Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-11

Ject IN automotlve engineering
circles. Whenever engineers
meet and the conversation veers
aaround to shop" the supercharger
comes into the discussion
- With cars becoming faster and
. faster and with manufacturers try
ing to outdo each other in building
speed into their products, it IS nat
=. ural that the next step IN carbu-
retion should be considered Nat
= ttrally. the speed of any automobile
+ is limited by the efficiency of the
rarburetor. If the gasoline vaporiz-
ing device cannot supply fuel to the
fast moving engine. then. obviously,
the engine must slow down to a
point where it can receive enough.
,ro Here is where the >upercharger
steps in.
Thus far, the device has not been
perfected 10 the point where it can
. be put into general service. Race
: cars use superchargers, but the at
-.tention and care they get is far be-
',' tyond that given to the finest pas
1ascnger automobiles. And vet, in the
indianapolis race, of the p cars that
! went ont due TO mechanical faults,
$upercharging weaknesses were
:. more prominent than any other sim
gle fault.
~ 1t must be remembered that the
drive mechanism of the supercharg-
; er turns at terrific speed. This
q means tremendous strain and ex-
ccssive heat. But, the engineers are
busy and they probably will find
solution for the supercharger prob
lens.
go And they may do it quickly, so
quickly, i'll fact, that some observers
:. forecast the appearance of the first
= supercharged passenger car at the
. next national automobile show in
New York.
Automotive observers here. pro-
feSSional as we'll as amateur-and
the latter, includes about SO per cent
of Washington'S motorists-are find
ing plenty of enjoyable occupation
these days in inspecting the latest
products of the engineering labora-
tories of the industry as, sometimes
one by one and sometimes in patches,
e. they emerge from the mystery OF
preparation into the limefght of
public attention. The season has
been replete with announcements of
extraordinary interest in all price
classes. from the lowest to the high
est. 1t may be said with certainty
that the public generally is showing
almost unprecedented interest in the
newest models. and showrooms are
becoming increasingly more active.
Considerable interest attached dur
ing the week to announcements made
by two makers in the fine car field.
Both revealed new and impressive1y
improved automobiles, and the one,
presented in a rather markedly al
tered dress. caused distinct surprise
by Incorporating into its product the
largest engine it ever has made But
these two cars are just part of
procession which has been growing
IN length with each passing week
and which has been of definite en-
enlargement to economic observers
in the number Of materially inter-
ested spectators it has been attract
ing From this point, it seems a
surety that the Autumn and early
Winter of 1927 easily will outstrip
the quietude of the corresponding
periods of last year.
*x *
With September we'll under way,
Washington motorists have entered
what promises to be the most de-
lightful driving period of the entire
year. If present indications may be
accepted as criterion, the remainder
of the present month and the four
weeks of October should give to car
owners of the National Capital
season of motoring unexcelled in
charm and general attractiveness.
Those motorists fortunate enough
to have been out on the road last
Sunday. or some other days last
week. are fully aware of the almost
irresistible lure which the highway
offers at this season. All the charms
of Summer are there with their
splendid appeal. and yet the sun is
slightly tempered, the breezes cooler
and more refreshing. and the driver
more stimulated when he returns
home, even after a long and some
what arduous circuit.
For the most part, weather condi-
tons thus far have been ideal for
spirited jaunts through the country
side. Should they remain so, those