The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-02
COMMERCIAL CARS
NEED PUBLICITY
Their Manufacture and Sale
Not Developing Rapidly
as Expected.

Midsummer conditions. affecting the
retail automobile trade, combine TO keep
business quiet and without spectacular
feature. Several OF the concerns which
exploited ears in the GHdden tour are
feeling the effect of this IN added in
quiries, or claim such to be the case.
Under any conditions. participation In
public events. such as the recent tour,
irrespective OF results, seem TO bear
fruit in increasing the demand for cars.
The production and sale of commercial
vehicles does not appear TO keep pace
with the development of the pleasure
car industry. II would appear that the
time was ripe for some well-conducted
contests and trials Of commercial
vehicles. which have been sadly neglect
ed for about two years in America.
Unsettled racing conditions stHl pre-
vail The position Of the American
Automobile Association has been
strengthened by the recent utterances in
its favor by the American manufac-
tuners II these stand by their associa-
uons-aud IL is TO be assumed they will
any actual revolt from the control OF
racing viii be weakened al the start
NO adequate census OF how matters
actually stand has yet been made. The
revolt OF today is after all only a
threat. What IL may become. actually,
Is stiI problematicaL
II is now stated mat the Acme racing
car Will be ready for testing on the
roads of Berks county By August -
Tests OF the new engine in the Acme
Motor Car Company's factory al Read
ing have been most satisfactory and
the work or assembling the car is being
actively carried forward. The new ear
will have six cylinders of a bore slightly
less than five inches and with five-inch
stroke II viii have a shorter wheel
base than the six-CyIinder stock cars
already seen ON the track, and xiii be
lighter in spite Of its larger engine.
The car viii have great possibilities in
the matter OF picking up quickly.
which IL is believed, will be an i'm
portant feature of it's racing aualihca-
lions II viii also be capable OF very
high speed.
A. L. Kun and G. p. Fleming. OF the
newly organized Gyroscope Automobile
Company, which Will handle the Gyro-
scope car throughout the United States.
have just returned from a trip TO De-
troit, where they have been in confer
enCe with Charles Blomstrom. the
manufacturer Of the little machine. I'm
provements in construction found ueces-
sary after the exhaustive test given
The Gyroscope by Mr.. Kul in the Gid
den tour were under discussion and a
number of minor changes 10 take care
Of slight weaknesses which were dis
covered in the experimental cars We're
decided upon. The assembling of the
first quantity of these cars has already
been begun and they will be ready for
delivery soon after September /.
At this time Of the year. when tour
ing is in full blast. and some bad roads
are encountered by every road driver,
the need Of care I'm handling the steer
ing wheel Is greatly accentuated.
Needless drivers are often subjected to
delay which could have been avoided
with a little care. Particularly after
heavy rains. the constant jumping of
even the best cars through the ruts and
mud holes is likely to work havoc on
springs and unnecessarily shake up the
entire car.
The life of a car may be prolonged