A Spring-Loaded wheel mystery

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This remarkable photograph, sent in by an eagle-eyed reader, is said to depict a 1907 Renault. It certainly resembles an early Renault—perhaps similar to the one that was advertised not too long ago—but is it truly a 1907 model? Or could it be that the photograph itself dates from that year?

The first thing we noticed—and perhaps you did too—were the spring-loaded wheels. The solid rubber tyres used on this Edwardian motor carriage would have offered little in the way of comfort, and numerous sprung wheel designs were experimented with before pneumatic tyres from Dunlop and Michelin became the standard. Yes, such tyres were already available when this photograph was taken. However, with punctures so frequent and tyre wear accelerated by poor road conditions, many early motorists still favoured solid tyres, often enhanced with ingenious spring mechanisms.

A wide variety of sprung wheel designs have been recorded in period photographs, many of them originating in France. Yet this particular example appears unique. Could it be that the men in or beside the car had a hand in its invention?

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture via Iain Glover

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