The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-07
Gar @m0
Highway


The efficiency expert in the auto
mobile field has made a deal of mis-
chief thus far. In a couple of recent
instances he has eliminated lost mo-
ton to such effect that strikes have
resulted. One case was that of the
rubber workers in Akron, who com
planned of the presence of the man
with the stop va tch and the pad. AL
most at the same time the workers
in the Eenauit factory in France
showed their opposition to the intro
duction Of the split second and other
mantle stations of The system SO vigor-
ously that the factory was shut down
and 5000 men were Put out of en-
ployment.
Late reports are that the tire max
ers are returning to work now. but
that has little bearing on the grlev-
ance that led to the strike. The
workers in Akron complained that
they all were judged ~ the standard
OF the most expert and rapid hands,
under which conditions it was i'm
possible for the average worker to get
a satisfactory wage.
Just about the same idea obtains
among the French workmen- A
Renault was in America about
year ago and was pleased with the
efficiency idea. Some months ago he
tried to install 1t. but the move met
with failure. Recently he took II up
again. The employees said the sys-
tenn worked out SO that standards
were obtained from picked men work
ing under high pressure and applied
to the generality of them. Their ex-
pressions OF discomfort Disguised NJ.
Renault and he closed the factory,
shutting out 5000 men. Then he de-
<aN 40 xp1Agibrf
come back until his men were in a
more reasonable state of mind.
The chronograph and notebook APP
parentiy have not been a successful
pair in the estimation Of the work
ers. Tho system applied for cou-
pie of generations of workmen. how
ever, should mean a highly skilled
factory force.
Right Kind of Chauffeur
cone hears a good deal of criticism
OF the efficiency of the chauffeur, but
enough is not said for the really good
man" writes Max Pernberton In the
Field Of London@ 1T il to be feared
that there are few owners who really
appreciate the services OF the re-
sourceful mechanic as emergency
makes him known e US. This man il
like the great bridge piayer--he may
the merely practiCed person plays
them, but the twenty-frst or the fifty
first hand will show him TO be a
seffiRs -.- .t' o.
Possibly the master never hears a
word OF the particular accomplish
ment which distinguishes this ser
want from has fellows. 1t may be
that he got the car home when the
more automaton would have left IL
by the wayside. Or he may have
spotted some obscure defect which.
had IL not been detected. would have
worked ultimately a great mischief
In either case IL is his natural genius
which saves both the car and the
masters purse. This genius too often
goes unrecngnized and uurewarded.
I heard a curious story tire other
day which illustrates the natural apti-
ude Of the born mechanIcian in a
, very please RI; way. y man had taken
down the valves Of his car and was
working against time in Il country
garage. This. as country garages 50
frequently do. lacked the light neces-
sary 10 the commonest operations OF
"a motor stable, and one was not sur
prfsed TO hear that the mechanician
in charge Of the car managed To dTop
a nut into one If the cylinders,
HE had To take the ear out that
night and as he did not know into
{ WHICH fEtfflU%F kfRE ltNA BAaHa 48A4f@ii INV
probabilities Of his making a start
appeared 30 he remote, 1T WAS at
this moment that his wits asserted
themselves, and, taking a piece Of
wire. he rubbed IT fbr little while
upon the magnetic and thus made n
magnet of II. The subsequent opera
tons must have been as exciting ms
the first salmon which an amateur
has hooked
The mechanician fshed for the
nut. and oddly enough, he caught IL
at the second trial The wire proved
To be perfectly maenetized. and 1t
landed The little fish on the bank
without tremor- Whether this be
an old tip or a new ! really do not
know. but the fact that the man en-
ployed il successfully proved beyond
doubt that he has brains beyond
the ordinary.
Not, however, In these tricks is the
genius of the clever chauffeur most
clearly demonstrated bur in the
watchfulness with which he safe
guards the chassis intrusted 20 him.
There is a class OF man which ac-
eepts troubles when they come; there
+ is another Gloss which anticipates
troubles and often complains of them
when they are non-eXistent. Apart
from these is the servant who watches
the mechanism with care which Is
unfailing and who can detect a dam
ger when yet affair, In the latter class
| would put man in my own neigh
T borhood who now has charge Of two
French twelves' and has been re-
sponsible in both cases for the de-
lection of initial errors which uf-
doubtedly, had they not been rectl-
field. would have cost the owner a
great deal of money.
In the first case the bali-bearings
for the clutch mechanism had in some
/ unaccountable manner become loose,
and were beginning to play havoc
with the crank shaft. In the second
/ case the ball race of one Of the front
wheels had also moved from its seat
j ing and was allowing much play
! that disaster could not but have re-
suited had the mishap not been de-
tected> The ordinary man. | suppose,
would not have discovered the shifting
I OF the fiyWheel bearings until real dis
aster had attended ii. The thing was
/ hidden away and subtle. and needed
the vigilance of a real master who