Sliding Gearbox - 1891 Panhard et Levassor

He is what is termed the 'sliding gears' on my 1891 Panhard et Levassor. Systeme Panhard as it became to be known as was the system where the engine was at the front then driving through a gearbox and then driving the rear wheels. This was the standard for all cars until the mid 1920's when the front wheel drive car came around. This car is the 4th Panhard produced in 1891 and maybe the 1st or 2nd car they made with the front engine rear drive layout (I think 2nd). You can see the lower gear set sliding to select 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. There is no reverse as that came along in 1896 or thereabouts. The drive from the engine comes in the top gear set and then onto the bottom set and then out via a 90 gear onto the chain drive to the rear axle and differential. There is no 'box' around the Top speed is 12MPH (19KMPH) on a good day on a slight down hill slope with a tail wind (but then the car boils with the tail wind as there is no radiator!) Steering is via a tiller and is very direct and backwards in it's working. You want to go left you have to pull the tiller right and vice versa. Leads to a few anxious moment on the roads.