The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-12
MOTOR INDUSTRY
COUPLES DESIGN
WITH PRODUCTION
Art Exhibited in Motor
dom Gives Modern Auto
Many Attractions.

, In discussing the subject of the
trend Of design. production. must
be counted with 1t, because the
high standard of the present-day
product is due as much to progress
In producing methods as II is to
design. Designers must be aided
by metallurgists. chemists, and pro-
duction engineers In the selections
of materials and the manufacture
OF motorcars.
The designers or engineer doe,
not live who singly can make all
decisions affecting the creation and
proouction OF an automobile and
hence, large stats of numerous
technicians are EMPLOYED by tbs
Dig manufacturers to solve en-
cheering and production problems
THESE men OF the automobile In
dustry have made remarkable dis
coverfes, inventions and applica-
tions of science In the deyelon-
ment of combustion engines, car
Dor steels. alloy metals, storage
batteries and motor cars generally
in the last ten years. Their gen.
ius has revolutionized many prac-
tees In the steel industry, ma
chine shop. foundry, forge, stamp
ing and paint trades, and the Amer.
lean motor car has been the bene-
ficiary.
The evolution of ten years ha,
put the American motorcar upon 2
pinnacle that sets the standard of
the world. At the recent automo-
bile shows in London and Paris
numerous American details wer,
quite in evidence in European cars
Such accepted things as cast on
bloc motors, detachable heads
electric starting, battery ignition
etc, are just being adopted abroad
and additional proof of American
leadership is found in the increas-
ing preference. our motor cars re-
ceive in all foreign countries, in
Guiding even the home markets OF
European industrial countries.
American motor cars now rank
first in value of United. States ex-
ports of manufactured articles. and
half our exports are to Great Brit
ain and her dominions.
The popular idea that airplane
motor production taught our auto
mobile engineers and manufactur-
ers much about engines for motor
cars is quite erroneous. The re-
quirements of motors for airplanes
are quite different from those for
automobiles.
Afrplane motors must be very
light and very powerful. with ca
pacities ranging from $50 TO $50
horsepower while noise Is not con-
sidered Objectionable.
One of the finest made weighed
about two pounds per horsepower
developed. but 100 flying hours
would wear 1t out. so that II must
be rebuilt. There were no new
methods used in the designing.
casting. forging. machining and
assembling of this motor.
The first essential in automobile
motors is durability, and hence
they weigh about ten pounds per
horsepower developed. Great DOW
err Is unnecessary and hence the
range is from thirty to sixty horse
power. and quietness is imperative.
as nobody would ride in. an auto
mobile with a noisy engine. The
manufacturing methods just men,
TONED for airplane motors are COM
mon practice in the production of
automobile motors.
Something not genesally known
outside of the trade is the fact that
all motors. from the highest to the
lowest priced, are made OF sub
stantially the same quality or
metals. Virtually all manufactur-
ers use gray iron castings for
motor blocs. pistons. fiywheel, etc. +;
carbon steels for crankshafts, con-
steel for gears, steering knuckles,
springs, ETC.; sheet steel for bodies,
tenders. hoods, etc. simply because
they are the best known metals for
their individual purpose. There Is
little difference in the per pound
cost of these metals as between
high and low priced cars.
In the matter of upholstery the
finest leather and materials are
used in numerous moderate-priced
cars. The machining methods and
mechanical practices observed in
factories of quantity producers
measure up to the highest stand
ards-in the industry
In motor design six-cylinder en-
gines lead in popularity. in the
United States. Many engineers
and manufacturers believe that.
considered from all angles this
type of motor is most efficient and
economical In first cost, upkeep,
performance and comfort.