The Washington herald., 1917-07-18
FRANKLIN COMPANY
LIKES FRIDAY, 18th
Local Auto Sales Manager Wins
Success on link Day.

Friday, the 18th, would have terrors
for the superstitious, but for the
Franklin Automobile Company II has
none, for IL has always been lucky
number for them. Selecting Friday.
June 13, as the date for the national
efficiency demonstration. some lfO dis
tributers OF Franklin cars throughout
the United States. went out and es-
tablished a new \ world record for
mileage on a gallon of gasoline.
A Franklin six-cylinder car, driven
by Edward T. Mccormick. represent
ing r. II. La Porte. Washington dis
tributer for the Franklin. and carry
ing two observers, covered 20 miles
on the road to Baltimore on one gal
lon of gasoline.
The La Porte entry was a regular
five-passenger stock car with a bottle
containing a carefully measured gal
lon of gasoline mounted on a frame
on one Of the running-boards in plain
view of the driver and passengers.
The observers were Joseph Berberich.
prominent Washington shoe merchant,
and 81 Grogan, of the Washington
Post.
Just how prominently 10 has fig
ured in. the many tests to which the
Franklin car has been put is shown
by the following record or this car:
During the first year OF the COM
pany's history, back in 1902. thirteen
cars represented the first years out
put and since that time 13 has always
been the chosen number whenever
possible. In the Glidden tour, July g.
"a. 1908, two Franklin six-cylinder
models finished with a perfect score
over the 1,700-mile trip. There were
% entries in this contest and one
Of the Franklins bore number IS.
A Franklin car bearing number Is
was the clean-score winner in the L.
6oO-mile Boston-to-Bretton-W Re.
liability Run held September % TO Oc-
tober /. 1905 In the Worcester en-
durance run on the 18th of Decem-
ber, 1905. the Franklin was the only
unparalleled car and defeated 13 ri
walls.
A Franklin car won first place on
the 18th of February. 1909. in the Ok
lahoma endurance run in Class A over
22S miles of muddy roads. On June
l3 OF the same year a Franklin car
secured first place in the Denver
Pueblo Reliability Run. a three-day
contest, with less than a point penali-
zation.
In a three-day run on the 18th OF
June, 1909. in the Catskill-Berkshire
run two clean scores were made by
Franklin cars. This course led over
roads picked because of mountain
grades. Through 13 States in 13 days.
with an average of go miles a day,
the Franklin completed a 3.5Oo-mile
journey known as the Franklin trek.
This was ended May 10. 1914
Bearing number 13. a Franklin one
ton truck established a worlds rec
ord in the Boston-American economy
and reliability contest October A-22.
1910, with an expense OF only s.ooss per
ton mile.
June last month a Franklin broug-
ham, the first enclosed car to COM
pete in an economy run in Califor-
mia, defeated 13 competitors in the
Los Angeles-Yosemite National Park
Economy Run.
These Franklin traditions have dis
PEELED all fears for the old bugaboo
that 10 was an unlucky number. Bob
! La Porte. local distributor Of the
Franklin. says he thinks l3 the great
est number in the world.
Why" he said, Il sold my first
Franklin car, a sedan, on Friday.
the 18th. and know the local agency
is going to go well with that omen" :"