The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-05
NOW MANUFACTURE
AUTOMOBILES HERE
RICHMOND IRON WORKS TURNS
OUT FIRST CAR EVER
MADE IN STATE.
KNOWN AS "NlRCINlAN'
NEW MACHINERY BEING ADDED.
PLANT WILL SOON BE READY
TO MEET DEMANDS OF TRADE.
KNOWN AS "VlRGINIAN'

Known always as city which. II
called upon to do 50. could furnish
practically all of it's necessities. Rich
mond has recently added another
spoke TO its wheel of commerce ana
industry by developing plant which
from now on will turn out high-ciass
automobiles ranking below none man
ufactared either in America or in Eu-
rope.
Since Richmond was little more
than a town, but occupying a posi-
ton OF immense strategic value In
the CONNIE rcfal world. it has been
manufa curing center. and one OF It's
principal industries has been that OF
iron working.
With the growth of this INDUSTRY IN
the country at large, so the local
plants grew and expanded. adding
new shops. turning out new and bet
ter products. until now one of these
plants In the front rank of those
that stand for enterprise and pros
perity is prepared to manufacture au-
tomobiles-the ultimate ambition of
every fully equipped machine shop
in the United States.
This plant is the Richmond Iron
Works. which Is composed of several
minor plants. and the history of
which is SO merged with the indus
trial life of the city that it would
be impossible to give any account of
early Richmond without giving prom
inent mention to those individual con-
Germs which with rare foresight fin
ally merged. forming the Richmond
Iron Works.
Car Actually Built.
Already. to test out Its SpecIHcA-
tons. the plant has turned out one
car 1t Is called the "Virginian."
Is battleship gray In color. equipped
with powerful engines and so finished
that 1t is without doubt one of the
best cars ever made by any plant.
The aim of the management OF the
works was to furnish ear equal in
every respect to the $4,000. but which
could be put on the market at $4,000,
car which would be worth $1,000.
which would not require such expense
in upkeep. which would be better and
simpler in construction. and which,
IL injured could be Immediately re-
paired without having to send around
the world for q bolt or pin
There is nothing in the car that
! was not first given a thorough test
As a result. every part of the car can
be guaranteed. and is guaranteed, and
while in making the car better and
stronger heavier material was used
in one or two instances. the car as
a whole Is much lighter than one
would ordinarily expect. The road
wear is consequently greatly lessened.
making the car more economical In
every particular.
In order that the best results may
be attained from its engine which il
q fifty horse power affair the cyitn-
ders~-feur Ia number--are cast In
pairs. and are water-cooled. the tubes
being OF sufficient size TO give an UNI
interrupted flow sufficient TO keep the
engine at low temperature even IL 1t
were double its siz.
Greater Mileage.
4 carburetor OF the Schebler type
In used as after numerous expert
ments this was found TO give more
than satisfactory mileage to the gall
Ion of gasolene,
The ignition system lis dual. COM
, bining In many respects nh the ad-
vantages Of battery and the magnito.
while only one set Of spark plugs IL
used In this system the high tension
current is produced without aid OF
an auxiliary coil being consequently
simpler and easier To replace, though
as matter CT fact IL Is doubtful
If the system could ever wholly wear
out.
Aside from the spark plugs and dis
tributor the two systems OF the dual
plan are absolutely Independent, and
an accident To one of the systems will
not impair the other AnotheA
valuable feature il the fact that when
the motor is running the vibrator ~
cut out and the interruption of the
current is affected by mechanical
means providing therefore a system
which is synchronized and In which
there can be no lag
The exhaust is through muller
| which absolutely deadens the sound
OF the explosion, and which made in
fourteen sections can be immediately
repaired should accident occur. This
muller Is one of the big features of
the car and adds greatly to Its value.
Strai9ht-Line Type.
The body of the car is OF the
straight line type. giving a. quiet dig
nifty lacking in many OF the gondola
and hath-tub bodies. r'he wheels are
Of the strongest construction fitted
with 40x4 ~ tires, but the weight OF
the car is 50 economically distributed
that the fully equipped automobile
weighs nearly 200 pounds less than
| other machines using only the SGx+
inch tire.
car could really he made. combining
time being light enough TO Withstand
the wear of almost any country road.
giving the owner such satisfaction
from The standpoints Of comfort and
speed an dpresenting cleaner and
more dignitieG appearance.
Satisfied with the working model.
the Richmond Iron Works. with much