Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27

son why spark control has been made
automatic on so many cars is because
the driver Of today is given headlight
control in its place. When a means of
controlling the lights automatically is
developed motorists probably will wit
ness the passing of the headlight lever
on the steering wheel only to find some
thing new by way of controlling an
even more important matter in driving.
Several years ago those who took
demonstrations in cars were sometimes
surprised to watch the antics of the
salesman when the engine stalled,
situation that was apt to happen If a
car had been standing for some time in
the service station. He would step on
the starter for minute or two, but,
oddly enough, would not touch the
choke or the throttle. To the inexperi-
enced this seemed like making a very
SenseleSs effort at recranking the en-
CINE, but after this period of mere
pull out the choke, raise the gas lever
and the engine would start Perhaps he
would explain that he was automatically
refllling an emptied vacuum tank, or he
might just leave the passengers mys-
titled.
Today the widespread use of fuel
pumps, and the use of double or triple
capacity tanks, where vacuum systems
are retained, renders this occasional gas
shortage virtually impossible. The car
buretor gets its gas automatically at all
times and no skill is required Of the
driver in the process.
Through the use of springs in the
drive line, and various cushioning de-
vices, the operator does not need to be
so gentle in engaging the clutch or
feeding the gas. This development Is
not offered as a license to abuse the
car, but 1t does serve to enable the
driver to give his undivided attention
to the more pressing problems OF to-
days driving without penalty of re-
pair bill should he let in the clutch too
suddenly.
"Rideproof'' Clutch Seen.
There are those who see in these de-
velopmentS early introduction of
clutch that will not be damaged if the
driver rides" it. Since the earliest days
operators have been warned against
keeping the left foot poised on the
clutch pedal the habit being especially
harmful to plate or disc clutches and
always strain on the clutch throwout
mechanism. Many drivers, however,
feel that they like to have the foot
ready for action. "A "rideproof" clutch
doubtless will be Forthcoming.
An experimental braking system
which has attracted considerable at
tention has the outstanding feature that
it is not damaged by being used while
the car is in motion. This not only
makes forgetfulness less costly, but
means that overWorked brakes will not
prove to be impaired in efficiency when
used in an emergency.
Everything is being done to make 1t
easier to recrar'- stalled engines. One
car features magnetic starter button
| on the instrument panel. Another uses
the horn button as a starter, the driver
merely pulling up for cranking instead
of pushing down as for horning. Very
few motorists realize that the increased
power of brakes has resulted in more
frequent engine stalling than has pre-
vailed for several years past. Easier re-
cranking is thus new problem.
Trained not to press out the clutch
until he is just about ready to stop, the
average driver with the latest cars stops
so quickly his car is stock still before he
remembers to press out the clutch. But
1929 cranking saves the day.
Never before has the automobile in
dustry taken the driver into account 50
successfully.