The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-01
DEMONSTRATES
THE ELECTRIC
SELF-STARTER
Mechanism Under Class in a
Snow White Chassis At
racts Attention
GRAPHIC METHOD OF
SHOWING ADVANTAGES
Keeps the Cars Engine In Con-
slant Motion for Hours
at a Time

FEonaply tne mosS unique feature
at the automobile show was a new
graphic method OF illustrating the
1907 efficiency OF an electric self
cranking system at one main-n floor
exhibit.
Underneath plate glass covers the
fascinating action was easily stu died.
for electric lights were thrown upon
the revolving mechanism. Hour
after hour throughout the day and
evening, the self-cranking system on
the ivory white chassis, which was
the main feature OF the Hudson ex-
hibit. kept operating the car.
This event was intensely interest
ing to the thousands who saw Il.
An ordinary storage battery, such as
is used on the car, Is connected up
with the self-cranking system and
the small electric motor, It's gears
meshing with the fly wheel, turns
over" the motor, driving the cultch
and revolves the transmission.
This Is a remarkable educational
feature In that the speed at which
the self-cranking system operates Is
carefully geared down 30 that the
echanism-beneath It's plate glass
covers-revolves slowly, thus allow
ing visitors to see from the outside
the interior workings OF an automo-
bile in action. There Is, of course,
no gasoline In the motor nor oil, and
the cars gear is "in neutral" and
the self-cranking system turns
over" the mechanism OF the car to
the edification OF the passing thou
sands
The fact that the self-cranking
system, which was born but a year
ago. has reached the state OF per-
lection where It operates the entire
mechanism Of the car for hours,
seems to have an intense fascination
for visiting motorists. II keeps
crowds surging around the Hudson
exhibit throughout the afternoon
and evenings.
Two lecturers. with endurance
riveIing the self-cranking system OF
the car. are In ndance within the
brass railing surrounding the white
chassis at all times. They deliver
tabloid three-minute lectures, which
constitute liberal education on auto
mobiles. One OF the interesting
points with which they deal Is rela-
tive to a 20.000-mile road test that
commenced year previous to the
public announcement OF this special
car. The test was carried through
over the worst roads OF ten states.
the Allegheny mountains and South
ern Canada. 1t was made at train
speed at all times. 1t extended
through the gumbo Of Missouri, the
said OF Michigan. the mud OF Illinois
and the worst road conditions to be
found. The Allegheny mountains
proved an ideal testing ground, ac-
cording to the lecturers, for II gave
the opportunity to demonstrate the
cars power and endurance.
In another part OF the lecture, the
fact is told that following the con-
clusion OF the 20,000-mile test
which is the equivalent Of 10000
miles In the hands Of the average
owner or four years use-it was not
necessary TO make a single basic
change from the design originally
decided upon by the engineers. The
lecturers explain the self-cranking
system, which. when II can be seen
beneath its glass case, is 80 easily
understandable most people
wonder why 1t was not thought Of
before"
Inasmuch as 1t eliminates the pos
sibility OF cranking from the front
OF the car, II Is an important en-
cheering advance, combining all
movements in the operating OF the
Hudson to the drivers seat.