Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-16
ALUMINIUM alloys USE
WILL MAKE CARS LIGHTER
Dig Movement for Use OF Strong,
Light Material Halted by
War Prices.
MACHINES ARE TOO HEAVY
automobiles as at Present Con-
Structcd Declared to BE Wasttful
OF Fuel, Oil and Tires, With Repair
Cost Unnecessarily High.
MACHINES ARE TOO HEAVY
BY II. 4. TAItANTOUS.


Just before the country entered the
w var. ihc automobile industry, was be-
way ihn. predicted the coming of the
Light car era. but just az ali biz; move
ineu;s have their Obstacles so did the
use OF aluminium. It's price became
prohihitive. and then againoall sorts
OF RESTRICTIONS were put on the car
manufacturers so that the whole move
Tn: CAR makers are again on the rirlti
track. and aluminium alloys arc going
number Of units OF those cars
IL is ntt speaking very well for orr
industry TO say that II has had the OPP
por,unty TO use aluminium alloys for
many years past, ana has not TAX n
advantage of the numerous advantares
OF A. especially it's liSntness i'm weight
weight reductions must be made in our
cars If they are 10 reach a point Of
efficiency comparable with other ma
chinery we have been using. Automo-
bilns are wastefnl of fuel. oil and tires
hna cost SO much TO keep in repair
because the cars are admittedly too
Light and Very Strong.
aluminium is perhaps the l!Ehtest
metal We have. and It's alloys are not
oniy lighter than most metals, but
euuaily as strong and in many cases
stronger. Aluminium is easy TO ma
eni a' !, does not rust like. iron or
steel IL takes paint easier and 1t looks
and thus runs cooler than other parts
! doubt very much whether The aver
mum car or ever dreamed that W.
would see aluminium wheels. aluminium,
nody. engine and dozens OF other parts
made Of this material. There is such
a car in existence and it's weigh, is
go low, that It's fuel consumption is
so GOT Ike tfiy miles per gallon,
lon OF oil. Experimen;ally il has run
upwasds OF $4,000 miles. and the repair
ordinary vehicle OF today.
Light weight must be used in many
ba a,.. "n.eh now arc unnecessarily
the modern automobile which can be
maze OF aluminium. and made 10 give
better service than the heavier car.
Many OF these are already In extensive
use. Cylinders. crankCase. fan, water
pump monnt!ngs for auxiliary engine
pistons. oil pump housings, all brack-
CTS radiator core and shell, hood, ZEN
ae1s running boards. body. windshield
Supports. Gluten housing. many clutch
housings, brake drums. wheels. hub
caps, small parts, nt,inGs'and brackets.
lam bolts and NUTS. mouldings, etc.
Think or the steering. system parts
which could be made OF aluminium.
Would Tighten Weight.
II can readily be seen thai II alumni
mum alloy is substituted for many OF
the iron and steel PARTS, that the whole
car would be considerably lighter In
weight. and we all know that the
lighter the car-,he less gasoline 1t uses.
and the easier 1t Is on tires Above
all. II the car is designed scicntiiicalIy.
ana the aluminium is used in the proper
places, the engine can be made smaller
ana the same performance had as be-
fore. In other words. as you Tighten
you can reduce the size OF the WORKING
parts and thus affect a stIl greater
saving IN weight.
1t might be surprise to many TO
learn tAat experiments have been made
with practically every part OF n car
made of aluminium. including rims pro-
mailer shafts and other such parts
While 1t may not be possible to get
aluminium to do all sorts of work, IL
certainly Is clear that 1t can be made
I" do n great deal that now is being
done by heavier parts.
Get Larger Car M Small Cars Weight
Il Is possible by the use OF aluminium
IN get large car which weighs con-
siderably less than smaller one Of
other materials and have that larger
car perform better than the smaller
and be more economical This can be
done by the proper use OF aluminium
and scientific design, by getting the
sprung and inspiring weights correct
and by getting tie correct spring sus-
pension. Present owners brov that
when they drive along n road that IL
not very D,nooth the rear wheels leave
the ground. IF il We're nnss'',lr - r-ec.
the four wheels on tho ground all
The time tie average car would give
over 5000 miles on "a set of tires That
is just what one Will got in n light
car with 4 light axle. because there will
he no grinding away of tread hut