Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-11-07
Standardization OF Automobiles

the steel makers, understanding the re-
quirements Of the manufacturers as a
whole, were able to produce better
grade of steel and to insure prompter
and more satisfactory deliveries.
To the dealer and user, STANDARDIZED
ton Of parts is a boon. Take for in
stance the A. L. A. NJ. screw standard.
Up to it's adoption the manufacturers
were using various styles and sizes of
bolts, nuts and screws. The half-inch
bolt used in one car would not be SER
viceable for the same work in another,
either on account Of the variance in
the pitch of the thread or in the size
of head. This meant trouble for the
dealers and garage men, necessitating
them to carry in stock an unreason-
able amount of unnecessary material.
To the owner it was even worse, for
he might be stalled on the road
through the stripping Of thread and
not be able to make replacement from
any Of a half dozen cars he might
meet, or even he able to secure it from
any garage not handling that special
type Of bolt. With the adoption of
the screw standard came the elimina-
ton of this trouble, for the half-inch
bolt used in one car is Identical with
the half-inCh bolt of the other, and so
it is with the adoption Of the standard
spark plugs, tires, rims and magnetos.
The tire situation is one that has
for long time not only bothered au-
tomobile manufacturers and users, but
the tire makers themselves. The pc
culiar position subjected to tire seIec-
ton and the number Of people through
which it had to pass rendered it very
confusing to the tire maker, rim
maker, automobile manufacturer and
consumer. The lack of standard
methods as to the quality and size re-
suited in the tire makers becoming
more or less uncertain of the condition
to be imposed upon them by users.
Under the direction of the tire COM
mittee the mechanical branch's ex-
perts have made several tests in the
quality and sizes of tires to determine
what specifications should be adopted
and standards recommended which
would call for uniformity throughout.
discussion had been given
to the relative merits of different size
tires, with the result that one of the
first recommendations of the tire
committee was the elimination of so
many sizes of tires now on the mar
ket.
Up to the time the mechanical
branch took hold of this matter as
many as twenty-three sizes of tires
were used, and many of them were in
capable of doing the maximum amount
of work required, owing to their being
of wrong proportion, not only for the
weight of the car, but the area of the
round surface Experiments by the
branch have resulted in a reduction of
this number and the adoption of
eleven sizes.
Another difficulty that confronted
the automobile manufacturers was the
various sizes of rims on the market.
The trouble has been eliminated by
the adoption of universal sizes. MOI
alore for the new demountable rims.
hut for the regular clincher type.
Another adoption. and one that was
Sorely needed by the American indus
try. was a standard formula for horsf
power rating. 1t was apparent tina
the time was opportune when ever
owner of an automobile should be abb
to figure out his own horse power /
ne knew the cylinder capacity. TIL
great advantage afforded by uniform
horse power rating is the general II
formation which it gives to the buyN
Of a car.
1t is not fair to the public that
car with twice the cylinder capacit
should be rated at the same hors
power as the car of which the ratip
is honest according to the size of II
motor.
1t does not want to be underStoo
that Standardization means a sameneN
of appearance or efficiency of ca
That in the near future many of t
vital parts of one car will be int
changeable with those of another
assured. This means that the cost
production will De reduced as mar
o. the parts can be purchased in ii