Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-01-02
TENDENCIES IN 1917
PRICES AND DESIGNS
Distinct Upward Trend in Mid
die Class Cars Noted at
Factories.
FEATURES OF NEW MODELS

in prices and design OF the automo-
bile is made in the current issue of
the Horseless Age. Last year, it will
be remembered, says this automobile
trade magazine, the outstanding fea-
ture of the seasons announcements
was a wholesale reduction in prices,
which brought with it large increase
in the number of models in the low
er price classes and a correspond
ing decrease in the higher classes.
This movement has not only entirely
ceased but the price pendulum has
even begun to swing the other way.
While the lowest price class has not
been affected, it will be observed that
there has been a marked reduction in
the number of models in the class
next to the lowest, from % to 17.2
per cent The loss of this class is
more than equalled by gains of the
three classes next above. They are,
therefore, many more models now be-
ing listed at between $1,000 and $4,000
than there were last year.
The $2,00O-$3,0O0 class remains SUBJ
stantially the same, while the high
est priced class, above $1,000, there
is further marked decline. The
market is evidently still gravitating
from the higher toward the mod
crate priced classes and the pres
sure of the demand has enabled man
ufacturers of moderate priced cars to
raise their price somewhat, the con-
slant advance in the price of nearly
all materials and the scarcity of labor
affording excellent reasons for the
step.
1t is interesting to study develop
ments in regard to cylinder numbers.
First, it will be seen that the six-cylin-
der type is we'll holding its own, for
while its percentage is slightly low
er than for 1915, it is higher than
for 1916. The sum total of the per-
centages of eight and twelve-cylindef
models is exactly the same as it was
last year, and the gain of the six
cylinder class has been wholly at the
expense of the four.
Small Cylinders.
The trend toward smaller cylinders
still continues. Thus practically SO
per cent of all the engines now have
a cylinder bore of less than 3.5 inches,
while last year the percentage was
only 378 and the previous year only
1913 This is partly explained by the
gain of the six-cylinder over the four
cylinder model, and-if we follow the
development over number of years
bsck-by the appearance of eight and
twelve-cylinder engines. On the
other hand, it is in no small measure
due to the advent of the high speed
engine. Small bore engines are de.
sirable on account of their smooth
er operation, and small engines offer
advantages in the way of reduction in
total car weight. fuel economy, tire
economy and tax rates,
For the smaller bore cylinders up to
5H inch, the average stroke bore ratio
is now substantially is. As the bore
increases the stroke bore ratio de-
creases and the average stroke in all
classes is not far from inches. This
dimension seems to be limited to a
certain extent by considerat ions of car
appearance, for when the stroke much
exceeds this figure it is difficult to
obtain pleasing bonnet lines.
Cylinders Cast en- Bloc.
Casting all cylinders in a single
block is now the accepted practice in
four-cylinder engines and is rapidly
approaching the point of universally
in siX-cylinder construction. This
practice has been furthered by the
simultaneous change from integral to
detachable cylinder headsl What has
retarded the adoption of the en- bloc
construction, especially in six-cylinder
engines, in the past, is the difficulty
of the core work ii the heads are in
tegral. Detachable cylinder heads ia
cilitate the Decentralization OF the 'cy-
finders, which make them an advan.
tage to the user
The facing of the surfaces of the
joint and the provision of the gasket
involve a certain amount of expense
to the manufacturer. which is climin-
ated If the heads are made integral
but with modern methods OF surface
milling in multiple spindle machines
this item can be reduced to such d
low figure that the advantage appar,
emily remains with the separate head
even in the lowest priced machines
In the six-cylinder class the practice
OF grouping the cylinders in pairs
which was for years popular with
leading manufacturers, shows a de.
cided falling off from about 80 to IL
per cent The only model in this
class with singly cast cylinders is the
Franklin. and the fesm Of the cylinder
of this air cooled engine Is sufficient
reason why the singly cast construc,
ton should be retained.
Ferdy PosEenburg Dead,