New-York tribune., 1919-02-02

American manufacturers will stand out
In bold relief.
C. ". Curtiss, general manager of
the Splitdorf Electrical Company, max
ers Of ignition devices for airplanes,
automobiles, trucks. tractors, motor
cyclss and motor boats and internal
combustion engines generally, was
asked recently What did Splitdorf do
In the war; At the time the thou
sands Of workpeople at the factory at
Newark. \. j.. were getting settled back
10 work early in the new year and
facing q tremendous production de-
manded by peace-time conditions. Mr..
Curtiss replied: 1--WE did everything
demanded of US and more-we sacri-
aced time. product, man power, our
whole institution in fact, to the gov
ernment cspse!'
I'm told we saved Paris at one stage
Of the var" he said. Il know we've
worked nights, days and Sundays since
tho world war WAS started, and now that
IL il all over there's really nothing to
it-we've done our best-our duty, If
you will. Our 100 per cent energy. but
Yesterday devoted exclusively to wars
demands, Is being devoted to-day to
peace time demands"
Mr.. Curtiss recounted the early hap
penings Of the war, in which Split
DORIS name was heralded far and wide
as "shock troop" Of the first order.
From the moment France took up Ger
many's fiat and England started IN with
her "contemptible little army to help
stem the Hun hordes, then overrun-
ming Belgium, the cry went up for
maeuetos. Too late it was discovered
that German sources had practically
controlled the European source OF sup
ply.
A quick call for ignition for the gas
olene engine, destined to play such
vital part in the war, and the truth
was brought home with brutal sudden
ness-magnetos, the source of the life
spark of the best gasolene engines,
were in German control. America was
called upon, and the Splitdorf head
quarters in London poured out Its
thousands OF magnetos in the nick OF
time to be used in buses, in taxlcabs,
in motor vehicles of every description
that were impressed to make reserves
available for the stopping OF the hun
at the Marne on their first Tusn upon
Paris.
centre of war activity. England,
france and. in time. Italy, to say moth
ing Of Russia and Japan, had her ex-
se~tz at the big American plant at
So,re-k supervising the work of get
tiny out magnetos by the tens of thou
AT,e then America answered the call
ana Spljtdorf-the one truly 100 per
cent American magnetic source OF the
world-responded by throwing all It's
resources at the disposal of the govern
ment. Commercial business went by
the boards overnight. Production pc
came 100 per cent war productloh.
Then came the call for Standardization
Of trucks, OF motorcycles and airplanes.
and. with Standardization, ignition fell
into line of component parts. Whsle
the former fields might be attended 10
with comparative ease, the airplane
standardized magnetic was an entirely
differing problem.
II was newer field, field of newer
experiment. field Of vast research,
and. what IS more, a field Of appalling
unknown quantities. 1t was fleld to
test the mettle Of giants. ut can't be
done" was the common cry in scientlhc
circles 1T shall be done" was the
Splitdorf retort.
And Splitdorf accomplished the seem
lagly impossible b. producing the
standardized Dixie 800" magnetic.
Only sixteen extra parts are needed TO
convert this magnetic into an ignition
system for airplane engines Of one to
sixteen cylinders and set at varying
angles. Thousands OF dollars were
poured out TO spur on energy, inventive
skill and exhaustive tests in an un-
eharted field. The disaster of the uri-
1nown, to say nothing of the loyal de-
votion, the sacrifice, the unquenchsble
determination and unconquerable spirit
Of accomplishment are all summed in
Nj. Curtiss's significant eve did every
thiag-our best" From special alloys,
from special metals, from special
everything, the Dixie 900" standard
izsd airplane magnetic was wrought.
And after the sweat, toll and turmoil
o. effort, of heartaches and crushing
disappointments, Or the JOY and salts
faction OF final successful accomplish
ment, with production coming through
n quantity and the last detail proof
against magnifed inspection, the ar
mistiee was declared and the future
xas promptly changed Wars de-
mands ceased, but the hardly less in
s.stent call for magnetos to meet peace
lne conditions had 20 be answered and
Sphtdorf ia responding