New-York tribune., 1917-07-15
Carrying These Spares,
You'll Not Be Hung
Up on the Road
BY {. f. T. SCHARPS

eventualities taken by automobllists
Without any idea of preparing a huge
and imposing list of spare things to
pe carried. there are some items that
q wise user of a motor car will see TO
II he has before he goes on the road.
Things are bound to happen to auto
mobiles, and when they do happen it
rs. not always in front of a garage.
Lon delays on the road can so often
De avoided by a little foresight.
Furthermore, lot of unnecessary ex-
pense can be spared by having things
that are likely to be needed. The thing
argument, does il?
A spare tire and plenty Of gasolene,
water and lubricating oil make "com-
plete touring outfit" for many automo-
bilists. How about things connected
with the electrical equipment? Fuses,
for instance, cost about nickel apiece.
When you need one you need it badly.
You cannot be sure that you will find
one OF the proper size for your car
in the garage you plod along to. II
is a good deal of a chance also to
figure on some automobilist you appeal
TO having the foresight TO carry just
the sort you want.
Some one said once that extra lamp
bulbs were as necessary as spare tires.
That comes pretty close to the fact,
too. You need lamp at night. That's
the only time you'll ever notice the
deficiency. And what is worse than
being hung up on the road because a
bulb is burned out? What more dan
gerous?
You can't be sure that you'll find
single contact bulbs in a garage, if
single contact is what you need. The
same is true of double contact bulbs.
To carry along in a suitable package
an extra set of bulbs for your par
ticular make of car involves an ex-
pense of about S2.25, including a metal
box. In cars where the head and tail
lights are connected in one circuit, the
failure of one lamp puts the other out,
too. You may lose more for a fine,
many times over. than the extra lamps
cost.
Speaking of lights, any wise motorist
will carry some sort of trouble light,
unless his car happens to come already
so equipped. If nothing else, pocket
fash lamp will do the work. The ad
Unstable spot lights often can be turned
about so as to be thrown upon the
place where attention is needed. A
pocket flash lamp which gives a good
light may be had all the way up TO
$3.50. When you have a tire to change
at night or some work to do on the
motor you'll be glad you took along
the light.
And, while we're on the subject of
electricity, there is the spark plug to
be considered. often an automobilst
will drive his car thousands of miles
without having to remove a spark plug.
But when one of them does go wrong
il is very handy TO have a spare one
to use for replacement. Spark plugs
cost about 81 or $3.50, on the average,
so this is not ruinous investment.
Tire troubles come often unawares.
OF course, our motorist has his snare
tire all ready on the rim. For safety's
sake and 10 get himself out Of a mess
in case some other tire goes, he ought
to provide himself with a couple Of
blowout patches. They vary in price,
according to size, but the prices are
minor compared to the amount of in
convenience their absence may cause.
A couple Of spare inner tubes ought to
be carried in the car.
Then, too, for the emergency Of hav-
,s,r- 49, rtsAr r~A
TO be had small vulcanizing outfits,
which make quick and permanent re-
pairs to injured inner tubes and pay
back their original cost of $3.50 and up
several times over.
Incidentally, a tire gauge ought to be
in every automobilist's outfit. He ought
10 know how much air his tires are get
ting and he should see to it that he is
maintaining the pressures indicated To
make his tires give him maximum ser
vice. A tire gauge will cost him 81.
For more extended trips along roads
that are not particularly well known
snd chiefly in the detour season-a tow
rope or one Of the devices on the mar
ket that not only serve as tow ropes
but can be used TO get a car out of a
ditch or a mudhole. is a sensible and
wise precaution. Such things cost from
81 70 So, and don't take up much room
A folding shovel, which costs a small
amount OF money, comes IN mighty
handy, too.
Another thing good either for short
or long trips is a collapsible water
bucket. When you need water for the
radiator you don't always happen 10
find a can in the neighborhood, too. A
bucket like this can be had for rs cents
Another thing for trips of any size is
first aid kit. Little mishaps on the
road. cuts, burns and the like, can be
handily and comfortably treated, and
the minds Of all relieved thereby Of
worry over possible infection. Paying
anywhere from 81 up for first aid kit
Is a good investment. OF course, for
long distance touring luggage carriers
come in handy. You can write your
pwn ticket, paying anywhere from s.
or 81 up, according TO the size and
tlaborateness OF the equipment.
Another handy thing 10 have is an
extra oil can. Garry this along with
your tool equipment. IL will do 70 squirt
gssolene into the petcocks IL you need
to do any priming and can be readily
filled from your fuel supply. It saves
Implying out your oil can already full
Of lubricating oil. Furthermore, you
wont waste gssolene using squirt oil
esn, as you would by picking up a
wsyside tomato can and trying TO bend
IL 50 as 20 make a spout
And never set out on q trip without
,ntl-skid chains. They'll give you a
feeling Of security on any sort Of road
In wet weather. More than that. in
emergencies they'll do yeomsn service
in towing and getting out Of holes.
Every one Of the things mentioned
will prove It's worth and justify the
money expended therefor. And when
the total IS added up IL is found not 70
be 80 colossal an affair. An eTpendi-
Lure OF s25 VIII give an enormous