The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-04

imposing rotunda that lends itself not
meanly to the simple yet artistic scheme
OF decoration employed The galleries
are hung with white and green, and
white and green signs of uniform pat
tern surmount the booths Four mass
i've chandeliers light the rotunda, to
which is added the brilliancy of a gil
gantic electrically illumined Automobile
Club of America emblem. The club
pins also occur frequently in the deco
rative scheme.
In all. nearly 100 distinct types of
American and foreign cars are on ex-
hIbltion in the main hall and galleries,
to say nothing of the $50 exhibitors OF
automobile necessaries and a most won
derful aerOnauucal display, which in
cludeS score of up-tO-date air ships,
balloons, aeroplanes. wind wagons and
Tapping wing machines, which are on
exhibition on one of the upper floors.
The entry list includes sixty-three
American motor cars, twenty foreign
cars, seven types of commercial vehicles
and six motor bikes.
Tendencies for 1907 are toward in
creased horse power and longer wheel
cases. Mechanically operated valves
will predominant, in many cases the in
let and exhaust valves being placed on
one side of the motor The major por-
ton of troubles on motor cars being 1g-
nition,- that has received a great deal
of attention.
While storage batteries are taking the
place Of dry cells, most of the big cars
will have magnetos, many having
double system Of ignition which in
cIudes two sets of spark plugs. Incl
dentany, spark plugs are now made to
last season and coils give very little
trouble The inclination of manufac-
turers is to put the very best of mater
ial obtainable into cars, even though II
necessitates a little increase in price.
Nothing demands better material for
wearing purposes than a motor car,
which all its life is subject to abuse,
and that's why instead of putting poor
material into cars to sell a low figure
the manufacturer is inclined to buy the
best obtainable knowing that in the
long run it will be better for his own
business and better for the n(tor in
general.
The design of automobiles seems
now TO be settled. and improvements
of 1907 are more in the perfection of
details. At the Palace show are ex-
hibited everything from two-cylin-
der runabout. with one. two or four
cylinders, to the porderous touring
cars with engines Of from four to six
cylinders and equipped with body
that can carry seven people comfort
ably.
Although air-cooled cars. owing to
the general satisfaction they have
given continue to be sold in large
not a few of their makers
are including a Water-cooler motor
the assistance of a belt and fan. pre-
dominate for cooling, and a few MAX
ers use the therm o-syDhon system.
The use of levers on the top of the
steering post to control the spark and
gas is now almost universal. and.
coupled with the handy gear levers on
the side and the foot pedal for the
clutch, the control of motor cars is
itself.
Brakes have been improved. They
are larger and more powerful. a
number of makers will show cars hav-
ing both sets of brakes working on
the rear wheels. one internal expand
ing and the other of the usual con-
ira cting type. There have been some
minor irnproveme nts in transmiSsiOns.
The sliding gear type is general on
the big cars, and the planetary type on
the light machines, where only two
speeds are required. Shaft drivers
continue TO increase in popularity, al
though some of the makers of heavier
cars advocate and continue to use the
side chain drive.
There is a tendency to use ball bear
ings in the front wheels and roller
bearings in the rear wheels, both
types of which are now reduced to al
most perfection. In the line of self
starting devices there will be two or
three new ones exhibited for which
great things are claimed It would
seem that the time was near at hand
WnGH the Crank COulQ- Dc
abolished, yet only two makers ex-
hibit crankless cars.
Striving zealously to keep pace with
the public clamor for automobiles.
American makers have determined to
construct not less than $4,000 cars
during the coming year. Statistics
cleaned by the chief associations of
indicate that approx
rnately $4,000 gasoline. steam and
electric vehicles comprised the output
OF the domestic plants this year. From
every. corner of the country comes the /
doleful strain, Business is so good we
cant keep W with it"