The Washington times., 1924-01-07
NEW FEATURES
MARK 1924
AUTOS
Balloon, Tires and Fouf-WheeI
Brakes Appear on Many
Makes. /
BY Cosmopolitan News Service.

NEW YORK, Jan. IA survey
of models on display at the Ma
tional Automobile Show here today
discloses that automotive engineers
are still devising refinements which
combine to make motoring more
efficient, more comfortable, more
satisfying and cheaper.
Lighter and more powerful models.
are being perfectly steadily and
offered to the public, while better
known manufacturers are introduce
ing mechanical changes which they
assert will either helghten the
drivers control of a car or enhance
the wearing qualities of the power
plant.
Motorists who have seen their
spsck and span cars lose their
beautiful finish in a few months
were interested in cars which had
their paint sprayed, instead of
baked or painted on the bodies.
The sprayed finish will last three
years, 1t is claimed, while. streak.
Ing or srotting of the finish from
being left in the rain is eliminated.
Balloon tires, which permit opera
ton with an air pressure Of from
twenty to thirty.five, pounds. appear
on the StQtz, REQ, Moon, Cole,
Duesenberg, Kissel, McFarlan,
Rollin and Chrysler cars, the latter
two vehicles being shown at the
national exhibit for the first time.
Absorption of great part of the
road shocks, and thereby reducing
the wear on the chassis, are
claimed for this comfort-giving
innovation. Other lines make the
equipment optional.
Great strides have been made by
iour-wheel brakes, particularly
hydraulic brakes of that type.
About twenty-five manufacturers
have adopted four wheel brakes.
Cars at the show. either showing
or having as optional this added
equipment are: Auburn, Buick, Chal-
mers, Chrysler, Cadillac. Duesen.
berg, Elgin. Jewett. Kissel, Nc
Farlan, Marmon. Moon. Oakland,
Packard, Paige, Peerless, Pierce
Arrow, Princeton. Rickenbacker,
Rollin, Stutz and Velie.
Other mechanical improvements
shown include:
Engines-Efforts have been made
to eliminate vibration which usually
centers in the crankshaft, by Civ
ing the shaft more bearing surfaces.
In the six-cylinder field there are
twenty-eight models with four bear
ngs, nine with seven bearing shafts,
and twenty-six with three bearings.
Two of the four-cylinder cars have
five bearings. More bearings are
said to give the crank-shaft greater
and thereby helps to elm
mate vibration. One, cars crank
shaft lies in a bath of oil, instead
of having oil forced in at bearing
surfaces.
Oil DilutiOn Checked.
In addition, some engines have
been equipped with devices to re-
duce the effects of oil dilution, due
to absorption of water and gasoline.
One device filters the Oil from the
crankshaft before it is pumped
over moving parts of the engine
Engineers assert that engines suffer
most from oil dilution, particularly
in winter
Air Cleaners-some cars have
added this device, so as to help re-
duce2 carbon deposits, unexploded
gasoline usually collecting on dust
particles sucked in at the intake
valve. Franklin, Case. Chrysler,
and a few other makes are utilizing
air cleaners.
Springs-One manufacturer has
placed the, springs parallel with the
axle, instead Of above it, claiming
the new way gives greater road.
ability and lessons side-sways.
Colors-Sober but rich hues pre-
dominate, although several sport
models are Respondent in bright
colors.
Clutches-New forms Of clutch
have come in, while existing types
on other cars have been improved
to give greater smoothness in op-
Grafton.
Frames Strengthened.
F'rames-This part of the autos
backbone has been strengthened in
many cases, the frame being made
Of heavier steel or given more
SO as to prevent
twisting.
Wheels-Twenty.six models of
cars have disc wheels, seventy.six
use wood wheels only and nine are
equipped with wire wheels.
Carburetors-Changes have been
very slight.
Spark control---More cars are he,
ing equipped with an automatic or
advance or rstarda,
ton in the ignition. Ons car has
no spark lever.
Lighting-One car is eqIipDsd
with a device which regulates The
lights by twist Of the horn button
IN the top Of the steering wheel,
Engine vaIves--A survey shows
that two.thirds OF tbs ears have
the L-head type Of engines, while
some ~ per csnt have overhead
valves ana this rest have sleeve
valves. AdhsFeBts ~ the overhead
valve claim II gives greater D0Wsf
per cubic inch NJ piston displacement
and IN less likely ~ dsVet0p "kH9RlSs
ing" However, engineers attend,
ing the show sai1 The t,tYps Was
equally effieieBt ana that bsBos,
force there would he even greater
development ~ This typs.
No F~ds shown.
There are no F0fds shown al tho
exhibit, this company, which is
making about 80 per cent Ut tho ma.
tons total auto output, having es.
tablisbed its permanent exhibit In
it's own building on Upper Broad.
way. This was enhanced this week
by addition of mural paintings
which show the activities of the
huge River Rouge plant OF the
Ford Motor Company. One series.
done in water colors. Is 1870 feet
long.