been
provided for.
Just by way of example might be men
tioned the land-yacht's “tender”—a fully
equipped motorcycle, which, at a mo
ment’s notice, may be lowered from the
“upper deck” by means of a regular
ship’s davit, and sent off to summon re
lief in case of need or to meet any other
emergency that might arise.
The land-going yacht was built by
Roland R. Conklin, of New York and
Huntington, L. 1. Mr. Conklin is well
known in financial circles because of his
large interests in the Cuban sugar in
dustry and as president of the New York
Motor Bus Company. His magnificent
estate, “Rosemary,” at Huntington, L. 1.,
Is one of the show places of the country,
When Mr. Conklin decided last Spring
to take his family to visit the Panama.
Pacific Exposition, he conceived the idea
of making the trip In an automobile
which would provide living as well as
travelling facilities. His idea was to de
sign a car that would have every comfort
and necessity provided by a private Pull
man, and a few more, and yet be able to
travel over any ordinary country road.
Instead of being obliged to lay up in
the noisy, smoky terminal of a railway
yard, it could stop'and camp by a wooded
stream or in the corner of a green pas
ture at night.
A few weeks ago Mr. Conklin, his fam
ily and two chauffeurs, making a party
of eight, started from Huntington, L. X
in the unique vehicle, which has been
dubbed the “Gipsy Van,” and they are
now well on their way to the Exposition.
No attempt will be made for a speed
record. On the contrary, the coast to
coast trip is expected to take between
three and four months, many side trips
being on the program.
Before describing the car proper, a
very fair idea of the exterior of which
may be gained from the photograph and
sketches on this page, a few words may
be devoted to the remarkable equipment
with which the car is provided.
Reference has already been made to
the motorcycle, but so carefully have
most contingencies been provided against
that it ought seldom to be necessary to
summon outside ald.
For going over stretches of sand, for
instance, long canvas strips ere provided,
For crossing unbridged streams there is a
knockdown portable bridge. In case the
“yacht” should be unfortunate enough to
land in a mudhole or ditch, there is a
winch, to be operated by the motor, which
is strong enough to get it out of trouble
with very little daifficulty,
There is a powerful searchlight In ad
dition to the riding lights, a_complete
“first-ald” kit, a set of fire extinguishers
and a wonderfu] variety of tools and
machines, including an electric drill, an
electric soldering fron and an electric
valve grinder,
' The car itself may best be described,
perhaps, by imagining that we approach
it from behind and cben enter on a tour
“mm’d.:::ol: the back is opened by turn
ing a handle which automatically lets
down a couple of steps. Having ascended
these steps and shut the door after us,
we see on our left hand a large icebox in
two sections, one higher than the other,
On the lower section of the icebox rests a
folding wash basin with mirror and other
tollet articles. Attached to the main ice
box, which holds 100 pounds of ice, is a
filter which is connected by pipes to the
fce chamber, providing a flow of cold
water at all times,
Qver the icebox and extending to the
. '
10
roof of the car are
shelves for preserves,
groceries, etc., which
do not require icing.
Directly overhead as
one enters is a shower
bath, with curtain at
tachment. The over
flow of water is taken
care of by a very in
genlous contrivance
concealed in the floor
of the caravan. A
number of small trap
doors are raised, and
when secured in place
they form the sides
of a bath and pre
vent leakage of
water. A plug re
moved from the centre
of the bath floor lets
out the water while the shower is run
ning.
Next to the big icebox on the lefthand
side of the car is a sink with running hot
and cold water for the washing of dishes,
and next to this is an electric range, with
broiler and oven. A large cabinet for
supplies adjoining the range completes
the lefthand side of this first compart
ment, which is called the “kitchen.”
On the righthand side, upon entering,
is a lavatory, then a large cupboaro‘l and
an ingenifous card table which can be con
verted into a set of steps, by means of
which to reach the “upper deck,” or roof
garden. A writing desk adjoins this cup
board, and in addition to library requisites
holds the eameras and films. The kitchea
is seven feet long.
We then come to the sitting room or
salon. In the daytime this compart
ment, which is some ten feet long, is
furnished with three immense sette:s,
all of which face toward the front.
These lounges are covered in a very
artistic fashion, the whole scheme of in
terior decoration being designed with a
view to the beautiful as well as the
practical. A talking machine with the
very latest records occupies one corner
of this salon,
At night the salon is converted into a
bedroom for six people. Three sleeping
berths let down from the ceiling of the
room, although they are designed in such
a way that during the caytime no one
would ever suspect their existence, and
the three settees, are readily converted
into comfortable beds. Mattresses six
inches thick of special construction are
provided to insure comfort.
Each berth is provided with its own
electric reading lamps, one at each end,
and has special arrangements for hang
ing clothes.
We now come to the front apartment,
or driver's cab, which 1s separated from
the salon by a large window, allowing the
passengers to have a front view as well
as a slde one. The window is screened
at night to allow of perfect privacy in
the car proper.
The driving cab contains sleeping
berths for the two chauffeurs, which are
concealed during the day; too boxes and
storeroom for accessories.
On the roof, which is reached by
means of the steps before mentioned and
through a trap door which sis easily
opened as one ascends, is provided store
room for most of the equipment carried,
Including a valise for each one of the
eight passengers, guns, ammunition,
tanks for water, oil and kerosene,
There is a rail around the roof which
is collapsible to permit of passing under
bridges. The roof garden is provided
with a waterproof folding top, allowing
for outdoor sleeping when the weather
Is favorable. A large silk American flag
flies from a regulation flagpole with hal
yards,
Awnings are provided for each of the
windows for use when the car is stand
ing still
When the root garden ts cleared for
action, it is roomy enough to permit of
dancing, the talking machine being
raised to the roof for the purpose,
The body of this land yacht is mountasd
on & truck chassis, of the motor omnibus
type, with such changes and additions as
were necessary to meet the varied calls
upon it. The inside dimensions of the
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Diagramatic View of the Conklin “Land Yacht,” Showing How, While Some of the
Party Are at Dinner, Others Might Be Dancing on the “Upper Deck.”. One of the
Chauffeurs Is Shown Taking a Shower Bath, While the Cook Is Seen in the
Kitchen Attending to the Meal. A Motorcycle, Ready for Emergencies, Is
Being Lowered from the Davit and a Canoe Is Also Made Ready for Use.
body are 21 feet in length, 714 feet wide
and 6% feet high. The body has forty
four good-sized windows, fitted with glass
sash, shades and copper wire screens.
Screen doors are provided in addition
to the regular doors, at both entrances.
Each entrance has folding steps, operat
ing automatically with the doors
The unusual size of the “Gypsy” neces
sitated special study in the matter of
color. The exterior being largely
vencered with wood, a soft tan stain has
been used, which shows the grain of the
ash, The chassis is a quiet grey green.
Since it is desirable that the car should
look fresh and inviting inside, even after
a long dusty day's run, the panelling
which forms the walls and ceiling i=
stained a faun grey, which brings out the
rich grain of the wood. All the fittings
follow this note, the usholstery and val
ances being of grey Spanish linen with a
design in the mellow greens, blues and
reds of old tapestry. The silk curtains
harmonize with the general scheme, pre
serving the restful effect of the interior.
One of the most interesting features
of this remarkable car is its easy arrange
ments for converting it into a veritable
camp when the owner wants to stop for
the night or for fishing or shooting.
This is done by raising the top and side
curtains for the upper deck, and letting
out awnings against either side, when
when lowered protect the main body
from sun and light rains without
the closing of windows. This upper deck
is also made mosquito proof. When
stopping for camp, a flag waves at the
head and a powerful searchlight can
rotate in every direction.
The weight of the vehicle, with its
complement of passengers, crew and pro
visions, is a little less than that of a
Fifth avenue motor bus, with its passen
gers. The wheelbase is 206 inches, but
the overhang in the rear is only 46
inches, measured from the rear axle
centre. A six-cylinder gasolene motor,
with cylinders 4% x 5, is used. The trans
mission is of the selective sliding dog
type, with gears always in mesh. It is
really a double gear box, as it gives
flne speeds forward and three in reverse,
This unusual trans.
mission was neces
sary because of the
special require
ments of this veh
icle, It must be
able to travel fast
er on good roads
than the ordinary
motor truck of sim
flar welght, and
must also be able
to negotiate far
steeper grades and
deep sand. The
gear ratio of the
lowest forward
speed 1s 86 23 to 1,
as compared with
26 to 1 on a Fifth
avenue motor bus,
The gear ratio of
the nighest speed
s §23t01. Final
drive s through
worm gears. Solid
tires, 6x36 inches,
dual on the rear,
are fitted,
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he rear, The Conklin “Gypsy Van” at Huntington, L. 1., Ready for Its Unique Voyage to San Francisco, Showing Some of the P
the Windows, and the Top Which Makes the Upper Deck Serviceable as a Sleeping Porch or for a duc: b
Copyright, 1915, by the Star Company.* Great Britain Rights Reserved,
A pump, driven by gears from the
shaft, is provided for filling the water
tanks on the roof. It will lift water
from a depth of 15 feet beyow its level.
A winch, similarly driven, is attachable
to the front of the frame. A 7% k. w.
generator, driven from the gasoline mo
tor, and a 30-cell battery giving 226 am
pere hours at 36 volts, supplies elec
tricity for cooking, vacuum cleaners and
auxiliary lighting.
A separate generator and battery au
tomatically controlled is used for start
inz the gasoline motor,and for lighting.
Very easy riding is secured through the
employment of semi-elliptic springs, 4
inches wide and 56 inches long, spe
clally constructed. The brakes are very
powerful, the service brake acting on the
rear wheel having 260 square inches of
braking surface.
Before starting on its transcontinental
trip, this motor land yacht was driven
several hundred miles over the hills of
New Jersey and Westchester County, an
A Corner of the Salon in the “Land
Yacht.” A Partial View of the
Kitchen Is Also Presented, Show
ing the Wonderful Ice Box,
Electric Range and Other
Kitchen Equipment.
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