Arthur Constantin Krebs

Collaborating with Charles Renard, Krebs piloted the first fully controlled free-flight made in the French Army airship La France, which was designed in 1884.

In 1898 Krebs replaced the tiller with an inclined steering wheel for the Panhard et Levassor car he designed for the Paris-Amsterdam race which ran from 7 to 13 July 1898.

In 1902 Krebs invented the automatic diaphragm carburettor which gave cars continuous power during acceleration by providing a constant air-fuel ratio at all times; this also led to dramatic improvement in fuel economy.

Krebs introduced many improvements in car design: the steering wheel (1898), non-reversible steering (1898), engine balance (1898), nickel steel alloys and other special steel alloys (1901), the shock absorber (1906), multi-disc clutch (1907), the electric brake dynamometer for testing high performance engines (1905), the enveloping (globoid) worm gear differential (1915).

Also, Krebs contributed significantly to improve the Systeme Panhard (engine in front, rear wheel drive) which became universally adopted before World War II.

Krebs also utilized his former military membership to supply the French Army with engines and vehicles including the 1904 Genty Armored car, the 1916 St Chamond tank, the Chatillon-Panhard 4x4 truck, and others.

In 1934, several months before Arthur Krebs's death, he was made a Commandeur of the Legion of Honour for his work in Aeronautics and for his contributions to the automotive industry.