Antique Car Museum of Iowa's 1922 Model 27L 5-speed

1922 Milburn Light Electric
Photo
Photo courtesy of Antique Car Museum of Iowa
Owner: Antique Car Museum of Iowa
Email: Antique Car Museum of Iowa [info@acmoi.com]
Location: Coralville, Iowa
Serial number (oval plate): 2-3027-7
Motor number (title): 1199605
Body number (square plate): 17121 stamped in wood on both doors and in chalk on back of instrument panel
Model: Milburn Light Electric
Wheels: Wood
Color: Pullman brown body, cream upper body, with brown running gear and brown wheels
Upholstery: Brown, appears original 
Seating capacity: Rear seats;  Front seats were upholstered over---museum is restoring original front seats
Windows:  
Steering control: Lever (tiller)
Speed control: Lever
Top speed:  
Range:  
Forward speeds: 5 (4-speed controller plus 5th speed enabled with foot button per 1922 Models) 
Reverse speeds:  
Length overall:  
Width overall:  
Height overall:  
Wheelbase:  
Track:  
Tires:  
Tread:  
Brake systems:  
Curb weight:  
Instrumentation: 4 gauges, including Roller Smith amp, and Volt gauges. Speedometer date code M5 (May, 1920).
Lights:  
Heater:  
Motor:  
Drive train: Worm
Controller:  
Springs:  
Axles:  
Batteries:  
System voltage:  
Charger:  
Equipment:  
Price, new:  
Owner's remarks: Antique Car Museum of Iowa is in the process of preserving this Milburn, unaraveling customizing changes that were made over the years as well as replacing missing items.  Items needed: hubcaps, door handles, other items.  The car was purchased from Charles E. Mac Arthur of Sangerville, Maine in 2008 or so.

Research Notes (by Myles Twete): This Milburn is one of the 4 latest model 27L Milburns known to exist and is at least a 1922 Model.  It is a 5-speed car that includes Roller Smith amp and volt meters in the dash as well as Gabriel snubber shock absorbers in the front.  These and other factors match what were described as new features for the "1922 models" in an early 1922 article and ads on the 1922 Milburn Models.  Interestingly, the 5th speed is not switched by the controller.  The controller in the 1922 models is still a 4-speed controller.  The 5th speed is simply a switched in resistor across the field windings, which implements "field weakening" and accelerates the car.  It is engaged by stepping on a button on the floor to the right of the reverse pedal.  Since discovering this car has the "button" and circuitry for this feature, it has been confirmed that #231757 in the O'Quinn collection also has this button.