The Washington times., 1912-10-26
LIFE OF MOTORC CAR
DEPENDENT WHOLLY
!. ON HOW|T IS USED
Discarded Automobiles May
Often Be Rebuilt for
Years of Service. :

What becomes Of all the discarded
automobiles7 This Is the question which
naturally springs to ONES lips whenever
he hears that an acquaintance has dis
carded his motor car for a more up-to-
date model He realizes that there are
many bargains In second hand cars,
and Is no doubt OF the opinion that the
cars viii soon be on the way to the
scrap heap
II may almost be said that the mo-
tor car never dies. One concern that
has produced more than $1,000 machines
that were reported by the owner OF the
second car ever made by the company,
now more than a decade old.
As all old hands knows and as owners
are Gradually discovering, the life and
general disposition of the automobile
depend almost entirely upon its treat
ment. 1t fs quite as possible for a reck-
less driver TO ruin the best car on the
market In less than one seasons run
driver to handle q car for several sea-
sons without serious mishap.
Taxicabs Rebuilt.
That many OF the taxicabs and the
rebuilt motor delivery wagons are any
where from three to ten years old is
perhaps the best proof of the truth of
this statement. 1t will be n surprising
revelation to many to learn that these
substantial-looking vehicles which are
put to the severest test every day are
no more nor less than former pleasure
vehicles reconstructed.
IL dealers cum prolong the life OF a
car to almost any reasonable age the
same results can be achieved by the
private owner II he will take take tho
trouble to fathom the hundred and one
secrets known generally only to deal
eis. secondhand men and the machin-
ist IN SHOPS where the work Of rebuild
An interesting bit Of information for
the prospective automobile owner 10
have tucked up his sleeve is that a
sr1yep pyer car d which Which has has been intelligen,ly
service the second season OF It's career
than during the first. The reason is
SIMPLE. The various parts Of the run
n,ng gear have smoothed out all their
Wrinkles and become synchronized:
weaknesses will have made themselves
known and been corrected or adjusted,
II care has been taken that the engine
has not been overheated, IL the mechan-
" clean and the driver generous with
iubricating oil, there are few parts of
the engine which will show appreciabie
wear during the first season. An or
year. ~'"N
Matter of Depreciation.
When. then. xill an automobile wear
out? asks the prospective owner. In
the economics OF motoring. as It has
been up to the present. this IL an i'm
portant question. II brings up the vital
matter OF depreciation. In the estiuas-
uon OF insurance companies, a car will
depreeiate In value from one-quarter to
one-third each year that IT n In use.
Depreciation is here figured on a selling
reckoning is too arbitrary. yiThe actual
service value Ct the car does not. in
of the original cost II II has fair treat.
ment from Its driver.
TO quote the words OF one OF the old
esq men In the business of overhauling,
r!eJuvenating and selling old models.
Is treated right" To treat IL right. il
must be looked after by capable me
chanics who see that wornout parts are
replaced In time to save the rest Of the
pense is in getting at the parts. and
this Is steadily being reduced by better
arrangements any by Increasing the
durability Of the working surfaces
Gears Replaced.
Transmission gears should be replaced
once In from 5000 to 5000 miles The
gear shafts probably run in ball or
roller bearings. which outiast the gears
and are more easily replaced. Propeller
smart Joints, axle bearings, brake lin
ings. all last from one to three, or four
seasons, and In none does anything have
to be replaced except the wornout
Cars built as most of them are, to-
day become appropriated. not because
the big and expensive parts wear out,
but because OF the little difficulties
winch, II attended to at once. involve
only trifling expense.
Many owners Of old cars complain of
the noise these veterans make. It is
true: In comparison to the purring new
machines Of the latest output. the two
and three-year-old models seem noisy,
but the very leudest puffers can be
made to soften their tone, and In many
instances become actually genteei in
their yocalization II the SCOT be cleared
from the cylinders and the various cups,
Joints; and bearings carefully an con-
scientiously oiled.