Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15
AUTO EA YES
TOY CLASS
COST NOW WITHIN THE REACH
OF ALL
CAREFUL USE REDUCES EXPENSE
TO MINIMUM
Any Man Who Can Afford Horse and
Rig May Now Own Car and
Save Money by So
Doing
ny L. GEO. THOMPSON

the rich was exploded by the demonstra
tiens Of the reliability and efficiency of
motor cars, and now the wealthy have
paid for the experimental stage of the
game and the general public has begun to
reap the benefit. The idea that 1t takes
considerable money to buy and operate
q motor car has been laid away on the
shelf with other mistaken notions that
came from lack of knowledge Of the pos
sibilities Of a machine and its cost of
operation.
1t has finally come to point that the
man who is able to own a good horse and
rig can now own an automobile and not
only get it for the same, or less pur-
chase price, but actually save money in
the operating expense.
While the cost need be no more, or as
much TO operate runabout as it is to
properly care for a good horse and rig
the advantage the car has over the horse
drawn vehicle is so great that, consider
ing the efficiency, it is much cheaper.
With the present methods of manufac-
ture and the standardization of the auto
mobile, manufacturers are able to put
out a thoroughly reliable machine that
instances they have run thousands, with
no expense than that for gasoline, lubri-
eating oils and recharging of batteries.
MuSL nave PROPER OdTS
The large expense that is borne by
many drivers is due almost entirely to the
lack of proper care of the machine or
their foolish neglect.
Many buyers get the idea the machine
will run and run and run If 1t is kept
supplied with gasoline, and instances are
frequent where so little attention is paid
the car that the gasoline supply gives out
miles from home and sometimes miles
from an additional supply
The driver who sends his car over the
road so the occupants ride comfortably
all the time, and takes a reasonable
amount OF care of the car. has record
for small expense that is the envy of the
man who by reason of his own stupidity
or laziness has a monthly bill that finally
forces him to the conclusion that an auto
mobile is an expensive luxury and incon-
sistent with an average mans pocketbook.
If man would drive his car with the
same regard for it that humane man
has for the horse that is pulling his load,
there would be less work for the repair
man and more for the manufacturer.
The present large output of many of
the factories makes it possible to sell
first class car of runabout size for from
$500 to $1,000.
Expense Small
The upkeep for reasonable amount of
use need not exceed $40 per month, and
in many cases it has been done for Sc and
less. This Included repairs and replace
ment of tires and all other parts.
BY the renewal of parts as they wear
out an automobile can be made to be
everlasting. OF course in time 1t viii
have become an entirely different machine
by the gradual replacement of its parts,
but will not, like the ''one hoss shay,
go to pieces all at once.
rTTf, 80, for laa rnt1 Cn n
rev models is partly pride in having the
newest but TO a larger extent it is due
to the fact that the improvements make
the operation less expensive and it is
therefore a good investment in many
cases to sell the old model at sacrifice
and get the later one, which is less liable
to need repairs and has greater case of
control, thereby minimizing the chances
of accident when quick thinking and
rapid action is essential to safety.
While the automobile is more economical
than the horse as a business proposition,
mainly on account of the ability to make
q greater distance in a given time, the
motorcycle has them all beaten for
economy of operation and rapidity of
transportation.
The motor wheel carries more weight
Ter horse power than any other vehicle
and covers more ground at less expense
per passenger mile.
Takes PIac, of Bicycle
Just as the bicycle was used first for
pleasure and its development made pos
sible by the pleasure seeker the motor
cycle has followed the same line, but 1t
has consumed much less time in getting
recognition from the business world.
A first class motor wheel can be bought
for 5000 1t will do all the automobile will
when the requirements are the transporta-
tion of one person and limited amount
of luggage.
For the man whose needs require that
he shall take with him more or less bag
gage the next least expensive machine is
the blackboard machine that has a small
air-cooled motor with comparatively long
wheel base and simplicity of construc-
tion that makes a price of from $500 to
$500 possible
Next to this comes the buggy y-about
with small air-cooled motor attached to
the side of regulation buggy minus
the shafts, for which has been substi-
tuted a steering handle. The makers
claim for these machines that they will
go everywhere the large machines will
and in many places that are barred to the
cars of small wheel diameter and pneu-
matte tire.
1t is claimed the high wheel with such
p small tire as the buggy has is the only
GIc lndl Cdil bS SQSNrooAAAJ OPCiotSd Al
deep sand or snow.
Many improvements Made
Another type of the buggy machine has
a motor carried under the seat with more
elaborate mechanism and consequently
higher price. but yet not to exceed $500.
This machine will climb the steepest
hills possible for self-propelled vehicle
to negotiate without the application Of a
cable or cog device and at the same time
win speed over the average road at a
rate OF thirty miles an hour.
The large wheel diameter makes it pos
sible for the farmer to use such a ma
chine with comfort on roads that would
soon shake the average runahout or tour
Ing car to pieces-
Its style OF manufacture and method OF
transmission, which is usually by cable.
makes the matter Of repairs simple
thing. as the average wheelwright OF vii.
7aee blacksmith finds nothing in the ma
chine outside of the motor itself that he
Is not already familiar with and capable
of liking.
Just beyond this class is the well known
runabout and small touring car class
that has made a place for itself. The
short wheel base and light weight makes
II possible to drive the car easily in the
IT, .~.olf fha country and trans