The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-04
AUTOMOBILE NOTES.

One Of the most interesting changes noticed
az the automobile shows held so far this season.
and one which has created considerable comment
among users, Is the gradual change from the old
style leather faced conc clutch TO that OF the disc
type. Not only Is this true OF the most advanced
styles in American high powered cars. but In the
most favored European makes, too. A number
OF manufacturers use = multiple disc clutch, but
SOM makers have gone still further In the march
of progress and use but three discs. two OF them.
those outside, being OF gray iron, and the middle
or driving disc being Of manganese bionze. In
variably this middle disc is Htted with a number
Of cork cushions which absorb the shock and Jar
OF starting. The three plates, when brought to-
gethcr by a powerful spring, form n solid plate OF
metal which does away with the possibility OF any
loss Of power by slipping. The F.. X. Thomas
Motor Company has given this type OF clutch as
exhaustive a test perhaps as any CON pany on either
side OF the water and as a result has adopted IL
for all Its Flyers" Harry S. Houpt, the New
York agent, says II Is Just one cause for the popu-
larlty OF the car this year.
II may be assumed that few owners OF motor
cars, unless they happen To be Of a mechanical turn
OF mind, have more than a little perception OF the
making of a crankshaft, which Is obviously one Of
the most important features of the engine. To
those not familiar with the latest method OF making
the shaft a implicit issued by the Electric Vehicle
Compan OF Hartford Conn, will be found Of e1-
ccptlonal interest. The pamphlet deals In a con-
else manner with the method Of making the Column
bia shaft, which follows the European way of
machining II cold from a solid block OF steel. While
this process Is necessarily slower than drop forging,
It is asserted 1t possesses many advantages over the
latter method. the most prominent OF which, IL Is
said, Is greater strength for the amount of material
used, inasmuch as there is no weakening nj the
n ateTla after heating.
The most sensational event OF the week was the
arrival OF the much heralded double action Odds
mobile. 1t made Its debut last Monday on Broad
way with It's FIRST load OF two-cycle enthusiasts.
Ever since then 1t has been on the go. and Judging
from the way that demonstration have been
booked the same strenuous career may be pre-
dicted for It as that OF Its now famous brother,
the Palace touring car. The Oldsmobile Com
panv OF New York did not announce It's arrival
for { D M HiGS ~ ~ Ne eUgInS enG a few select admirers
was assembled, forcing the car into commission in
shoT broadway oadSr; the hese sw GSy ste son eTe q 'G slonct sight
times together. but always on the job. The two
EessliRe. just their working clothes" SAYS S.y P Ssn,
Cutting: no time to put ON an elegant rnish just
now"
The American nutomohIlist's invasion of Europe
Is fairly under way. Walter j. CurTic, a Wall Street
operator. is going to take a six cylinder FraycT.
Miller car abroad for a trip through France, Italy
Telegraph Company Is also goiag TO take oneo OF
these six cylinder cars, Gcnastky, the great foreign
car can do under European road conditions. He
made the request during the recent New York
show and MI EsterhrooH Is 10 accommodate him.
Judge Alfred F. S tceTG OF B-OoElvn, before whom
all violHtors OF the speed regulations In Prospect
Park and on the Cone" Island boulevard are gen
eAlly brought, has purchased a ~ horse power
Rainier. Afather Interesting sltua lion would be
created II the Judge should be held up for speeding
In the park In his new car, and the question Is,
self at the trtal'" w. II. McCord. president OF
Post q McCord, VINO has been running a 2s horse
power R1inl,T during 1905, placed his order for n
IS horse power car OF the same make. Other pur-
chaseTs during the week are +. +. Palmer OF Green