Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-03
GASOLINE GOSSIP
Scott Gives Up Thor Agency

southern California.
His retirement is not due to any
fault in the Thor machine making good
or lack of popularity, but solely because
he thinks that he has not been treated
fair by the Thor factory. Instead of
giving him the Southern California
agency, after he had spent several hun
dred dollars in racing the machines and
making a reputation for them here that
was second to none, the manufacturers
gave the general agency for the local
field to San Francisco man, who with
out the investment of a cent is allowed
to draw large part of the profit from
the sale of every machine that Scott
sells in this section.
On parts the discount is such that
Scott cannot sell to jobbers at less than
list price. He is not the man who will
submit to any such treatment and not
being able to make any terms that will
allow of him making profit that in his
mind is commensurate with the time
and money he has invested to make a
reputation for the machine, he intends
to discontinue his efforts in that direc-
ton.
He has been the largest seller Of the
Thor machine that the factory has had
but still he was ignored when the
agency for the state was placed. Be
side making a record for sales, he also
got more speed out of the wheels than
any other agent ever did, and did more
to make the reputation of the Thor
than even the factory.
EImores Sell Fast
Valveless cars were never in greater
demand than they have been this sea-
son, and the Elmore agency has been
delivering the cars as fast as the fac
tory can ship its allotment.
Five cars went out just before Christ
mas within less than a week, and other
deliveries are waiting on a shipment
that was due yesterday. James S.
Kuns, VIM. B. Corwin, c. F. Smith, D
B. Denton of Santa Barbara, d. J. Bas-
tanchury of Whittier and Roy Knaben-
Shue, the aeronaut, were purchasers of
cars during the past few days.
c. H. Frink of Santa Barbara was in
the city for few days during the holt
days, having driven down in his Ell
more.
MoreIand Resigns to Start Factory
w. S. Moreland resigned from the
Auto Vehicle company's force as chief
engineer on the last day of the year.
He is the designer of the two-cylinder
Tourist, as well as the new four-cylin-
der car that the factory is beginning
to build now. He also designed the
Durocar motor
Previous to his coming to Los Ange-
les he was connected with the Winton
and Haynes-American factories in the
mechanical departments.
He now plans to start a manufactur-
ing plant on the Pacific coast to build
a four and six-cylinder motor car that
Will be of high quality. He claims to
have sufficient backing to make the
venture successful, and hopes to have
the plant in operation by the middle
of the coming summer. Drawings al
ready are under way for the new ma
chine, and as soon as he decides as to
where he will locate the factory he
says that he will begin its construction.
Auto Club Does Good Work
Those motorists who journeyed to
Pasadena New Years day to see the
Tournament of Roses had many good
town filled up and saved many a pas
of Southern California. They sent their
big road wagon out on the Pasadena
boulevard and had the ditch at Bairds-
town filled up and saved man va pas
senger in an automobile a hard Jolt
1t was feared for a long time that the
club had entered into the long sleep
from which there is no awakening, but
the work of New Years day was suf-
ficient evidence to displace any such
impression.
NuTtlSS motorcycles Arrive
Roy Knabenshue is in receipt of 2.
number of Curtiss motorcycles of late
model He has taken the agency for
TINS territory as well as for the separate
motors which are used extensively in
airship work.
He has two models on the floor at the
present time. Singles and twins com
prise the line. A three-cylinder motor
is expected to arrive soon and will he
included in his exhibit at the coming
automobile show. Curtiss is credited
with making the fastest time ever made
py man on motor. He went a mile
on OrInond beach, in Florida, in the
remarkable time of 26 2-5 seconds. He
USED an eight-cylinder machine.
Sllght RIFLES in the sand Of the beach
would make the machine jump dis
tances as great as sixty feet, and Cur
tlsS could not be induced to make a
second trial. The torque of the motor
was so great that he had to lean far
over TO one side to overcome the side
tip that was induced by the fortv-borse
power engine that propelled him
Haynes Demonstration Sells Quickly
Before the Woodill brothers cou1d nm
load their new 1909 Haynes demonstra-
Tor from the train they sold it TO ~
man +. Gage, former secretary Of the
o"A }, WIZ IS stopping at Point
Iona with the theosophicaI COLONY.
Mr.. Gage wanted to buy an OAKLAND
but when he found that he would have
10 walt two weeks for delivery he was
induced to go to the station to see the
new Haynes. He took fancy to the
car and gave his check for it without
having even sat in the seat.
Another Haynes that was shipped IN
san francisco for George Barnes will
probably be diverted here for the local
garage.
HamIn Keeps Things Stirrinq
The way in which Ralph Hamlin and
his sales force get the cars into the
hands of their customers is the envy
and. despair of several of their com
petitors.
A long list is made of the names of
the men who bought the popular air.
cooled cars last week and the floor is
stripped of everything but one touring
car at the present time. Those who
bought cars were E. S. Richman of
Fullerton, D. V. A. Williams of Rands-
burg, j. D. Braly, DR.. w. Nevin. J.
c. Wright of Azusa, George A. Mans
field Of Redlands, Morris E. CHM Of
Redlands, Hansen Moore and j. A.
Graves. Mr.. Graves purchased his
third six-cylinder touring car and now
has the latest thing in Franklins
Hamlin says that he has done 125
per cent more business during the past
year than any previous season and has
a prospect of still better trade for
1909
She Couldn't Help 1t
Belle-Whats the matter with them ?