Howard Marmon Automotive Genius (1876-1943)

Howard Carpenter Marmon was vice-president of engineering during the 30 years that Nordyke and Marmon/Marmon Motor Car Co. was the leading innovator of the world industry. Innovations include: the modern universal lubricating system, the first North American OHV V-4 and V-8 engines, aluminum blocks with wet sleeves, engine mounting on axis of minimum inertia, an all-wheel independent suspension without weight transfer, and independent mounting of body and front clip. The paper addresses the professional environment in which he grew up and which characterized his own engineering department, his education and contributions to the maturing of the motor car, as opposed to the horseless carriage. The first Marmon of 1904 set the pattern of its successors, the Model 34 of 1916 and the 1931 SIXTEEN were major leaps forward in exterior and interior architecture. Mr. Marmon was SAE President in 1913.