The Washington times., 1911-02-12
many ARE ANXIOUS
TOBECOMETESTERS
Factories Overrun With Per-
SONS Who Think They
Are Experts.

Many persons starting. in the con-
struction department of an automobile
factory have an uncomfortable desire
to become testers" said R.>W. wilcox,
head OF the testing department Of the
Columbia Motor Car Company, Of Hart
ford, Conn.
car ir the Munsey Historic Tour, has
been at the game for many years. and
knows every angle of It.
1T is amusing" he continued" to
overhear the opinions unknowing per-
sons have Of this feature Of car build
ing.
In the chain, Of operations. begin
ming at the iron foundry and ending
with the completion of the car, the
testers work forms the last, but by
no Ineans-tlie least. link. Testers are
behind the wheel every day for almost
the entire wear. A few years back II
was different. Then the busy season
for testers started in the early fall and
business was brisk urtil early summer,
or, az many drivers said, The boys were
out through the worst months Of the
year.
In Sunshine and Rain.
''1t is to be acknowledged that this
hesIthful and fascinating of occupa-
tions, though one must be out in all
kinds of weather. People see a tester
on a beautiful summer day, and they
remark: What a nice time that fellow
has in life They do have a good time
OF it-on that particular day-but the
next day there may be a pouring rain
storm. The tester has to go out just
.
sunshine as in private ownership and
driving OF cars.
I'm the winter test drivers suffer real
hardships at times, as there is no glass
front or top to protect, and the boys
often come In with sleet frozen solid
on their clothes and faces, which is
cheerfully endured"
Duties of Tester.
The duties of tester consist of taking
the car from the assembling department
first upon the road. It is first required
10 he creased and oiled in all parts and
then the motor run slowly until all
working parts find a good bearing After
which, test cars are given severe road
work to prove speed and hill climbing
ability.
A tester is required TO make all ad-
justments. both to motor and driving
parts; also keep report or all INCIDENTS
OF the road driving. each vehicle COW
ering 100 to $50 miles of road travel be
fore being passed to the head tester.
After the cars go through the paint
shops, testers again receive them and
give them another finished road test.
This is not such a severe test as the
first, but is sufficient to make certain
the smooth running qualities and regu-
larity Of the engine. The final adjust
ments of brakes are then made, after
which the car is ready for shipment.
Started. as Testers.
Almost all famous drivers of racing
cars have at one time or another been
in the testing department of an auto
. mobile factory. Testers have the oppor-
tunity, and make the most of 1t, to &C
-quire ability to handle cars to per-
lection.
Wilcox maintains that a frst-cIass
tester is not born, but developed by
arduous work, and not a few aspirants
fail to come up to the rather severe
requirements.
The boys always are willing to lend
q hand to those in trouble on the
-. roads, he said, and it is not fnfre-
uucnt that one sees them stop and do
all they can to help straighten things
out when something has gone wrong"