The Washington times., 1916-11-18
HOW ELECTRIC CARS
ARR. BEING HANDLED
System Of "chasing" Machines
To and From the Modern
Garage Is Explained.
BY BENJAMIN MoFFETT,
Sterrett & Fleming Electric Garap,

Sterrett q Fleming Electric Garage.
The. electric garage, different in
service and management from the
ordinary gasolene car house, early
established the plan OF calling for
and delivering the cars OF its patrons
at all hours In the twenty-four Its
scheme was infinitely more personal
with the individual and called neces-
sarily for more intimate service
owners wanted their cars charged
and returned, and out OF the need
for Swing" hours-in which charg-
ing had to be done-came the deyel-
opment of one OF the most remark
able service plans motordom has
known.
Four "chasers," detailed to the
work of calling for and delivering
eIectrics TO our patrons, efficiently
100 cars every night and morning.
One man Ia a sort OF Head Chaser"
and he drives the chasing car. In
calling Tor cars to be brought back
to the garage he drops the other
As these cars come into the garage
the head chaser, following I'm their
trail In his own car, picks up his
three assistants and another route is
The picking.up must be rapid in
order to cope with the tremendous
problem of gathering all the cars
into the garage in a few hours.
Shortest Possible Route.
Under this plan, the head chaser
bringing up the rear, the shortest
possible return route must be fol.
lowed, and the cars may not deviate
from the lsid-out course.
The average time consumed for q
single trip - three cars lis fourteen
Once in the garage. each car Is
furnished with a car bearing the Gus.
| toner's name. address, make of car,
type OF battery and mileage OF the
day just ended: This card is stamped
time Indicated thereon. The de.
liverer, or chaser, signs his name to
the car and returns on the next
route.
Then the car is inspected for any
ing the day, after which the cluster"
goes carefully over the upholstery
with a vacuum cleaner, turning II
over when this is finished, to the
carefully wash and sponge the car
from top to wheels eleaning the win.
take the car and ali the bronze and
nickel fttings are Furnished and
Then Comes the Grease.
when all this has been done, oil
and grease are applied as necessary,
| and the car Is ready to be placed ION
charge This very important process
10 under the supervision of expert cleo
| tricians, who know exactly how much
charge In needed and how rapidly or
slowly II must be given according TO the
condition OF the battery.
The average patron has q standing
order for his car TO be delivered at a
definite hour each morning. Some OF
them, OF course. using them only occa-
sionally. or at variable hours Of the
day. telephone for them when needed.
Delivery in the morning u run or
much the same plan as the collection
The head chaser runs the chasing car
behind the cars being delivered and
picks up his men as he goes along.
| When II IL considered that daily ser
vice OF this kind 10 rendered electric
owners for sS5 a month, Including
garage storage. the need for intensive
efficiency In handling such a great
number Of cars Is READILY seen TO be
vitality necessary. The general plan
run on any othsr but a "clockwork
basis would be impossible.