The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-19


l. provements OF the last year may
be CHASED as follows,
l. Four.wheel brakes
2. Balloon tires.
3. Traffic transmission.
4. Multipledise. self adjust
ing clutch.
s. Perfected stralght-eiEht-
OF these. only one may be consid.
cred an balloon tires.
All the others have been tried out or
used IN less improved form In former
years.
Balloon tires were thought OF Ions
before 1898. but they did no, come
into popular use until last fall. Tax.
icahs about Akron. o.. had been run.
ming on these soft-cushion. low.
inflated tires for thousands OF miles.
Just TO test them. Now they are
being adopted quickly on ell sorts OF
automobiles.
Tho popularity OF these tires Is
still 10 manifest itself. for they have
not yet been offered To the public
without reserve. The Tire engineers
arc stIll striving TO gain tEe utmost
perfection on them before being
adapted TO general use.
lust al tire manufacturers have
- been reluctant TO release their
new product until fully improved. so
have the advocates OF four.wheel
brakes been installing their inyen.
tons on moro and more automobiles.
despite persistent controversy and
doubt. There hasn't been as much
discussion about the balloon tire as
agains, the four-whsei brake system.
yet IL Is the latter that has taken tho
chance Of testing public approval or
disapproyal.
Apparently the public has taken In
the Improvement with ou,sprcad
arms Even some OF the automotive
engineers and manufacturers who
had been outspoken against tho wis
dom OF such an Improvement have
Euccumbcd 10 their lure.
VI thE traffic transmission, installed
i In the new Chandler. Is nothing
new II was tried out by pioneer
manufacturers Now. perfected and
improved. Il comes forth as relief
for the nervous motorist who winces
at rasping gears
Shifting Is accomplished By an
internal form OF transmission. but
there are no gears 70 mesh. All
gears are already lntermeshed. SO
that there are no grating gears. and
no danger Of stripping them--mak.
ing driving safe for the most unac-
compIished motorist.
BACKYARD has succeeded In per.
i feeling It's straight-eight engine
to a nicely. Perfect balance and
freedom from vibration has been So
cured thru similar design Of tho
crankshaft. Tho moving parts are In
such perfect balance. It IL said. that
the engine needs boiling only to sus-
tain its weight, willis others have to
be held rigidly to the frame to absorb
some OF the excessive vibration.
TUE multipie-disc, self-adjusting
4 clutch. on the new Cole, Is an
other solution to the problem of
making gear shifting easy and silent.
Tendency to clatter. grab or dis
tort is practically oblIterated. say
Cole engineers. The interviewer
corded fabric and steel plate makes
for longer wear. The six springs
back Of the eleven plates keep these
znugly together. SO that the clutch
works evenly all around.
A MONG other important develop
"A ments In automotive manufac-
ture during 1923. may be included:
/. The business type Of sedan or
coupe which motorists may use for
business or pleasure. The seats and
their backs are removable. so that
merchandise can be packed into the
car. as into q truck. or they may
be placed together. TO make bed
for the occupant.
2. Mechanical gear.shifting-aitho
this has been In long use on many
cars-has come in for added improve
nnent- II IL another means OF making
dri'fng easy for the notorist.
.. Air cleaner, designed for the
1924 Rickenbacker. to remove dust
and dirt from the air before It en-
ters the carburetor. Incoming air Is
blown against cone-shaped head
that defects the dust and dirt. and
allows only clean air to be drawn in.
Less carbon deposit In the cylinders
and less liability TO crate and score
the walls are claimed as benefits.
Tho Richmond. Va. fire denart-