Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
MOTOR CARS AND
MEN WHO DRIVE THEM
BY NJ. V. KELLEY.

4 4 e ssH x x e
There Is choice morsel for those of us
who are superintendent who of us is
not on some count?-in the way in which
| contestants in the Gordon Bennett race are
scheming to get hold of No. for that great
contest. There has been strange series
| Of condolences that Is at the bottom of
| this effort on the part of the racers. This
will be the sixth Gordon Bennett race In
| the first the machine bearing No. was the
winner. No. won the second. and so on
right down to last year, when No. took
the honors. So what do you think Of No.
6's chance this year. whoever he may be?
1t is perhaps. not remarkable that the
| magnetic first found a place in the power
| launch. and Is only slowly becoming rec
ognized adjunct of the touring car. The
| fact Is recognized that 1t is rather too ex-
pensive for the smaller autos, but its use
by foreign makers and the way in which
it is now regarded by the designers on this
side Of the water makes it a foregone con-
clusion that large number of the best and
highest powered American machines will be
fitted with magnetos. When once the max
ers of the expensive autos have given the
magnetic thorough introduction 1t Is GER
tain TO be demanded for cars of a cheaper
type.
Some Forms Of Tire Abuse.
There are many car owners who realize
that stopping their cars with great sudden
ness is very hard on their tires. but it does
not appear to many Of them that rapid
starting of the machine is almost as wear
ing on the tread. Any who has seen
an engine laborng on an up grade with its
driving wheels giving an occasional slip
half around will not need to think very
deeply to apply the idea to rubber tire.
While 1t would be possible to completely
strip the rear wheels at their points of con-
tact with the ground. such an event is
quite rare. But the terrific strain induced
by sudden starting will certainly have a
racking effect in a short time. both upon
the rubber and the woven fabric. It's a
matter OF say forty horse power exerted
against a few square inches of rubber and
cotton.
If you discover that you are not likely
to use your machine for several days. you
will find it good thing to go over the
leather face of the clutch with gasoline
until it is mechanically clean. Then a lib
eral application Of castor Oil should be
made to it. After that do not leave the
clutch in such a position that any pres
sure Is brought to bear upon the face, or
the castor oil will merely be driven off.
If, when you begin these operations, you
find the leather face presenting a shiny,
glazed appearance. you may find it neces-
sary to use a stiff scrubbing brush with the
gasoline until you have secured a surface
that will take up the castor oil readily.
Don't Use Too Much Oil.
1t is possibly true that too much oil is
not so bad as not oil enough, but that is a
question. At any rate, few things about
an autocar are more disagreeable than the
| smell that Is certain to be evolved by over
fabrication. In many cases this arises from
the fact that the driver is not certain as
to how much oil is in the crank The
customary fashion of leading the exhaust
out at the rear OF the machine is doubtless
responsible for this in large degree but
1t has been suggested that a small pipe.
that be opened and closed at WILL can
be led from the exhaust to within sight of
the driver, in order that he may open 1t
before oiling and in that way be able to
find out at early moment if the oil is
too abundant An additional argument for
such an arrangement is that Is would OBJ
viate much misfring caused by sooty spark
ing plugs.
Now It is the Inspector.
One of the newest wrinkles that is now
offered the motorist is so-called Inspector.
1t is used In testing a sparkling plug. and
is intended to obviate the usual rnake-shift
custom of laying the plug some part of
the engine for the purpose of completing the
earth circuit. That use of the plug often
results In a fall which damages its por-
celain. The inspector consists of a small
brass piece. threaded SO that one end of
1t can be screwed into the plug hole in the
cylinder head, and with it's other end hav-
ing receptacle into which the plug may
be fixed while the testing is going on. This
will save the motorist from an occasional
shock also
The Motor Wagon Problem.
America is tagging behind the continent
in the matter of commercial cars but, as
1t has often been pointed out, the splendid
roads of England. France and Germany
have had much to do with the rapid devel-
opment of the motor wagon on the other
side In a number. of tests that have been
made it has been found that the motor
wagon pays best where more than three
single horse wagons are used. In cases of
fewer horse yehi lies the figures are urlfa-
vorable because there is not enough for the
motor wagon to do. The commercial wagon
shows to the best advantage on long trips.
If a half dozen miles are to be covered
before deliveries are begun, it Is a trenen-
dous saver over horsefiesh.
An interesting test was recently made
with 10 horse power Ryllnieid gasoline
wagon. With load of 1.200 pounds at
starting. it covered 81 miles and made so
deliveries. The time consumed was IL
hours and 6 minutes, from which must be
deducted hours and 40 minutes consumed
in stops. The total travelling time there
fore, was at rate of 1879 miles per hour,
but with the stops deducted, the wagon
must frequently have made better than 20
miles an hour. In comparison with horses,
the figures show up splendidly. Horse wag-
more time, and each wagon carried only
half the load of the motor truck
One of the motoring journals. in answer
to a request for a mixture TO cover steel
and iron and keep 1t from rnsting, offers
the following. which Will be of interest TO
automobile owners living within reach OF
sea breexes: PART the parts with nearly |
saturated solution of chloride of tin. After |
twelve hours wipe this on and apply an
other coat. Three applications Will be
found necessary. After once removed. paint
the surfaces with IN ointment Of corrosive