THE KING AUTOMOBILE
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by Unknown from Reminice Magazine

THE KING AUTOMOBILE FOR 1919
from A King Factory BrochureThat memorable day in 1894 when Charles B. King “astonished the natives" by driving his horseless carriage through the streets of Detroit, marked the beginning of the automobile industry in the premier motor c~r city of America More than a quarter of a century has intervened, and Detroit has been the scene of many of the most important advances in the manufacture of American motor cars, but it is not too much to claim for the King that from its first ''horseless carriage" days, it has constantly retained its leadership The first car in America to be equipped with cantilever springs, en bloc motor, center control, left side drive, and the first popular-priced Eight - these are a few of the stages that have marked King progress through through successive four-cylinder and eight-cylinder models to the to the handsome cars pictured in the following pages. Such a record of long-established dependability is a strong endorsement.
That King design and improvement anticipated every substantial advance of the automobile industry in America is, therefore, both a source of gratification and a most important consideration for prospective King owners.
The Sturdy King Chassis
This year the famous King Cantilever Springs- introduced to the United States by the King Company-are longer and heavier than in previous models. The front semi-elliptic springs are also longer, of heavier construction, and all shackles and clips are of improved design.
The frame is built of deep channel Sections with five cross members. The new tubular brace at the front and the heavy canopy plate member at the rear--protecting gasoline tank and providing rigid mounting for tire carrier and rear fenders--are new features A long torque arm, relieving axle and springs of twisting strains and preventing car from "lifting'' when starting, is another improvement.
Other features are the Alemite lubricating system, Thermoid-Hardy universal joints requiring no lubrication, extra large Mayo radiator, 16” X 2-1/2" brake drums, large gasoline tank, and a tire carrier adaptable to spare rims, wire or disc wheels and strong enough to carry two extra tires easily. Columbia make, is enough to say about the axles. The rear is of floating type with Columbia one-piece housing.

The New KING MOTOR CARS for 1919
The New King Power Plant ? Much of the pleasure and satisfaction in the owner-ship of a King car is derived from the unfailing efficiency of its motor, King designed and built complete in King factories. This pioneer eight-cylinder motor is now in its fifth year of successful operation Exhaustive tests have proved the power plant to be as perfect as modern machinery and human skill can make it. The motor is "V'' type, water-cooled; four cylinders on a side, cast en bloc and mounted on an aluminum crankcase at an angle of ninety degrees. Cylinder blocks are staggered left block a little ahead of the right~permitting a direct bearing on the crankshaft for each connecting rod.
The lubrication system of the King is especially note-worthy A force feed oil pump driven off the camshaft delivers oil to all main bearings through oil line running lengthwise with motor, thence through hollow crankshaft to connecting rod bearings. Cylinders and wrist pins are oiled by spray from crankshaft, and timing gears by over-flow from crankcase. Oil pressure is regulated by an adjustment screw located at the front of the motor.
The timing drive is by silent chain off crankshaft sprocket over idler and camshaft sprockets, and the generator is driven by a secondary silent chain off the idler sprocket, which is extra wide for this purpose.
The motor includes Whitney timing chains, a new oil regulator, water inlets on the side and in center of each cylinder block (instead of at the front end) and improved water outlet pipes. Newly designed intake and exhaust manifolds give a trim appearance to the motor.
The King carburetor (Ball & Ball) has proved it’s wonderful efficiency. It is a two-power range device, assuring positive response under all driving conditions. At ordinary speeds it gives maximum economy in fuel consumption. For high speed work, or heavy pulls, it automatically opens a second jet of gasoline and air ports, thereby assuring maximum power from the motor.
The King clutch is of the dry-plate type, very positive in action and smooth in engagement. Quietness and easy shifting gears are important qualities of King transmission.
The king has pioneered in many features of motor car construction since 1894. Then, it was the first automobile to appear on the streets of Detroit, and since has continually demonstrated its leadership. It was the first car in America with en bloc motor, first with left-side drive, first with center control, first with cantilever springs, and the first medium-priced Eight.
We should be glad indeed to recount its tests of reliability and the many achievements of this pioneer Eight, including that famous 10,350-mile non-motor-stop run at Sheepshead Bay, its climbing achievements in high gear on Mt. Wilson and Mt. Diablo, its "sealed-in-high" non-stop and fuel economy tests in California, Colorado, Virginia, New York and other states-but space is here lacking for such a story.
Neither is it necessary to say more than a word or two of explanation concerning the many advantages of the eight-cylinder type of motor, such a prominent feature in the success of all King "8" models. The wide range of performance it assures, its almost instant acceleration 'in high" from a crawl to a dash, its conquering power on hills without shifting gears, it’s easy handling in congested traffic, its light weight and fuel economy, and its freedom from the necessity of constant and expert repair-are features of mechanical superiority of which all King owners are justly proud.
The Eight has four~power impulses per revolution, the Six three, the Four two, and it is this continuous flow of overlapping power that gives it a degree of flexibility no six or four cylinder car can equal.
While the efficient King engine was so fundamentally right from the start that succeeding models have required comparatively few changes, each development of engine chassis and design has been a step in the production of the latest models, described herein.
King body models have received special attention this year and the cars here illustrated have a beauty and finish worthy of their mechanism, and many new, attractive features in equipment.
The province of this catalogue is merely to describe our latest models and to urge you to obtain for yourself that most satisfactory and convincing evidence of King Eight superiority - a demonstration of the car itself.

The New ROAD-KING For 1919
A most fitting name for the King Motor Car Company's latest model. King owners have long been asking for just such a car; the war kept them waiting. But the dash and grace of this new King is a real reward for patience Every line and feature conveys the feeling of style, speed and thoroughbred quality. A true sport car, beautiful, but with that efficient, business-like beauty of the powerful, speedy Destroyer.
The Road-King has a slanting wind-shield, 75 m p.h. speedometer, all aluminum body, extra capacity “gas" tank and many other desirable features. Its fittings and finish will delight the eye and it’s upholstery and springs assure an "easy chair" comfort whatever the trip's length. The Road-King is mounted on the same standard King chassis and equipped with the same famous King motor that served the Marines and U. S. Army for war-ambulances and armored cars.
The place of the Road King among motor cars had a parallel a few years ago, when horses were supreme, and every owner of good horse flesh possessed ~ particular road horse whose speed, stamina and driving qualities were above the ordinary. The Road-King enjoys the same distinction. It is the “particular car'' of' the discriminating automobile owner, in which he may take keen personal enjoyment in driving alone or on those still more delightful occasions when "two's company.
For the professional man whose duties call him from one place to another over wide stretches of country-side, the Road-King provides exactly the requisite qualities of speed and endurance, Its sturdy construction makes it equal to the most trying road conditions, and its light weight and great power make it absolutely dependable under the most urgent demands for quick and faithful service.
Young folks, too, look upon the Road-King with admiring eyes. Every line and feature of this distinctive model conveys the feeling of style, speed and thoroughbred quality.
It has a slanting windshield, semi~bucket seats, all aluminum body, large '”gas" tank and many other desirable features to delight the eye of the lover of truly stylish cars.
The cozy comfort of the Road-King is accented by a low, snug-fitting type, easily folded. An exceptionally large storage compartment, immediately behind the seats and accessible through small doors on either side of the car, provides ample space for Iuggage.
The wheels are black wire fitted with 32 x 4-1/2 cord tires, and an extra wheel and tire are mounted and Yale locked on the rear deck.
Two colors arc standard for the Road-King, carmine and scout-khaki. The former is a dark but brilliant wine color and has just enough of the ''red devil” appearance to give dash without ostentation. The latter is “army all over'' and has a military flavor that reminds one of Pershing’s speeding couriers.

FOURSOME
The style and dash of the now famous lines of this handsome model have attracted manufacturer and public alike. It is a "sport" car with long, low, rakish lines, yet designed in perfect taste. Seating four comfortably, its leg room is exceptionally ample, and four doors provide easy entrance. The two front seats are of the bucket type, and at their back is a socket lamp which is removable and can be carried about the car.

TOURING CAR This popular model is designed throughout for utmost simplicity and surplus strength. Comparative light weight for a car of its power and size is the big factor in it’s low cost of maintenance. It has long body room because of compact engine, and it’s 100-inch wheel base gives a short turning radius which makes it remarkably simple to handle. Women especially appreciate its easy driving qualities. King cantilever springs afford the utmost comfort from the jars and shocks of poor roads. A compartment is placed under the right front seat, within easy reach, for tools and other small articles; and, in back of the front seats is a combination tonneau and "handy" lamp equipped with self-coiling cord, which permits its removal and use anywhere about the car.

SEDAN
This seven~passenger closed model is of the most luxurious type, yet convertible in a few minutes, without leaving the car, for fair weather driving. A special compartment behind the rear seat is provided for the storage of side sections. All sections fit without possibility of rattle and with no appearance of being improvised. The car is equipped with four doors, providing easy entrance to all seats. It is upholstered in highest grade cloth and is equipped with divided front seats. Electric light is available at the touch of a button.