Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-21
GREAT CHANGES
IN FIVE YEARS
THOMAS FLYER EXPERT is
REMINISCENT
SEES UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT IN
AUTO MECHANISM
motor Cars Impro ed in Quality Sim
iultaneous with Reduction in
Prices, and the End
is Not Yet

Durlhg the past five years the auto
mobile has undergone precisely the
same kind of development, but at an
unprecedented speed, which every new
mechanism is obliged to pass through,
says G. H. Taylor of the Thomas
flyer- 1t has been simultaneously inn
proved in quality and cheapened bv
the natural method of the Survival of
the httest' and the elimination of the
more unfit constructions. This process
IS still going on, but at a slower pace
than formerly. Few elements of the
pleasure automobile have survived the
past five years unaltered
Inc motor has been quieted by at
tentlon to valve-Operating mechanism,
TO the carburetOr and to the exhaust
line. 1t has been given remarkable
f1exibility by improvements principally
in the carburetor and valve setting.
The magnetic has come into it's own
as the most reliable source of ignition
current. The radiators have been
strengthened and increased in cooling
efficiency. The cylinder jacketing and
fabrication have been cared for in
such a way that there is no longer
any excuse for an overheated motor.
In the transmitting system the old
cone clutch has been greatly improved
and the newer disc types have been
developed, it would seem, almost to
perfection.
Sliding Gear Stays
Through the use of special materials
and of special tooth forms, together
with the 'annular type of ball bearings,
gear boxes have been reduced in size
and silenced. The sliding gear has
practically eliminated all other forms
of transmission and unlike five years
ago, there is no rival which seriously
threatens it's place. The live rear axle
with entirely inclosed driving mechan-
ism has been developed from a most
uncertain mechanism five years ago to
one of the most positive and reliable
units in the car.
AS regards the running gear, the
pressed steel frame was originated
but little more than five years ago ana
was seen only on one or two cars for
several seasons. It is now universal.
it's advantages from the standpoint of
strength, lightness and cheapness be-
ing now thoroughly understood.
For front axles the one-piece drop
forging of I-section has taken the
place of the old built-up tube or hand
forged rectangular section.
The springs, especially in the rear,
have been heightened, f1attened and
made of better material. with corre-
spending increase in comfort, espe-
cially at high speeds.
The wheels, apart from the hubs and
tires, have undergone less change than
any other important element, but con-
sidered as a whole the adoption Of
drawn metal hubs, roller and ball
bearings. together with detachable
rims, have modified this unit very ap
preciably.
Materials Have Helped
The automobile engineer is not alone
to be credited with the enormous adj
vance which has occurred. Today he
has at his command methods and ma
terials which were unknown or diff
cult to obtain five years ago. Today
the enormous volume of business which
the automobile has created has en-
abled specialists in certain lines to
equip themselves in a most complete
manner for handling certain classes of
work Thus it is possible to obtain
pressed steel autOgenously welded
parts at low prices, which, If properly
designed, are superior to anything that
could have been made commercially at
twenty times the price a few years
ago Five years ago the steel makers
of this country were net equipped to
turn out the special grades of steel re-
uuired for high class automobile work,
even at three times the price demanded
today.
In this way it may be said that every
portion Of the automobile has been
considered from different points of
view by men who had made this type
of part a study for years before the
advent of the automobile and who thus
were peculiarly well placed to help the
automobile engineer in his work.
To the large automobile manufac-
turer belongs the credit of having the
foresight and daring to invest large
sums of money in a new industry re-
plete with pitfalls and thus providing
the engineer with the means of work.
ing out his problems. That the Amer
lean is able to compete and even beat
the foreigner was most conclusively
shown when a Thomas stock car beat
the best that Europe could produce IN
the New York to Paris race.
Finally the automobile engineer him.
self must be credited with the biggest
share in the improvement Of the car
mechanism, since he has been the
leader under whose direction others
have worked toward the attainment OF
a common purpose.