New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07
SELF-STARTERS TO
BE FEATURE OF
BIG AUTO SHOW
New and Interesting Devices for
Safety of Motorists To
Be Exhibited.

Among the many new and interesting
things which ought to prove Of great in
terest TO motorists at the National Auto
mobile Show to be held in the Ora d
Central Palace. January 10 10, are the
self-starting devices which this year VIII
Ice found in the majority OF cars to De
exhibited. The seif-starter is not ne"
device, but so rapidly has II become per
( fected and popular in its two years OF
existence that to-day practically all large
, cars and few small ones are fitted with
self-starters The two national automo-
bile shows under the auspices OF the
! Automobile Chamber OF Commerce. in this
/ city and Chicago, will reveal IN most
comprehensive way the strides made III
the Improvement OF self-starters, and
| motorists will find that this Improvement
! is great.
Whereas self-starters in the past in
terfered with accessibility they are now
! so designed that this valuable feature Is
/ not lost. The apparent complication or
| pipes. wires and similar features have
/ been greatly reduced, so that the self
( starter to-day has reached high stand
| ard Of construction. Self-starters are OF
! several kinds. Some Of them depend on
! the storage OF power in springs, air tanks
| or batteries until wanted. when this
power is applied 20 turn the crank shaft
and cause the engine 10 begin It's func-
lions. Others simply insert the com
/ bustible charge into the proper cylinder
and by its ignition cause the engine to
| take up its rotation and work.
] From the viewpoint Of the user there Is
little difference go long as they WORK. But
/ since any mechanism may at times fail
the user prefers the one that seems to
/ be most certain. No better place than the
| shows offer the opportunity 10 test out
and get acquainted with the construction
and operation of these many different de-
vices Probably the earliest forms were
those i'm which the power needed TO tuI
over the engine was supplied by springs.
! These were arranged to be wound up by
the engine when running. and by throw
/ ing a lever or pressing button they
would come into service and turn the
crank several times. A number are still
| on the market and are doing good WORK.
| Another early form used compressed air
| instead OF a spring, and this air was fed
| into the proper cylinder and turned the
engine until it took UP It's work.
| The electric starters use storage Dat
teries of not large size, into which a SUI
ncient amount OF power can be carried
| 10 run small electric motor for some
| time. This motor gears 10 the engine III
such a way that it turns II over. but as
| soon as the engine takes up the work the
! electric motor drops out. Finally, IL re-
charges the battery and leaves 1t again
| ready for use.
| The other form of starters carries gas
| or gas and air under pressure to sur
| fcIent amount 10 cause them TO now INTO
| The cylinders, where, being ignited' they
| take the place of the proper charge untii
the engine has been turned over SUI
fciently to draw in the proper mixture
These devices are slightly less comDh-
Gated and somewhat cheaper.
| There is also third KIND OF starters
which. while not self-starters, are often
class herewith These are simply devices
/ for cranking the engine without the use
! of the usual hand crank. Ropes or straps
to pull. or pedals to push, or stirrups 10
| stand i'm and let the weight turn over the
engine come into this class. These de-
vices are very simple