The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-26
By DIRECT DRIVE.

WashingtOn's motoring population ana
the out-of-town contingent were offered
a most oppOrtune breathing spell yester-
day after the opening on Monday night
of the auto-aero show at Convention Hall,
when the gasoline clan hereabout was
thrown into a state of excitement.
Local auto men declare the state of af-
fairs is surprising. That the call of the
auto is fast gripping Washington was
demonstrated again last night, when an
other large crowd thronged the spacious
han and inspected the numerous exhibits.
A noticeable feature has been the at
tendance Of out-of-town auto men. Scores
of exhibitors arrived at the hall early
yesterday morning, and everything was
spick and span last night
Motorists who note every component
part Of the new models are struck by the
tendency toward greater diameter in
tires. In less than ten years the jump
has been made from pneumatic tires of
2Ik-inch diameter TO those measuring a
full inches, in the desire to obtain the
greatest resiliency and consequent easy
riding qualities of heavy cars. This in
crease in size is a greater problem than
appears at first thought. because the
larger tires must be much more strongly
constructed than the smaller ones, and re-
qulre several times the quantity OF rub
Der in their making. Moreover, the rub
Der question is becoming serious through
the scarcity of this commodity and its
ever-increasing price.
Practically all of the two ton and
slightly lighter cars at the show are us
ing the 5-inch tire Many makers are
placing 4ls-inch tires on their lighter
products. Four-inch sections predominant,
however, on the middle class of town
cars. runabouts. and touring cars The
smallest pneumatic tires mounted on any
show cars are found on the small runa-
bouts. All Of these utilize the 9-inch d.
ameter. There are practically no 2lE-inch
tires in use.
More than passing interest was shown
by the crowds at the show last night in
the exhibit of motor boats manufactured
by the Racine Boat Company, and sold in
Washington by c. D. Davis. 1904 H street
northwest
Many persons made a close inspection
of the twenty-fve-foot cruiser and the
elghteen-foot speed launch.
The writer had an interesting talk with
W. c. Sterling. of the New York branch
of the White Company, who is assisting
Manager Chichester, Of the local Offices,
at the show yesterday afternoon.
There is more chrome nickel steel
used In the White gasoline car than In
all other cars but two selling at more
than twice the price of the White said
Mr.. Sterling. Chrome nickel steel is
the latest development in high-grade al
Logged steels for this class of work, and
it has not been used heretofore, except
IN minute quantities, in any car selling
under $1,000"
He explained that the White people in
tend building a car only for quality, and
it is only by building them in large guam
titles that they are able to use this par
ticular material.
THE crankshaft of the car" continued
Mr.. Sterling. has a factor Of safety far
beyond it's possible requirements. The
shaft is. in fact, ? 3-16 in diameter, and
there are few 50-horsepower cars with
as large a shaft as this
'The White Company claims there IS
no car in America of small carrying ca
paclty. such as these. and selling at its
price, that can show the quality Of the
new White 1t is their intention to make
a place for it in the American market
that is not at present occupied, and that
viii be a standard for some years 10
come. They do not cater TO those de-
string cheap cars, nor permit comparison
with cheap cars, where price only IS re-
garded, claiming their car is a mate-and
not an unworthy mate, at that-to the
highest priced and highest grade cars
made and viii serve in the light of a
tender to the same owner"
Sales Of cars began Monday evening
ana continued yesterday and last night
although prospects" (meaning near-pur-
chases) are being booked every minute
Of the day. Louis Stevenson, of the
Luttren Company, local agents for the
Packard scored the initial knockout
when he convinced A R. Rhinehart u
Coyington, Va, that a Packard IS
touring car is the one and only genuine
car IN all motordom.
If Charley Bender means It, George Y.
Wheeler and his brother, Harry Wheeler.
Of the Firth-Stirling steel plant. came
here from Pittsburg in their American
Simplex just to see what Washington
could offer as an auto exhibition.
Tomorrow night VIII be Society
night" following the custom observed at
the shows in other cities. The price Of
admission will be doubled, and as special
invitations have been extended to men,
bers OF the diplomatic corps. army and
navy officers. and other government and
city officials TO attend the show, It Is
expected that it will rival Mr. Hammer
STEMS opera in the production of a
crowd of notabes.
E D. Summer, of the Royal Tourist
Company, Of Cleveland. is here with the
Terminal Taxicab Company's exhibit.
Roy Dent, of the B. F. Goodrich Com
pany, is certainly the laxative one when
asked about tires. However, he has
nothing on Z. II. Johannsen. of the Hart
ford product It's a toss-up between en-
Jacob Spoerer. Of the Carl Spoerer' s
Sons Company, of Baltimore, Is delighted
with the way Washington has acknowI-
edged his car
". F. Kurtz and Evans Maxwell of
the Huson factory, are telling prospective
purchasers all the merits of the little
brother to the famous Chalmers-Det
". Clifford Long Che doesn't Ike to be
called 'CHn'D Is on the receiving end
of all the foolish questions.
'Browney'' Spence. of the Pope Auto