Evening star., 1926-12-26

carelessness?
During a recent spell OF slippery
streets it was observed that at least
| three -fourths of the drivers using
chains were sliding when applying
brakes and spinning the wheels
| when starting. ust because their
cars were equipped with safety
device they felt they could be care
less.
Because his fire extinguisher was
handy, one car owner SAID he teit
safe enough smoking cigar while
adjusting the carburetor. Since add
ing a ditch light to his car another
driver steps on the gas more vigor-
ously on his nightly sojourns.
Without safety devices. many
| drivers would be much more careful,
| Judging from the actual results. The
man without chains on his car does
not travel so fast and learns to ap-
ply his brakes cautiously. The
driver who does not have such good
illumination at night invariably
travels more wisely.
There's nothing wrong with the
safety devices. Truly. they're
needed. But they should not be
considered as excuses for careless
ness.
What is an adjustment sponge ?
Automobile men did not know
what it was either until they were
soaked by it.
An adjustment sponge" is mo-
torist who drops into service sta
ton for lust All adjustment: he
doesn't want anything fixed. he
doesn't want any new parts. He
doesn't want any oil, gas, grease or
other materials. He doesn't want
anv one to make any particular fuss
over the car or to take so much
time as to suggest manipulating the
time CLOCK.
He doesn't want to spend any
money. ,,
In fact, he is out to profit. The
following story illustrates this new
species Of the motor family:
1t was service station operated
bv shock absorber rganization--a
nice, warm garage where car
could be left all day without getting
chilled. The customer was little
particular, but never really com
planning. When he drove in. ne
never demanded an adjustment;
merely suggested that he would be
better. satisfied if they would check
over the shock absorbers and see II
everything was right.
This usually was some time during
the morning. After making known
his request, the owner would an
nounce that there was no hurry. tor
the inspection and that ne had an
GRAND or two to do and would De
back later. =.
A short while before closing time
he would drop in. thank the shop
foreman and drive away in his
warm car. All day his car had
heated garage storage absolutely
without charge.
He did this regularly twice week
until the company got wise. NOW
his shock absorbers work perfectly.
but something else on the car is
bit troublesome, What goes wrong
depends largely upon which auto
mobile company has the most con-
venient and best garage accommo-
dations.
Rv this time most car owners
know that it saves the battery to
turn over the engine few times by
hand with the ignition OFT before
using the starter in the usual way.
Few. however. know just how many
times to turn over the engine.
Either they food the engine with
gas or do not crank enough to get
a good supply of gas spray up INTO
the cylinders. -.
"A good way to determine this IS
to raise the hood and have some one
crank the engine with the self
starter. meanwhile watching the fan
nullev al the front of the engine:
shaft. The engine. being cold and
stiff. will revolve slowly. Note the
number of times the shaft turns
over before starting. When giving
the engine a preliminary hand
crankjng on equally cold mornings:
turn the crank the same number OF
times.
With so many of the latest mooeis
eouipped with thermostats in the
unoer hose connection between
CYLINDER block and radiator, it goes
without saying that any car owner
could improve his engine by install
inc one of these simple but effective
A mere frill? Well. if any car
owner thinks that let him do little
occurring. Here is the Satisfactory
S;S turning out 250.OOO cars a year.
Its engineers are looking around tor
ways of bettering the car without
increasing the cost prohiDitiveiy'
Finally, they decide that thermo-
stat is necessary. Let US say: that
through an arrangement with
thormostat manufacturer, or by IN
aupurating a new department IN
their own factory, they find way
TO obtain these devices at 81 apiece.
That means a half million dollars
given to buyers of the Satisfactory
Six annuallv-a half million dollars
taken out of the net proht.
The. manufacturers are cutting
| millions out of their earnings in or
der to give the public oil cleaners,
air cleaners. gas strainers, heat in
dicators. thermostats and numerous
other efficiency devices.
And still the man with car that
should be giving him better results
wonders whether these htments are
( worth while!
What is good mileage for a
family's yearly driving:
One family of three has just clip
ped off 10000 miles via motor! And
with the one car!