Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-22
LIGHT WEIGHT CONSTRUCTION
NECESSARY TO SAVE WEAR
AND FUEL.
PREDICTED THAT MODELS OF
FUTURE WILL BE LIGHTER
Manufacturers and Buyers Will De-
mand That Lighter Materials Be
Used in Car Construction and De-
Observation-Disclosures Adhere Too
Closely to Convention.

| Unquestionably the most serious
problem that has confronted en-
/ sineers since the beginning OF the
/ automobile industry has been to so
design a car as to make ii eco
lnomical. Cpheep has heen a retard
| ing influence even in the purchasing
/ of cars, for the initial cost is hardly
| given so serious consideration as up
keep There are three factors of
tautomohile uplseep which interest the
engineer and user alike. These are
| tires casolene and rep3irs. These
| three FUNDAMENTAL controls of the
cost Of keeping car running are re-
duced almost in the same proportion
as the car is scientifically reduced in
| weight
AZ the same time that this all inn
portant upkeep is reduced by light
weight construction there comes of
| necessity simpliticat!on of the
chassis Ind easter handling. The car
of the future will he a better riding
car, lighter car, a better performer
and paradoNical as it may seem Il
| larger car than the present one.
Features of lightness.
The light weight construction
which is inevitable in the future, car.
and which is already being used on
a number of present models, may be
obtained in numerous ways. all of
/ which go to reduce vehicle which
/ will show lower operating cost. The
/ average cost should not exceed rail
| travel The consumption of fuel will
be lowered probably to an average
of thirty miles per gallon. There
will be less wear on tirest The aver
Ease tire will then give 10000 miles
| service. And there will be better
] performance.
1 All OF these results may be accom-
i pl.hhed 1r the benefit of the car
| owner the manufacturer the roads
and the country as whole thru ,the
/ proper use of correct materials, the
proportioning of the weight of the
car and the proper design, so that
/ lighter materials may be used. That
/ this may be done to produce a
sunsriur vehicle has already been
shown since there are few cars on
| the market which exhibit practically
all the characteristics mentioned. In
going over these cars and in a study
of the subject OF light weight vehicles,
one will find that there is a greater
4 use of alloy steel, aluminium and
Il pressed steel to supplant the heavier
Fl materials.
q Uses For Wood Suggested.
1t has been suggested by some
n engineers that the body can be made
lof plywood and that the frame and
axles can be made Of wood. While
81 the plywood idea is new and no doubt
sa.Hill be taken UP, the usefof wood for
! frames and axles is far from new
The great trouble seems. to be that
Il manufacturers in the past have been
adhering too closely to convention
[. instead of carrying the light weight
\ idea to some logical end
At the present time there are some
very good cars on the market, good
in every respect but that they eat UP
tires and gasoIene. This is because
they carry around too much dead
weight
The use of lighter materials will
unquestionably bring the weight OF
the average touring car of the future
down some 500 pounds. In the larger
Etmore expensive cars the weight re-
duction may be more than 1000
pounds. Even our so-called light
cars Of today will be far lighter.