El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-30
AUTOMOBILE HINTS
The Effect of Brakes and Their
Use-Number Plates
For Cars.
: By Phillip GibsOn.-

A THOUGH a fact, it is not
n generally known among motor
4 = lists. that the braking effect
upon the brake drums is far greater
if the brakes are applied sufficiently
hard to cause the wheels almost to
slip upon the road or pavement than
is the case If brakes are applied so
tightly as to lock the wheels, pre-
venting them from revolving. OF
course it is difficult to so adjust the
brakes as to insure proper resistance
being always applied to the wheels,
and, even if such adjustment is at
tanned, no little experience is neceS-
sary in their proper manipulation.
However, if one, driving upon traffic
laden or slippery streets, viii but re-
member that an automobile Cor other
conveyance VIII travel farther Win
the wheels actually locked and sliding
than if slipping is Impending" he
may not only avert serious mix
up" but will save much unnecessary
severe wear on the castings as Well
cases out of ten on wet streets is
the result of too sudden an applica-
ton Of the brakes, the mOtOrist VINO
ever bears in mind the above men
toned precautiOn when driving will
find that he possesses much better
control of the car on all classes Of
highway and that the practice will
materially lengthen the life of the
fibre brake bands and tires.
1t is easy to understand why the
purchaser of a cheap car buys and
places upon the machine a number
pad wholly in keeping with that par
ticular class of car-cheap in appear
ance, poorly put together cheap IN
reality, but it is hard to understand
why the purchaser of an elegant road
ster, or five or seven passenger lux
uriOus touring car, is guilty of the
same offenSe, being satisfied with an
inferior pad lilly put together and IN
a great many cases, having the license
number Of the machine 1aringly
painted upon the pad, the latter being
attached TO the machine with wires or
hooks The average patent leather,
aluminium number pad BELTS the ave-
rage price car, but certainly is not
In keeping with the higher price, high
er class machine. You certainly
wouldn't select a slouchy appearing,
lily dressed, uncOuth chauffeur to pi-
lot the car through the city's traffic;
then why is it that you are satisfied
to have the number Of the car and
incidentally, the name of the owner
Haunted before the public in so cheap
a manner When the car is selected, /
purchase from the representative a /
number pad BETTING the class to /
which the car in question belongs. If I
the representative can't supply you, he 4
is behind the times. At least, there I
are concerns making speciality of /
furnishing number pads for autos and !
If your car isn't properly equipped. {
the fault is yours.
The focal length of the average lens /
placed in automobile lamps at present /
Is One-hah of its diameter. That is !
to say that the lamp burner in a lamp /
using a six inch mirror reflector
should BIT seated three inches from the /
center OF the reflector. These burn i
ers are so placed upon shipment OF !
the car from the factory, however. as
they are adjustable it frequently hap /
pens that they become loose in transit (
and are jOstled out Of correct position,
either too near or too far from the /
reflector. Upon arrival of the car at /
its destination the loose burner is
discovered by the mechanic inspecting
the car, who at once securely fastens
1t as it is found and as a result upon
using the lamp a reflector is era cked
OF the buyer discovers that one head |
light projects a beam far along the /
road while the other seems merely to /
1iffuse light at a nearer range The l
shortening Of the focal length or Plac-