The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-01
PLAN FEW CHANGES
IN THE new TYPES
Manufacturers All Tending
Toward a Standardiza-
ton in Style.

NEW YORK. Aug. THAT automo-
biles are standard and that few changes
will be made in the models for 1910, IS
the statement made by Alfred Reeves,
general manager OF the American Motor
Car Manufacturers Association. on his
return to New York from the last of
three trips occupying about six WEEKS.
that took him into sixty-one of Amer
ica's leading motor. car factories.
He repeats his recent estimate Of at
least A0.OO0 as the 1910 production, and
says that while there will be no reduc-
ton in the price of the standard mod
els, there viii be more given in a ca
next year than ever before. Ia other
words, while the price Of materials has
been advancing, the cost Of manufacture
is being reduced and the makers are
making refnemc1ts that will bring out
better cars without advancing prices.
Gives a Review.
A general review Of the plans in au-
tomobiles for 1910 would indicate that
Improvements for next year will be con-
fined almost entirely TO the refinement
of the present successful types. In the
opinion of Mr.. Reeves, the time which
has long been wished for when motor
cars would be standard has about ar
rived.
In a general way" said Mr.. Reeves.
Il would say that the 1910 motor car
viii show decided tendency toward
Standardization The wonderful ad-
vances in gas engines during the past
ten years has brought the present type
Of automobile almost to the perfection
point, and improvements now must be
almost entirely In the matter of details.
While there will be some changes o.
models and designs by a few makers,
the inclination is to improve on the
present satisfactory type of motor. The
future may see some radical changes in
car construction, but certainly not for
a couple OF years. The 1910 car will see
and simplicity IN operation, increased
power without increasing the size of
motors. more pleasing design, greater
riding comfort and lower maintenance
cost.
Change in Motors.
lone of the most important changes
will be the use % a longer stroke in
motors. A number of makers are using
the same size of cylinder whether they
be for a four or six model, which makes
for Standardization. Magnets are now
in universal use, some makers not even
supplying a battery High-tensiOn and
low-tension magpetos are used, each
having It's followers.
Among other changes for next year
viii be larger wheels and tires, a longer
wheel base, especially in the moderate
priced cars; the casting of cylinders in
pairs and sometimes en- bloc; the use of
Of very large cars or buggyabouts; the
increased use of the thermo-syphOn
system OF cooling and the adoption Of
a direct drive on third speed In trans
missions where four speeds are sup
piled.
Most radical of all in the way OF
changes relates to the placing of the
steering wheel on the ieft-nand side,
which will be followed by two OF the
biggest producers next year and num-
of smaller ones.
Plan New Designs.
ON some cases motors are being cast
with the exhaust pipe Included. One
maker VIII have only one pipe running
from the carbureter TO the motor, doing
away with the manifold. Carbureters
have been refined and studied with a
view Of securing more power and greater
distance than heretofore.
The design of bodies viii be given
more attention next year and the lines
of the cars generally Will be more
pleasing TO the eye. The use of ban OF
Toller bearings is universal. While the
four-Cylinder motor continues to be the
most popular, number of big cars, and
especially those Of high power, will be
equipped with six-cylinder motors.
While a number Of the small makers
have given up the six-cylinder idea,
there has been an increased demand for
siX-cylin&er cars among the big car
makers, especially those who turn out
the high priced machines"