The San Francisco call., 1908-09-18
Something About The
"Aught-Nine" Whites

As in 1907 and 1903. the White Steam
Cars for 1909 will be built in two dis
tinct models which, while differing
from each other widely in power in
size and in price. resemble each other
in their general lines OF construction
The horsepower ratings OF the two
models are based on the actual power
delivered at the rear wheels, not mere
ly on formulas nor on the power deliv-
cred at the engine.
The larger OF the new White cars
VIII be known as the Model m" and
Will be the successor OF the Model k
is rated at 40 steam horsepower and
sells for 1000, Z. o. b. Cleveland.
equipped with acetylene headlights and
wheel base is 122 inches: the front
tires 36x4 inches and the rear tires
36x5 inches The car is regularly fitted
with straight line seven passenger
body The engine is compound. of new
design.
The smaller of the new White cars
will be known as the Model 90" This
car may be described more appropri-'
etely as smaller edition Of the new
Model M" rather than as successor
of any previous model The Model %"
is rated at 20 steam horsepower and
sells for $4,000, T. O. B. Cleveland;
kit. The wheel base is 104 inches and
the tires. both front and rear. are SIX
3 4 inches. The car is regularly fitted
body.
The principal mechanical change in
the new cars as compared with previ-
Gus White models is IN the engine. As
previously mentioned the engines in
the two new models differ only as re-
CARDS dimensions. and. therefore, the
following description applies to both
models The new engine construction
has been undergoing a thorough try
ing out Tor two years. and both the
. Model NJ engine and the Model 20
engine have been subjected to tests OF
over 10000. miles OF usage and. there
fore may be regarded as thoroughly
seasoned products. The change in the
engine may be summarized as follows
in the place of one standard type OF
valve mechanism. another standard
type of valve mechanism is used In
former years. the engines used in the
White cars Were fitted with the Ste
phenson valve motion. which was actu-
ated by eccentrics on the crank shaft.
as were also the pumps. The new
valve motion. which Is actuated direct
ly from the connecting rods, and the
pumps. all OF which are located on the
left hand side of the engine. are driven
by the levers of the valve mechanism.
This new construction permits OF a
great simplification OF the engine. The
number OF parts Is reduced almost 10
half Of those formerly necessary. con-
siderable weight is saved. all eccentrics
are done away with and the cylinders
the use of a short one-piece crank
shaft. The new crank shaft is a one
piece forging OF tool steel
The generator is OF the same con-
struction as in former years. For those
who are not familiar with this device
II may be said that the White genera
tor consists simply Of series of coils
OF steel tubing. placed one above the
other. and connected in series II the
whole were to be unwound and
Strengthened out the generator would
be seen to be made or single long
piece of tubing. In operation. water is
pumped into the upper coil and steam
issues from the lower coil. There is but
a very small quantity of water and
steam in the generator at any given
moment Tin the larger car the total
capacity of the generator Is less than
one-third OF a cubic foot), but the pro-
cess of making steam is so rapid that
steam is always available in the guam
tity which the running conditions may
make necessary. In the Model M and
Model .'O'' cars. the generator tubing is
of one-haf inch internal diameter. but
the length of tubing used differs. OF
course. for the two models.
There has. never been an accident
caused by the generator OF White
Steam Car-and there are over 5000
cars of this make in use. distributed IN
every country in the world Cnfortun-
ately. however. other makes OF steam
boilers. From time to time accidents
to these obsolete types OF steam auto
mobiles" are reported and some people
conclude that White is involved No
one would Judge the gasoline cars OF
today by the characteristics of those
built several years ago. vet II Is a sin
gular fact that some people entertain a
prejudice against the White of today.
based solely on a dislike or suspicion
or some makes of steam cars built
years ago by incompetent people