New-York tribune., 1907-11-07
GOSSIP OF AUTO SHOW
Some Of the Advantages Of the Sig
Cylinder Machine.


The Stearns six-cylinder car which had not ar
rived in time for the opening of the automobile
show in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night
is now in place and was greatly admired yesterday.
FOR the man who wants high powered, speedy
stock car the Stearns six is ideal The car ex-
hibited is low and rakish with two seats and a
small, natty tonneau. 1t is a car of the type
winch broke the worlds mile Straightaway stock
car record at Atlantic City, the time being a sec
ondS fiat. Stearns six at the Harlem circular
track Chicago recently covered four and one-ouar-
ter miles in minutes 5S seconds. easily defeating
five other high powered cars in a pursuit race. The
best time up Fort George hill also made by a
Stearns siX-2S seconds.
The George N Pierce company in presenting its
for 1908 has found it unnecessary to depart
in any essential structural features from those en-
bodied in its 1901 cars. The body construction
has proved eminently satisfactory in everys par
ucular. and cast aluminium will be used a hereto
fore. The principles involved and the material used
IN the engine and transmission all those so
thoroughly tried out in their past years of success
full car building. The experience OF automobile
users during the last has developed strong
inclination toward of the sx-cylinder type,
and in recognition of this fact a considerable part
OF the Pierce output for 1908 will consist Of cars
of this model.
Though the company will continue TO manufacture
the Great Arrow four-cylinder in both the 30
horsepower and 40-horsepower types. there are
many arguments which support the claim for ad-
vantage In the six-cynder car. II seems to be
agreed by engineers that the siX-cylinder engine is
a better balanced mechanism than the four-cyln-
der. 1t is moro noiseess, the exhaust due TO the
rapid sequence Of the explosion being practically
continuous. With the sx-cylinder engine greater
fiexbility is obtained. due to the constant
torque secured by the continuous impulses. afford
ing an ability TO run powerfully and smoothly on
the high at any speed from four TO sixty
miles Greater ease OF operation is obtained owing
10 there being less necessity Tor exchanging gears
in hill climbing congested streets. the six
cylinder car can be run much slower on high gear
then the four-cylinder.
Other advantages which may be claimed for the
sixcylinder longer life and less liability Of
breakage Of the transmission gear, due 10 there
being less shock; less and tear on the rear
tires. owing to there being more even propelling
impulses, and easier riding car, due TO longer
wheel base and better distribution OF weight.
John y WHY'S president Of the American Motor
Car Sales Company, which controls the factory
outputs OF American, Marion and Overland cars
In speaking OF the automobile outlook for 1908 said
that his company had met and closed with agents
from every part OF tho country. dspos!ng OF their
entire outputs. In many cases he was obliged 10
reduce the allotment of cars 10 agents. whose i'm
pressions Of prospects were sufficiently rosy 70
warrant their ordering more cars than no was
prepared 10 supply This plainly shows that the
country large IS not in so bad a condition hnan-
ciay many willing 10 believe. The little
Overland rtpnabouts on account Of their simplicity
found ready demand from all agents. who recog
sold this year than<ever before. The Marion. par
ticularly the six-cylnder model. which sells for
81 80. has been sold out. The American Roadster
and American Tourist also in demand
That Improvement in carhuretor design has been
marked is told in the high mileages a gallon of fuel
used which being obtained about the country,
ana this IN spite OF the fact tat gasOlene sold to-
day is not nearly so high test as five or ten years
ago. The multiple Jet carburetor which first
used in this country Columbia cars IS continued
in 1905 models. with some detailed changes 1t Is
economical of fuel and provides an even running
at all speeds, which single jet carburetor in its
limitation cannot do.
one Of tho methods Of interesting prospective
customers adopted at the Goodyear booth this year
invite one of tho bystanders who has had no
experience in removing or replacing tires 10 re-
move and replace a Goodyear detachable tire
a Goodyear universal rim while friend holds the
watch. II Is seldom that these green hands,
trely without Knowledge of the device beforehand.
find Il necessary 10 take longer than three minutes
at the outside 10 entirely the casing and
inner tube and replace IT in its original position
the rim.
one Of the most interesting exhibits. and one
which is attracting unusual attention from the
public. is the display OF the Crescent removable
rim. 1t has given an excellent account OF itself
at the meets this season. AT Brighton Beach
the Plain car was equipped with Crescent rims.
The met with accident, dashing
through a fence and tearing the hub and spokes
a front wheel. In spite of this unusual
strain and shock the rim remained as immova Bile
as when 1t was first put onsthe wheel, thus
ing every vestige of doubt regarding the tenaCity
with which it cngs to the felloe. Tire changes
have been repeatedly made in from one minute 10
three minutes.
Electric vehicles. the first of the many types OF
automobiles the market. stronger this year
than ever in the favor OF the general public Aside
from the tremendous strides which have been made
in increasing the speed of electric propelled ma
chimes and their mileage capacity one cannot hel'
which practically all the leading makes are more
less distinguished this year. An exhibit which
can be taken as typical of modern conditions in
the manufacture Of eIectrlcs Of all kinds Is that of
the Baker~AIotor Vehicle Company. OF Cleveland
which has the largest factory in the world devoted
the exclusive manufacture of this popular type Of
automobile.
zone feature of the show that impresses me-"
said Charles B. Shanks, sales manager of the Win
ton company, yesterday. is the increased interest
of women in gasoene construction. When
woman does make up her mind 10 know the details
of gasolene she lets nothing deter her. The
result is that those who have undertaken to drive
gasolene do so with immense success. l know
one young woman. not many miles from New York,
who has driven gasolene for three years,
and in all that time she has not incurred single
repair expense
Although A. f. Ranney 6 Co. New York agents
for the ElmOre two-cycle Valveless cars, have sold
more than hundred and twenty Elmore in
New York. which being driven about the
streets, and Notwithstanding the fact that Ranney
Co keep these in repair. 1t requires the
work Of only to run their repair shop.
Just one man with kit OF tools that he carries in
his hands is all that is needed TO keep 100 auto
mobiles in perfect running order. In addition to
this remarkable state of affairs is the fact that In
tho entire Ranney garage there is not single
bit OF machinery and the little leather kit carried
by their repair is absolutely the only article
used in the upkeep of their machines This is
one OF the best talking points in the Elmore sales
department, for IL shows concusively the truth of
the makers guarantee that there are practically
no moving parts about Emore engine that could
possibly get out of order.