Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-13
MOTOR CAR ACCESSORIES.
Some Of the Curious and Useful Inven-
lions Of the Sort.
From rearson's Weekly.

From rearso0's Weekly.
One of the most peculiar innovations in
connection with motoring is the employ
ment Of cor1ite for inducing big petrol en-
gines to start. In order to set the engines
in motion q cor1ite cartridge is placed in
each Of the cylinder heads. The firing of
the first cartridge causes the others to ex-
plode at the right time, that is, when the
pistons arrive at their proper positions.
1t Is with regard to methods of controlling
the speed OF motor cars that inventors have
turned their special attention. An inven-
tion OF Wolverhampton firm is intended
to add terror to the motorists life. by as
sisting the police In laying traps. 1t con-
sists OF an instrument which, when placed
IN position. requires only a button to be
pressed and q Photographic reproduction Is
made at once of any passing motor car. the
time and date being also automatically reg
istered. BY the use of this instrument at
the beginning and end of police trap the
results prove absolutely accurate. so long
as the watch used In the apparatus Is syn
chronized and the distance properly meas
uTed.
One OF the most wonderful motor car in
ventfons is the work of a Vianese: 1t en-
ables the driver to tell exactly where he is
no matter whether it is daylight or dark
The apparatus is only the size of a cigar
box. and 1t contains map of the route to
be taken. printed on broad band of paper.
front Of the driver, being connected with
the wheels of the motor by means of a
cord.
As the car progresses the map unwinds
itself and the driver can see from the map
what part of the route he Is going over and
what villages are In the neighborhood. 1t
also serves as speed recorder. Any awk-
ward points in the road, or obstacles which
require caution, are also marked on the
map by indentations in the paper, made
some 900 yards before they are reached.
These indentations actuate lever, which
rings an electric bell. thus giving the driver
warning of the obstacle ahead of him.
One of the simplest plans for testing the
qualities of various makes of motor car
springs consists of the use of a basin of
milk. Races are then run over rough roads
in given time. and the car which arrives
at the end of the course with most milk in
the vessel is the car with the best springs.
With regard to the novel uses to which
motor cars are being put there Is no end
Motor cars are being used for travelling
pawn shops. and also for war purposes.
Quite an industry has sprung up in the con-
struction of bullet-proof motor cars. carry
ing quick-hrfng guns, large number being
used for variety of purposes AS an ex-
ample of the use of such cars, there is a
motor car protected with armored steel and
armed with Calling gun, ready for instant
service. which is in constant use at the Mex
lean mines.
This car Is used In the transportation of
gold from the mines over road which
S~df Will anu MoAlCdn DrlSdnUS.
An armor-protected motor car of very GU
rfous design, and armed with two pow
full machine guns, has recently been built
In France specially for the use of the tsar Of
Russia.
Then there are such inventions as roller
motor skates, the fuel being contained in a
belt. which is worn round the skaters waist
There are also motor boots, which are really
little motor cars fitted to Wellington boots
The boots weigh about sixteen pounds each
and cost about E2o a pair. Each boot is
driven by a IN horse power motor, the speed
being limited to thirty miles an hour.
Everybody who is anybody is supposed to
own motor car now, with the result that
everybody who is nobody either has to go
without the motor or has to pretend that
he owns one. Those people who cannot af-
ford real motor car, but who wish to be
in the swim have to avail themselves of a
cheap imitation. This Is obtained by wear
ing pair of gasoline-cleaned gloves, taking
very long ride on the front seat of an
electric tram-car and then walking all the
way back.
One genius has gone further than this,
and has taught his parrot to initiate the
sound made by motor horn. This bird
now delights in giving vent to an alarming
"toot! toot!' when anybody is about to
cross the road.
OF motor accessories the name is legion
nay, trade has sprung up in providing mo-
tor clothes for the wearing of pet dogs.
There is shop in London where little mo-
tor goggles may be seen, which are in
tended to fit on the dogs collar. There are
leather coats to save the dainty pets from
pneumonia. and there are also tiny foot
warmers