The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-26
PNEUMATICS HELP
TRUCK OPERATION
And Development of Firestone
DemOuntable Rim Made
Big Tire Practicable.

The evolution OF the motor express
from an occasional private enterprise to
a national movement made necessary .
number Of changes and refinements in
the way Of equipment At least two OF
these-speed and fiexibility Of tire and
rim equp'nent-had to come almost i'm.
mediately.
They came. Speed requirements were
largely satisfied by the eve luton of the
giant pner matte tire, especially thu
pneumatic cord type Together with
great possibilities in respect to speed
other desirable qualities were realized
such a. riding comfort. coasting prop
critics and protection OF cargo and truck
equipment against vibration. shock and
Jar.
The noblems Of adjustment and
| manipulation are being solvsi b. the
,narelsirg use Of the denountnble rim.
| This cey.ce has long since passed froIa
the realm Of the theoretical and OK
perlmental into that of the practical and
has rendered really feasible the general
| adoption Of the giant cord tire as the
one type prominently suited to the
needs Of the fast motor express.
| The first practical demountable rim
was produced by Firestone ten years
ago, but its successful application Of
giant cord of larger sizes-36x6, ssx7.
40xS, 42x9 and 44x10-is a compare
| lively recent development. The Fire
stone demountable Type CT rim is the
| only one whose design had never been
altered since the day 1t was put upon
the market.
The giant demountable rim established
Itself from the outset. The only objec-
ton ever found was its initial cost, but
| experience quickly taught that in this
as In many similar cases the first eI-
penditure is not the most important
consideration. The superiority Of the
new type is evident 1t Is simple, self
sngning, free from squeaking and easy
to handle. and affords continuous con-
tact between rim and felloe band.
As a consequence the motor truck
business is thoroughly convinced by now
that the demountable rim soon pays for
itself in convenience and in the saving
of time and trouble.
The demountable rim in the larger
sizes, however. was always q more or
less cumbersome thing to hanuia. The
efforts Of at least two men were always
REQUIRED. This difficulty has now been
removed by a new type Of wheel which
the Firestone Steel Products Company
of Akron, Ohio. has designed as con-
! tribution to the further success or the
giant cord in connection with the larger
/ sizes of the demountable rim. The new
product makes It quite easy for man
without any experience whatever to re-
move a tire and apply an innateo
spar in Ave minutes.
The question is simplified by a U
| shaped slot in the wheel. When the
wheel is lacked off the ground the rim
and tire are removed. The wheel is
! turned so that the slot in the felloe Is at
| the bottom. The rim with inflated tire
| ia rolled over to the wheel. the valve Is
quickly engaged in the felloe slot, the
| rim is pushed on the wheel and the
wedge ring and clamps are applied. NO
hitting Is necessary In the whole oper-
alton, (which, as has been said, can
| readily be performed in I'VE minutes
dme.
The simplicity OF their operation has
been demonstrated over and over again.
| Recently, when two Firestonef trucks
visited Macon, a tire changing contest
| Cor three man" teams OF society girls
| was held there and the winning trio
! completed the task with almost ridicu-
| Lous ease In less than five minutes.
The new design wheel is being manu-
| factured by various companies in both
wood and steel. Firestone does not build
wheels. but has presented this design to
the truck wheel industry as contribu-
ton which may be used to advantage by
| ALL