Dana/Spicer/Driveline History

[n9ads@domain.elided (Howard R Pletcher)]

I ran across an article that answers a couple of questions that have come
up recently.

Jerome Cardan, an Italian mathematician, dicovered the principle of the
U-joint in the 1500's and gave his name to the principle.  Englishman
Robert Hooke developed a reliable design in the 17th century.  Clarence
Spicer developed the idea of a tubular driveshaft with sealed U-joints at
each end, filed for a patent on the idea in 1902, and incorporated the
Spicer Universal Joint Manufacturing Co. in 1905.  

His business was a success, but Spicer became mired in production, cash
flow, and patent protection problems.  Spicer asked Charles Dana, an
attorney, businessman, and politician to invest in and reorganize the
company, which he did.  This was sometime prior to WWI.  Dana became
chairman, with Spicer remaining as chief engineer, turning down an offer
to join General Motors because he wanted to insure the leadership of the
Spicer name.  Eventually, the company was renamed Dana Corp, with Spicer
remaining as the brand name for their drivetrain products.  There are no
Dana components separate from Spicer components although both names are
used at times.

One of the illustrations in the article from an early Spicer catalog was
of their "Double universal-slip joint #10, which allowed the 'angular
velocity of the driving and driven shafts to remain exactly the same at
all times.' "

Howard Pletcher
Howteron Products Scout Parts

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