Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-03-10

A few years ago 1t was a compare
lively simple matter for motorist to
select car The would-be- buyer had
only to determine the amount he was
willing or able to invest in his pur-
chase and then choose between the
two or three makes selling at the re-
spective price. At present a motor1st
who is in the market for a new car is
confronted by a number of problems
which it seems almost impossible to
solve. For instance: Is it more adVis-
able to be conservative and invest IN
a four or six -cylinder car, or will this
type of motor be obsolete within few
years, inasmuch as these types of
motor might be replaced entirely by
Fights and twelves, which, if one is to
believe their advocates, are the motors
of the future?
A comparison of the leading makes
of 1916 cars shows that there prevails
a wide divergence of opinion among
the American automobile manufactur-
ers on this subject. Two Of the larg-
est factories of the country are en-
ploying eight and twelve-cylinder mo-
tors in their respective makes, while,
on the other hand, the builders of the
highest priced cars in the country
continue the use of four and s1x-cyl-
inder motors. Two factories nave
even abandoned the siX-cylinder and
are GQulpplnS Il61r 1910 11fOuS4S WIN
our-cylinder engines only.
A short and not too technical dis
cussion of the advantages and disad-
vantages Of the multiple cylinder v
type engine, as compared with the
older types of motors, seems, there
fore, timely and might be Of help to
the motorist in selecting a new car.
Advantages of Fights and TweIves.
The chief argument which is ad-
Q,-r ,,NI1t syNlo tI1
der V-type motor is its f1exbiity, its
even torque, which permits Of rapid
acoeleration on high gear and the
absence Of vibration at any speed. In
addition to this, the twelVe-cylinder
motor is perfectly balanced. This fea-
ture Is not found in the eight-Cylinder
motor. for which reason eight-Cylin-
der motor cars show a lateral sway at
high speeds, or, as this movement was
aptly described recently in a discus
sion Of the Society of American Auto
mobile Engineers, IAN eight-cylinder
car behaves at speed like a dog COM
ing out Of a pond and shaking itself"
Both Fights and eWelVes have, on &C
count of the overlapping of eX-
blossoms, a much evener tOrque than
fours or skies, and this feature per-
Iaits Of throttling these motors down
on high gear to extremely low speeds,
and also gives the respective car a
rapid acceleration. The latter fea-
ture, however is much enhanced by
the fact that all eight and twelve
cylinder cars now in the market use
very low ratios in their rear axels
The leading eight-cylnder for in
stance, is geared 40 to 1, the leading
twelve-cylinder is geared AS to 1. If
such low gear ratios would be used
with four and siX-cylinder motors of
equal power, their accelerat ting qauE-
ties would also be greatly improved.
Disadvantages Pointed Out.
These are the advantages gained in
employing eight and twelve-cylinders,
and W. have now TO consider their
Disadvantages Een a layman will
Sc - frs glance the enormous COM
p-.ca-o-s and the inaccessibility in
1=-s-- = eight and twelve-cylinder
E--Tps motors More cylinders mean
a.15--o-2-- parts, additional parts
E7S- more bearings more bearings
mean mare friction and more friction
zaz-S -lsS o power IN addition to
his have u consider their addi-
-1-z- 1-@-E-- ard heir high gasoline
consumption. IS regards the inacces-
pies nay suffice: Most N-type motors
now OF the market have the two ex-
1a-s- -r1--fC.Ls placed between the
-ko cylinder blocks where are also
carried The valves and carburetor. In
order % make adjustments to these
So-- - " ----1 L--t iL4LtJL IS not - Wllle
touring, for tnstance-it is necessary
to place ones hands between the two
blazing exhaust pipes, and anyone
who has ever tried 10 adjust a valve
under such conditions will agree with
the writer that il IS no pleasant task
Another make Of twelve cylinder no
tor employs TWO cam shafts placed on
the valve mechanism without remov-
ing the motor from the frame of the
car,
Best Foreign Cars Fours.
In view of al these disadvantages it
seems a pity that American automo-
bile manufacturers have not paid
more attention TO a greater develop
ment of the four and six-cyfinder