Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-23

day. although it forces the buyer Of a
car to deal practically with two compa-
MES instead of one.
Manufacturers In America. both by
choice and the demand of motor car
users. adopted the plan of making the
bodies as well as the chassis. The bust
ness men of America prefer to make their
purchase of car single deal, with re-
spOnsibility for the car centered in one
concern. Another reason for the adop-
ton of this method was that the manu-
facturer of the chassis, turning out cars
in quantity. could make bodies at far less
cost than dozen or g.. hundred body
manufacturers scattered through all parts
of the country could do the same work.
AS a consequence Of all this the making
of bodies for his cars forms a consider
able part of the activity of the American
manufacturer of motor vehicles today.
Il
A large part of the tire valve trouble is
caused by thei cutting away Of small par
ticles of the rubber washer which rs fitted
INTO the top Of the valve cap. and the fall
ing OF these particles into the inner parts
Of the valve stem, where they often work
between the seat and the valve. and pre-
vent the latter from acting properly. To
stop leaks from this source all that Is
necessary is to cut small discs of leather
SO that they will fit into the cap and cover
the rubber washer. This will allow the
rubber to be used as a cushion and will
keep it from being injured when the valve
cap is screwed into place.
The list Of members Of the Society of
Automobile Engineers for the third quar-
ter OF this year has just been issued. It
contains the names of 4S6 members of
various grades, men who throughout the
country are designing and constructing
the American automobiles. and the parts
and materials composing the same.
The automobile engineers are the master
car builders OF the motor car industry.
They are to the automobile business what
the master car builders are to the railway
business and more. Just as STANDARDIZED
ton work has been found to be the very
foundation, bringing stability and success
to rallroading. so must this same work
be done in the realm of the automobile
before any lasting commercial success
may be insured to the motor car manu-
facturer and before the ultimate of salts
faction can be insured to the motor car
user.
Standardization in material specifica-
tons means q far greater economy in the
production OF motor cars and will insure
to the automobile user either cars at
much lower price or much better cars at
the same price. Not only does the work
Of the Society OF Automobile Engineers
cover much within the field that is for
the general good Of the industry. but 1t
also follows up closely great amount of
work which is of direct interest to the
individual member.
b 4
A division OF the standards committee OF
the society of Automobile Engineers met
of the subcommittee on frame sections.
The current practice in frames for mo-
! tor cars has little uniformity in sizes and
proportions Of the sections. smaller
number of sections would be sufficient and
give the following advantages: % Reduce
the tool cost: To- increase the output OF
all presses by reducing change Of tools;
90 reduce the number of different sizes
Of stock required; a. reduce the number
of variations in the sizes Of all parts fast
ened to automobile frames.
1t was the sense Of the meeting that the
! frame as an element of automobile de-
sign should receive more attention in the
| initial stages of laying out u car model.
with relation to the disposition Of other
| elements of the machine such as power
! equipment transmission mocha nism.
| springs. axles. body. etc. AS an extreme
case of putting the cart before the horse,
designers have been known to order their
, motors. transmiSsions, bodies and other
parts before giving the frames, to which
they are to be attached, thought. OF
course this is very much of an exception.
The committee. in a report to be made
] at an early date. will recommend quality
| OF steel to be used in frames. specifying
the chemical composition, physical prop
critics and heat-treatment desired. This
| is one of the two broad divisions of the
| subject of Standard Frame Sections.
Shellac, dissolved in the form of a thick
strip. is all that is needed to secure rub
Der or oilcloth mats to the floor boards of
the car In satisfactory and permanent
manner. Two or three coats should be
applied to the floor aud allowed to become
''tacky'' before the covering is put in
place After being pressed down firmly at
all points, the rubber or fabric should be
weighted and permitted to remain Ave or
six hours-longer II possible.
| The transcOntinental good roads trip
which A. l.. Westsard is now making on
behalf Of the Touring Club Of America
for the purpose Of laying out the best
touring route from the Atlantic to the
Pacific coast via the southwest, leading
into southern California, has not only
aroused the greatest interest In all the
towns through which Mr.. westward has
' already passed, but is attracting wida-