Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-16
MUCH INTEREST IN
UNOERS[UNG CARS
Fred W. Haines Tells Merits of
This Practical Con-
strncti0n.

Prospective automobile purchasers
the country over have manifested of
late an Intense interest In the merits
of underslung construction as applied
to automobiles. So incessant has been
the call Lor a brief summary of the ad-
vantages of undressing cars over the
ordinary typ that Fred w. Haines, of
Detroit, vice-president and general
manager of the Regal Motor Car Com
pany n an authority on underslung
construction, as we'll as the designer OF
many of the more popular models. has
given out the following, which will be
of general interest:
Underslung construction" declares
Mr.. Haines, simply means that the
weight of the automobile Is 'slung' be-
low the axles instead of balanced above
snem, In the manufacture of automo-
biles 1T is merely the new application
OF an old principle. Fol- years in loco
motives, railway cars, trucks and other
vehicles, where safety and ease of rid
ing at high speed were necessary en-
gineers have used the underslunE CON
struction. Its application to the auto
mobile is. new for one reason alone, and
that is Its cost, Designers have for
years realized Its advantages and it's
merits have long since won the APP
prevail of the best engineering prac-
tise. Until recently, however, the cost
or building an underslung car has pre-
Guided the adoption of this type of con-
struction by any but the makers of the
highest priced automobiles. The advent
of the modern moderate priced under
slung car is u to the efficiency of the
p~resent-day large scale production; 1t
Is the direct creation of the phenomenal
progress which the automobile industry
has. witnessed in the last few years.
foremost among the advantages
claimed for the undressing construction
Is the safety which 1t insures the occu-
pants of a, car. A low frame makes
the result is the reduction to a mini
mum of the tendency to skid, or
turtle The significance of this ad-
vantage will be readily appreciated
when it is realized that skidding Is the
cause of a surprisingly high percent
age of automobile accidents. A glance
at the daily press reports of automo-
bile fatalities will confirm this asser-
Ion By actual tests under the severest
of conditions underslung cars have
proved beyond question the superiority
of this type of construction as an in
uranc of safety.
Another factor of safety lies in the
peculiar spring suspension and general
design of the car, giving, as It does,
immunity sfrom spring breakage. The
recoil of all springs is upward, thus re-
ducing the rebound violent Jolt so
noticeable with other types of cars.
Furthermore. II either the front or rear
spring should break such breakage will
in no wise intefere with the control
of the car. The remaining springs will
hold the. frame. in place Just as a
rectangular body supported at three
corners could be released at the fourth
corne and sustain weight. Contrary
to the impression entertained by many
people, the low frame of an undressing
car does not jeopardlze the safety of
its occupants In clearing Irregularities
In the road. The dust pan or an under
slung car is fiat and there are 10 pro-
jections below it. Equal road clear
ance Is maintained throughout and the
pan Is no lower by actual measurement
the low-hRnging hywheel and
other projections of the ordinary type
of car. Until a ruler u brought into
service the ordinary car may appear to
have a greater road clearance, but
actual measurement disaf1rms this>sup-
position.
Comfort in riding Is another dis
tinct advantage of the underslung type