The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-20
AUTOMOBILE NEWS.

NJ. Paul Meyan, writing IN La
France Automobile on the subject of
the American Invasion, sees in the
gigantic strides toward perfection in
automobile construction recently made
by American builders a serious menace
to the French trade. Some time ago,
he remarks, he directed attention to
the growing competition in England,
Italy and Germany.
He says the danger is becoming
really menacing, and when it becomes
serious it will be difficult to handle.
While at Nantes recently he saw a ma
chine outside a hotel without designa-
ton He approached the driver and
| asked if it was an English carriage.
The reply was, No; an American ma
chine Everything about It resem-
bled the finest machines made in
France. 1t had strong, simple, at
tractive appearance, and the motor
turned silently.
NJ Meyan took this incident as a
sign that Americans are commencing
to disdain the French industry and
bringing automobiles from their own
country with which to tour the mag
niflcent routes in Europe. Agricultural
machinery furnishes him with an ex-
cellent comparison. He asks
Can we compete successfully with
the reaping machines and other inn
! plements forwarded to US from the
/ United States2 Decidedly no, and soon
Z
automobiles. The United States, he
thinks, will produce a thousand for
every hundred manufactured in
4 France.
| For the Paris automobile show this
7 year many important changes are con-
/ templated by makers with regard to
/ their displays. The body of the
( Grand Palais is to be more convenient
/ ~ arranged than hitherto. Stands OF
4 striking originality are promised. As
/ for a IT ic
well known that, while in the main the
I models for 1907 will remain similar to
| those Of this year, some firms have in
/ troduced fresh models with which to
appeal to public taste. For instance,
| it is extremely probable that the six
! cylinder engine will be the feature OF
1 the year Firms which have hitherto
/ laughed at the idea now shee the ad-
visibility of adopting it for machines
of fifty horse power and more.
In Egypt. the demand for automo-
biles and motor cycles is an increas-
ing one. This applies not only to the
cities of Cairo and Alexandra, where
! the more expensive cars are in favor
| where there are roads of q kind prac-
ticable for certain type of cars, and
/ where motor cycles are used by the
military officers, but also in the coun-
| try One American company, the
maker of a light runabout. established
Z
of the machines were sold, they die
not find favor as against the French
/ cars, which. while light. were claimed
/ TO be more substantial. The French
manufacturers almost mOnopolize the
Egyptian market. but there is com
plant of the high prices, and severa
! dealers have declared that a substan-
/ tai American car which could be mar
| keted at a moderate price would be
] able to compete with the French cars
In the cities. while in the country dis
tricts there was more than an ever
chance Rubber tires are in constant
demand because Of the blazing Egyp'
tian sun. which soon wears them out
/ The importations of automobiles anc
motor cycles in 1905 figured S176s 600
| A common inquiry that comes to Oul
information bureau is, how can I pre-
/ vent my tires from rim cutting2" says
/ the Automobile Magazine. Rim cut
/ ting Is due almost entirely to running
/ with tires impeTfect1y inflated The ad-
! vice we generally give is Wrestle on the
i air pump more vigorously than you
| have been doing and watch to see that
the tire does not get to hugging the rim
/ before pumping IS begun
I'm this connection an efficient hand
/ pump is of decided help Many motor
/ lists depend too much upon garage helI
to keep their tires properly inflated and
/ pay little attention TO the condition Of
the pumps carried On the car. The pack