The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-15
THE PARIS AUTOMOBILE SHOW.
Whss the Foreign Makers Are Doan6-Ap'
sence OF American Machines.

sence OF American Machines.
A an index 20 the progress that 10 being
made toward the perfection Of motor vehi-
clos the Fifth International Automobile
Show In Paris. which opened last Wednes-
day. is The most important affair Of the
sort on either side II the water. No similar
exhibition In the past has been ~ attrac-
tive as the one now on. both 10 the novice
and the expert; and American automobile
manufacturers, whether they care TO fash
ion their own product after that OF the
Frenchnen or not, will be Interested TO
know what the latter are doing to main
tain their supremacy in the construction
OF horseless convevance~.
Heretofore tho charge has been made,
pc~hap, j,stifiably, tha, the French have
paid TOO much attention 10 the matter OF
speed in their vehicles and too little attn-
ton to the details which insure practica-
bihty. This charge however. u no longer
possible. II one may Judge by the dispatches
describing the more prominent features
Of the present exhibits. Speed, OF course.
still remains a highly desirable factor in
automobiles; but the time has gone by when
il was allowed TO supersede in importance
tie qualities which make for durability
and safety Of operation.
An examination OF the vehicles TO be
ssen in the Grand Palace OF the Champs
Elys,es leaves no doubt that the energies
O! the foreign manufacturers during the
past war have bsen devoted chiefly to
simplifying and perfecting the elements
Of construction involved in the driving and
cont rlling mechanism of their output
Motors and engines have been altered
materially and il is noteworthy that the
French models for 1903 are relatively noise
less; gearr have been improved and made
To render better service with given amount
of power, pumps cylinders, sparkling de-
vices, and 50 on, have been reco instructed;
and the result Of the special attention given
10 these ana numerous other deta lis is
said o b. substantial reduction in genera
running expenses. particularly in the cost
Of fuel
The Parl, exhibition, on the whole, il
one Of practical aai com;non-sense We
hicl--, hence II l. devoid Of what may be
called freak contrivanc.s. This does not
mean that novelties, both as regards the
machine external and Internal appearance,
are lacking A. a matter Of fact, nearly
all Of the great French factories arc repre-
scented by one or more vehicles distinct
~ 'N' ~ Cpu-
struction. For example. ono concern ex-
hibits a gasolene electric car which gen.
crates its own electricity. II Is equipped
with an ordinary gasolene engine, which
| operates large dynamo. and the current
| IL supplied TO the motors by much the same
method a. that employed in other electric
| vehicles.
Another conspicuous model v that shown
| by the Panhard company, consisting OF
four separate cylinders. which are intended
to simplify the work Of repairing and also
to insure smooth running. II has a fan
back OF it's engine, and there are several
ingenious devices calculated TO regulate
and perfect the machines operation. The
Mercedes company has produced a new
motor which effects q great saving in the
consumption Of fuel. Not the slightest
| odor arises from a machine driven by II.
1t may truufully be said that the new
| foreign-made -autos"-by which Is meant
those OF France and Germany and Great
Britain-are. generally speaking, lighter
than any made heretofore, This u the
case especially with the pleasure vehicles;
but the rule applies nevertheless. TO racers.
| Confirmation OF this fact IA 70 be found in
the conditions governing the race for the
lnternatfo0al Championship Cup. to be
held next sum-. probably in France.
Those conditions provide that composing
cars shall not weigh more than 2. 70o pounds,
or considerably less than the crack record
breakers Of the past.
| It ia a cause Tor regret that the marked
improvement which has been made in the
automobiles mechanism has not extended
/ to its tires. To find a tire which cannot
| be punctured by sharp objects. which will
not slip and will be as conducive 20 speed
a. are those Of to-day Is the ambition Of
! every automobile maker in the land. II
| IL easy TO secure in a tire any one OF these
essentials, but nobody has Vet been able
to secure them all Some OF the fore
! most manufacturers nj Enror,a 70 frank 70
that their thought will be concentrated
| from now on upon this particular detail
of their product. and that they do not ex-
| peCt 10 be able TO turn out vehicles that are
entirely, satisfactory from commercial
! point Of view until the tire problem has
been solved. Many believe that some
substance or combination Of substances
| can be found TO meet these requirements
more fully than does rubber at present,
and at the same time prove very much
| cheaper. A fortune awaits the man who
can produce the ideal tire.
The show serves TO throw additional
! light upon the remarkable extent of the
automobile industry among our European
| rivals. Several of them report that they
have in hand orders for the entire output
OF their factories during the next six months.
and, consequently, that the fulfilment Of
all orders received now must be deferred
until next summer. The head of one big
| concern says that he can take no orders
for the delivery Of machines before March,
| 1874, and that his present contracts repre-
sent tho sum OF over 81 500 .O0O
II seems a pity that. In no small degree,
the show is robbed Of its international
character by the absence Of American
machines. The explanation OF this cir
cumstance may be left TO those responsible
! for II. Probably, however. the time is not
far on when the product OF our manufact-
urers will he found in such exhibitions
side by side with that OF their foreign COM
petitors.