The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-27
WAR ON AGAINST
MUELLER CUTOU7

The campaign against the use of the
muffler cutout by automobiles is one
that almost undoubtedly will meet
with hearty support from almost all
who have even considered the situa-
ton. However, the rGcy young men
who love to loll down in back of a
steering post dropped nearly to the
horizontal and go banging their way
along otherwise quiet streets. no mat.
ter whether it be midday or midnight.
will hardly approve of any movement
that Is directed against the use of
muffler cutout. There is no doubt that
running in traffic there are certain
kinds of cars which handle better and
pick up more cleverly when the muf-
fler is open. But with the improve
ments in motors this is no longer SO
universally the case. Most automo-
biles are as well off when the silencer
isused and when they are not pound.
Ing along exploding like heavy blast
in stone quarry.
1t is always contended by those who
are addicted to the use of a cutout
that unless it is made use of there is a
less of power due to back pressure.
1t is interesting to note that Prof. F.
r. Hutton, chairman of the technical
committee of the Automobile Club of
America, who lectured recently on the
exhaust and what it meant in power
to the engine, discovered that at en-
CINE speed of 14OO revolutions min
ute or less the muffler made no differ
ence in the power. Prof. Hutton said |
for the benefit of the chauffeurs who |
were present at his lecture that in
using cutout in the city they were
not only making themselves offensive
but also showing a lack of real en-
CINE knowledge.
This expert opinion is in line with
what a great many persons have in
sisted right along was the case.
New York is one of the latest OF
the big cities to take up an ordinance
without silencer. Manipulating the
cutout is illegal in Connecticut through
out the entire State, and there are
some other New England States which
also have passed laws against this
form of noise making. I,
Wherever it has been taken up after
a short time the regulation has proved
very pleasing, although the first IN
stinct of the automobilist is to object
to it the average man who looks out
for the comfort of his neighbors does
not long make fuss over it. The city
streets are full of noises, and as far
as is possible those that can be avoid
ed ought to be eliminated. Even one
who is not timid when he essays to
cross street and hears some big
car rushing along with exhaust wide
open and is saluted from the other
quarter by the defeaning roar of one
of those electric horns which some
folks delight to abuse is apt to be so
frightened that he is incapable of
quick or coherent action.
In line with the campaign against
the muller cutout it seems that it
would be well to take up the question
of noise making by electric or other
such horns. 1t is apparent that against
so many other noises the ordinary
bulb horn is not adequate. There is
need of warning signal which shall t
really be warning, but is should be i
used so that the pedestrian is warned 1
merely and not scared to death. I
A great many chauffeurs drive care {
lessly, uttering the widest, raucous I
sounds from the warning signal on the
car and putting the burden entirely on
to the pedestrian If the warning sig s
nal is used in manner that looks out
for the comfort and the nervous sys- I
tenn of the pedestrian and if the car t
is driven carefully fully half the noises S