New-York tribune., 1908-01-19
TIMELY AUTO TOPICS.
TROUBLES OF BEGINNERS.
Steering Gear and Changing Speed
Bother the NO1lces.

ing wheel and changing speeds" remarked an in
struCtOr at the West Side Young Mems Christian
Association automobile school Practically every
beginner. IN spite of the most careful preliminary
instruction. starts twirling his steering wheel as
if it the wheel of a -masted schooner;
and until the beginner learns that slight swerve
Of the wheel is all that machine can stand he
is menace to society and incidentally likely to
violate the laws against intended suicide
a few days ago. when I was out giving indi-
vidua1 road instruction to of these strenuous
steerers. he first banged into a big coal wagon.
nearly upsetting four tons OF coal on our heads,
and then made a turn in Riverside Drive, near
Grants tomb. that almost started down the
cliff into the Hudson River. At another time
Gently one Of my students practically lost all con
troll over the machine. and apparently became
seized with a sort of beginners panic. for he re-
fused to abandon the wheel to me. and / just
able to shut off the power IN time to prevent US
being dashed TO pieces against wall.
Beginners also insist on changing speeds roo
quickly. even after long course OF shop work has
impressed on them the frailty of the automobile
machine. This sudden change from very high
to a low speed may do all sorts of damage, for it
makes the engine go much slower than the A
few days ago Of students smashed up IN
stantly new gearing worth $50 in this way
The "Old English Coach" a 1895 Pope-Toledo Gre
alton. which has excited favorable comment and
Tas the centre OF attraction al the New York and
Chicago automobile shows. has been SOLD Au-
gust Busch. vice president of the Auheuser-B Busch
Brewing Association, of st. Louis The Pope peo-
pie have been in quandary TO who they would
let have the coach. $50 many offers received
MIR Busch intends going Europe with the
coach. and this it Is said induced the Pope Motor
Car Company to let him have the car. Mr. Busch
has also ordered a type No. IS Pope-Toledo tour
ing runabout. painted and upholstered exactly like
the of this type exhibited al the New York and
Chicago shows
The Pope-Toledo coach holds the distinction OF
hafr ,t,I, Ilrca
number of people from the far Pacific Coast. the
extreme South and North to New York and Chi
cago during automobile show week. the result
Of telegrams and other communications sent out
by friends OF the Pope-ToIedO. whose admiration
for the coach had reached a ImitIess enthusiasm
Experts who have this pronounce it
masterpiece of the body builders art. The design
is = refinement of the latest French model. which.
Ike the Pope Toledo coach in America, is the most
talked-of car in Europe.
The decision OF the association of Licensed Auto
mobile Manufacturer in re-estabIishing the Janu-
uary New York show date VIII be welcomed by
manufacturers and dealer alike in the opinion of
+. r. Bump. sales manager Of the H H. Franklin
Manufacturing Company. After ALL" said Mr.
Bump. AN automobile show is really not so much
tor the benefit Of tho wholesale trade OF the
retail An early fall show unquestionably hurts
the late fall retail business as buyers wait for the
show on the other hand. j; does not stimulate
the early spring buying. people ready
To place deposits so far in advance. Therefore the
January show seems We'll advised from every point
Of view"
The popularity of the 1andaulet rapidly in
creasinS, and evidences of the demand are
spTinging Up every side \ number Of the i'm
porteIs are this season equipping the majority of
their town chassis with this type Of body. and
manufacturers of American cars are showing .
variety of design in Landaulet bodies that
passes even the foreign models in *ariety least.
The A. Elliott Ranney Company has just delivered
a three-Cy Under Elmoie LandauIet to DR.. William
IL Vandcnburg. ci n. 30 West 4Sth street.
The TaXicah Company started something" when
it ignored custom and purchased its tire equipment
by the mile, instead OF simply buying so many
tires. And the tire using public. remembering
SuHdry happenings TO the tires which they have
purchased in the past Immediately became absorb
ingly interested what would happen" Results
now in for the first 1000 miles Of running over
the tracks and psvements of New YORK and
are nightly interesting the man who takes
thought OF what his dollar purchases. Il ses ms
that Two tire compaf ie" alone had enough
take up the TaxcaJ 'tr.s by the mile PROPOSE
ton. One OF these refuses give the exact fig
ures. but that has been fairly salts
factory TO it and shows profit. Records show
that the twenty-five taxicabs using Goodyear tires
On Goodyear Universal rims have covered an aver
age Of 4.oc0 miles cab
Actions always speak louder than words Bus
ness activity usually indicates trade and where
there automobile buyers the present time il
may be said with certainty that there is good value
Value is but another name for satisfaction and
satisfaction is what every buyer Of auto1I1bilcs
ants aH~ve everything c',e says Edward {. Strif-
fer. the rfon merchant ard ut.mabn, enthusiast
OF New ToIh Il own tn fourth ear " hich
have purchased of tie X NJ owen COMPANY the
last two being 1903 and 1906 REQ touring ears The
Reos have made eood in power. efficiency. reIia-
EiIity. safety. economy and every other way
1t is not so far back since one heard predictions
on sid tI.at
west" in the automobile during the season ~
lsoS-in fact. il is only q matter of a few weeks
ago Trade has improved by leaps and bounds
and there is every Indication of anxiety i'm the
moe substantial quarters that they have beca
ehortsighted iii not seeing through the utter faI-
lacy the recent slump A few of tn, old houses
in New York increasing they orders to tn.
factories. Commenting ON this phase OF the situa-
tion. General John T. Cutting, of the Oldsmobilc
Company, of New York. says that only will
prices be maintained owing a shortage the
standard American cars due TO conservative fac
tory policies. but that in all proba bility many III
stances will he hreard Of fancy prices being pail
for some exceptionally attractive deliveries.
From what l have observed the park board
which is seeking 10 prohibit he " chairs
the most important and most used thOrougflfares
of the city. is likely 10 find itself in ridiculous
position" writes p W. Strong. manager OF the
WEIGH Motor Car Company. As the only form
of non-skid devices which the park BOARD seems
10 be hostile to chains on the wheels various
manufacturers and sellers of automobile access
sories turning and seeking sale for So
called non-skid devices. which not only fan
tastic and weird In their general makeup, but
win unquestionably do the injury the roads
which the park board has vainly agined is done
by chains. Awaiting themselves OF the looseIy
worded park board provision against chains they
have been asking automohiIists to buy hurriedIy
constructed arrangements of the most AWKWARD
appearance and the most injurious effect upon the