The Detroit times., 1911-04-22

at frequent intervals for the purpose
OF comparing notes, Is assurance
enough to the buyer that II the Amer
ican-made type Of automobile differs
In important particulars from those
which come from afar. the reasons
for the differences, whatever they
may be. are paramount"
The Society OF Automobile Engin-
GERS, with membership OF nearly
500 OF the ablest engineers and ex-
perts having to do with the automo-
bile industry. has, within the year,
accomplished results that will be
found to have made engineering his
tory or definite nature. Its work Is
OF interest not merely to the tech
nician, but to the layman who de-
mands efficiency, safety AID comfort
In the use OF his motor car, but who
has little idea how largely these de-
sired qualities are the fruit OF vast
research and labor. Standardization
Is the keynote Of the work OF the
society. 1t Is the vital and impera-
tive need Of the producing end OF any
great industry.
That Standardization Is good thing
is realized by many, but the necessity
OF It would be realized by many more
IL the situation were fully understood.
For example, IL Is not clear to many
OF the business men associated with
the automobile industry that there Is
any unnecessary complication OF de-
sign. They do not realize that there
are three or four hundred more d.
mansions and designs for lock-wash-
ers between the sizes OF 3-16 or an
inch and "a inch than there ought to
be. 1t Is hard for the business man
to see why any such situation should
arise unless there existed some neces-
sity for 1t. The explanation Is clear.
A craftsman Is called upon to make
a drawing of an automobile axle, for
example. His instructions are to draw
an axle capable of carrying a car OF
some given weight and that, In a gen.
eral way, it should be an I-beam axle
OF certain length and style. Entering
into this axle are very many details as
to size OF hole for spring clips, pins
for steering joints, ETC., to accom-
modate the rest of the steering
mechanism and permit the whole
thing to slip into car properly.
The craftsman exercises his own
judgment as to these details, not hav-
ing before him any standard for the
various details. He may choose a
tubing for the steering cross rod. for
example, that does not exist In stock.
IL he has ne table of tubing sizes De-
fore him. he makes 1t to suit his own
fancy so long as II will do the work.
He will do the same thing for the
shape Of the heads of the screws and
bolts and for the size Of the holes for
the spring clips and for many other
details. Every one of these things he
may select, to suit his fancy. may not
exist In stock, may not even be OF
standard design.
The drawing will 60 to the checker
and, IL the figures correspond and the
design be good looking one, 1t goes
parts are ordered. The next thing
that may happen is that the screws
ordered are found to be special and
the screw company furnishing Them
so states and says, Can you not usc
this size. which differs only a very
little from what you have ordered?"
The purchasing department says,
"Yes, but all the other parts are al
ready in the machine shop and par
TALLY machined and we are sorry, but
we must have these special screws
even at the high price you are Obliged
to ask for them"
SO the special parts are ordered and
Incorporated and the worst OF II Ia
that the next time q new model Is
designed, IL may be desired to incor-
porate this axle or parts OF 1t to save
tools and fixtures; so again the spe-
cial parts are ordered and IL may be
several years before the extra ex-
pense OF obtaining special parts Is
gotten rid of. All this arose, not from
necessity but from the unguided idea
OF a craftsman.
To guide the ideas OF such drafts
man Is one OF the principle functions
OF the Society of Automobile En-
gineers. The aim will be to put into
the hands of every designing drafts
man an Engineers Pocketbook or a
series of sheets, which shall show him
what is available, In the way of
screws, tubing. lock washers, rod
ends, grease cups and the many fit
tings that are standard.
This system already exists In
DrluBe DullulnB anu OlneT COnbtTUC-
tons and has been brought about by
the large companies who furnish such
materials. They publish handbooks
showing what the standard sections
are for I-beams. angle irons and the
like. The craftsman has formed a
habit OF going to such books TO find
out which size OF I-beam he can OBJ
tain as a regular section. He man
ages to incorporate such a stock or
standard I-beam In his design, with
the result that no special rolls have
to be turned up to produce II and no
correspondence and communication
as to special prices are necessary
This Is the direction in which the So
ciety of Automobile Engineers is
working, and not with the idea of
sitting original design. There will be
no attempt to throttle original re-
search as In changes in engines,
changes in transmissions. or changes
in any portion OF an automobile.
TIKI A.. ,.nt oltor he horx,