Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-18
WHITE GARAGE
IS ALL SMILES
ARRIVAL OF 1909 DEMONSTRA-
TOR CREATES A STIR
LATE IMPROVEMENTS MAKE OPP
GRAFTON MORE SIMPLE
Demonstration of Car on Hill and
Level Proves True Many Claims
of Colonel Fenner and
Captain Ryus

Many were the queries yesterday af-
ternoon as to why the White garage
seemed to be the source of an illumina-
ton that projected itself for blocks in
either direction from Seventh and
Broadway.
1t was not because Fenner had ar
rived from Phoenix with another group
of gasoline sca1ps at his belt, nor was
It any reflected glory that rested on
Captain Ryus because of his many vic
tories with the steam cars.
Not being able to trace it to either
the new silver cup that Fenner won at
Phoenix or the beautiful Fenner
trophy that Ryus wears as evidence
of his prowess in guiding car UP the
long Badly grade, the writer began an
investigation that rapidly led him to
the center of an enthusiastic and ad-
miring crowd gathered around one of
the pretttest little motor cars that
ever came to Los Angeles.
The long-expected and muchly- dis
cussed 1909 White steamer, five-pas-
senger touring car had arrived. That
was the answer. Nov, speaking
along those lines" began Captain Ryus,
there is nothing on four wheels that
can touch a candle to that little car.
Amt she beauty? Come and get in
and see how roomy and comfortable it
is"
The Herald typewriter thumper
climbed in very obediently and willing
ly, and found that the rear seat of a
White steamer of the '09 model was a
very good and comfortable place 20
rest bones and muscles grown weary
with walking up and down gasoline
row. After bouncing around in the
back seat for moment and finding
that the tip to the seat and the ar
rangement Of springs and upholstery
was very fine indeed, the captain in
vited the writer to get in front with
him and see for himself what the car
could do.
The car had just been taken off the
railway platform and was still under
process of removing the stains of
travel from its sides. The curriers'
finished, Ryus took a seat at the wheel
and twisted the throttle ever so little,
when smoothly and steadily the little
candy car moved out of the garage
across the sidewalk and up Broadway.
Turning over on Fifth street to
Grand avenue, the demonstrators ia
vorite hill was climbed without the
least trouble or hesitancy. 1t was on
Grand avenue hill that one of the new
features of the White was shown to
advantage. II is cutoff that regu-
lates the part of the stroke during
which the cylinders take steam. AS is
we'll known all steam engines take
steam during a part of the time the
piston travels and the rest of the way
the pressure is due to expansion. By
the use of the foot pedal that has been
added to the new model it is possible to
allow the cylinders to take steam for
the entire stroke, using the entire
boiler pressure, or cut 1t down to the
minimum and using expansion of the
steam for the great part.
The advantage of the new arrange
ment was shown on Buena Vista hill
as we'll as Grand avenue. On the for
mer hill the rock was rough and
rocky, and the car was throttled down
to very low speed to get past the
rough obstruction, and then by push
ing the cutoff pedal 1t rapidly picked
up speed and power.
The engine can be ''linked up" which
is the technical term for shortening
the stroke. by the usual hand lever,
as well as by the foot pedal. The
pedal is used for temporary adjustment,
while the hand lever which is used for
reversing as well, is for adjustment
for continuous running under stable
conditions.
The new spring arrangement has
proved an improvement over the al
ready we'll established superiority of
the White riding quality. To say that
the new car rides like a White is not
sufficient to express 1t any more If the
former standard is taken. The new
car rides more like it was suspended
in air and has none of the 'wallop"
that most cars show when passing over
a bump in the road.
In appearance the new car has pref
tier lines than any former model that
has been turned out from the White
company's facto..-. The most striking
innovation is a short hood which tends
almost to stubbiness without, however,
sacrificing an excellent sense of pro-
portion. The short hood allows of
moving the front seats forward and
placing the back seats well over and
in advance of the rear axle. The main
part of the load of the car is thereby
riding qualities similar to the short
coupled types that have proved COM
Portable as well as classy.
straight line effect has been car
ried out in the body, which. while it
gives the car a slim, graceful appear
ance yet allows of ample room in the
tonneau to seat three.
Taken altogether, the car is one that
affords ample excuse for the force at
the White emporium to indulge in
long, persistent talk and the demon.
STATIONS that they will be able to give
will undoubtedly win many more
strong adherents to the ranks Of
steam car enthusiasts.
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