Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-10
j. 5. PUBLIC
Is MOTORWISE
Attention Now Paid
To Parts Marmon
Head Says
BY COL HOWARD MARM0N
Vice President In Charge Of Engi-
neering, Marmon Motor Car Co.

Vice President In Charge OF Engi-
neering. Marmon Motor Car Co.
The American public has become
motor wise. and 1929 will find the
automobile buyer, instead OF pur-
chasing at random. paying particular
attention to the matter of cylinders
and other points pertaining to de-
sign and performance.
So great have been the strides
made in the last two years>by manu-
facturers of stra~ight-eights that
many already are terming this the
"eight cylinder age of engine pro-
duction because now more than
half the number Of manufacturers
are building cars OF this type
Previously, the barrier OF price
stood between the average motorist
and the straight-eight car. but mod
ern manufacturing and engineering
practices have now definitely re-
moved this obstacle and the eight
now IL available to buyers in prac-
tically every price class.
From an engineering and per-
formance standpoint, many advan-
tages are obtained from eight-in-line
engines and il long since has be-
come a f~oregone conclusion that the
eight Is as practical an engine 70
manufacture as IL is to drive. For
years. Fights have dominated the
country's race courses and it is sig
nificant, of course, that practically
every major speedway event in re-
cent times has been won by a
straight-eight.
In the first place. the lighter re-
c~iprocating parts, such as pistons,
connecting rods and wrist pins, in
the straight-eight allows higher en-
CINE speeds without undue disturb
ance in the form of vibration. The
engines are smoother in operation
because Of the greater continuity Of
power impulses which comes as a
| result of the more rapid occurrence
Of the smaller explosions.
Many light explosions, as in the
eight, are less destructive 70 bear
ings and mechanical parts than
would be the case with heavy explo-
sions occurring less frequently. A
crude analogy in this instance is the
difference in effect between many
small taps on a door, for example,
and n Dr. two unusually hard
! blows.
Smaller valves are necessary with
the eig~ht-cylinder engine and cor
respondingly lighter valve springs
ara used. Small valves. Of course
are less apt to burn. warp or distort
than are larger and heavier valves.
The use Of small cylinder bores IL
a distinct advantage for the same
reason. since they are less likely
to distort or 20 out of round.
The ~pistons in the engine contain
ing the greater number of cylinders.
being Of smaller diameter. are. nat
urally much lighter and the dissipa-
tion or heat resulting from the ex-
plosions Is more easily accomplish
ed. The distance of heat travel
from the center Of the piston TO its
outside is shorter and consequently
the piston heads need not be so thick
OF contain so much metal.
The building up, or propagation
Of the explosions Is more perfect IN
smaller cylinders. Since the explo-
sions travel in waves. IL is obvious
that the shorter the distance travel
ed. the lore complete and the more
simultaneous the explosion. Higher
compression and consequently high
er engine efficiencies can be obtain
ed when small cylinders are used.
Excellent low speed operation in
city traffic and more satisfactory
operation in high gear throughout
the entire speed range are the re-
suit OF the use Of more cylinders.
Jerking and stalling are reduced 20
a minimum in the straight-eight.