Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-11-07
WEIGHT As A FACTOR
IN CONSTRUCTION
Chalmers Consulting Engineer Says
Sufficient Weight to Guaran-
tee Safety and Stability

Prominent among these points most
generally discussed during the present
season. regarding the different phases
of automobile construction, has been
weight. That weight in motor car
is not q mere matter of opinion, but
one that should be scientifically de-
termined according TO the work to be
done by each part, is the opinion of
Geo. w. Dunham. Consulting Engineer
OF the Chalmers Motor Company.
AS the designer OF the famous Chal-
mers Skies" Mr.. Dunham is recog-
nized as one of the foremost automo-
bile engineers. While he is conser-
Vative. cars of his design have always
been leaders in important improve
ments. and noted for their good sound
quality. simplicity and durability.
Mr.. Dunham was the first engineer
regularly to equip car selling under
$4,000 90 with efficient self-starter. He
was the first to design an efficient six
cylinder car to sell at medium price.
lie was the man who introduced the
flush side streamline BODY, and the
nodded, full oval fender to America.
lie Is one of the few designers of
medium priced cars who look upon the
various questions involved from the
users viewpoint and not from the
angle of the manufacturer alone.
''There is no doubt but what some
OF the builders have followed the lure
Of light weight too far" said Mr.. Dun
ham in recent interview. THE ELI
Tuiuation of superfiuous weight is un-
deniably a good thing, but in the
struggle to secure mere lightness,
many designers have gone TO extremes,
reducing the factors of endurance and
beyond all reason.
1t seems foolish to suppose that any
manufacturer puts extra weight into
his car when he can avoid il. In the
first place, the cost of material is the
main item of expense in producing an
automobile. Excessive use of fine
steels. bronze, brass and aluminium
simply as raw materials alone brings
Up the manufacturing cost of car
much more than one would realize.
From the other viewpoint, it seems to
me preposterous to suppose that any
manufacturer would willfully increase
the gasoline consumption of his car
or raise the cost of tire maintenance
for his users by adding unnecessary
weight. especially when any extra
weight means an unnecessary increase
of cost to the builder himself.
We all realize that the users en-
Gorsement is the strongest selling point
which can lie made for any car and
the builder who does not do every
thing consistent with efficient manu-
featuring TO satisfy his consumers is
simply committing business suicide.
IT has been argued that heavier con-
s,ruction allows the use of cheaper
materials of lesser quality. but where
this has been attempted. the producer
speodingly found himself in SO embar-
RAISING a position. that he was only to
glad to adopt the best grade of mater
ials obtainable. if he was not forced
out of business altogether. 1t was re-
Cognizeds long ago that the severe
usage to which the automobile is put
requires the best materials to be
found.
"A little analysis will show why
there is more weight in some cars than
in others In the endeavor to reduce
the weight of what are known as the
large size light cars, every piece in
the car has been cut to the limit, re-