davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
For Carefree Vacation
Check Your Brakes, Is Advice

Take a carefree vacation-check
your brakes.
This is the terse advice of H. A.
Gillies, sales manager in the automotive
industry, of Detroit, in the interest OF
millions of vacation drivers now answer
ing the call of the open road.
"Wise drivers will have their brakes
looked at before starting on long vaca-
ton trips" Gillies said. Increased
safety, comfort and economy will be the
result.
Vacation travels afford q variety of
driving conditions rarely encountered
at home, with consequently greater de-
mands on the braking mechanism.
Mountain trails, desert driving, unfa-
miliar roads generally, all these things
demand good brakes II one is to travel
in safety.
Bad Brakes Mar Drive.
Nor should the comfort of the driver
and passengers be overlooked On ia
miliar roads, where one is more or less
at home, the vigilance required in ira
versing strange territory Is greatly re-
duced, Few mechanical ailments can
do more to mar the enjoyment OF va
cation trip than poor brakes, with their
constant hazards and unrelenting strain
on the nervous system.
Eventually most of these drivers md
It necessary to have repairs made en-
route. This means discomfort, delay
and added expense. Sometimes the old
brakes will let 60 far from the nearest
service station, especially II one Is trav-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
STREET PAVING AID
TO GENERAL BUSINESS
Resurfacing Relieves Unemploy-
ment and Starts Other City
Improvements.

During the last decade more attention
has been given the construction Of mod
ern rural roads than has been given the
building of modern streets. Since most
people live in cities, and since most
motoring is done in cities. 1t Is high
time for cities to start programs for the
replacement Of street surfaces. designed
for yesterdays light travel, with modern
heavy-duty pavements.
Many cities have discovered that
street paving programs greatly relieve
unemployments with consequent
Frightening of general business. In
dianapolis Is now engaged on q hard
surfacing program twice as large as
that OF any previous year. Birmingham
is also providing work through an ex-
banded program. Superior and Mil
waukee, Wis, both have discovered UNI
employment materially relieved through
extensive pavement work.
1t Is q maxim among roadbuilders
that wherever pavements OF modern
design have been installed, the entire
neighborhood becomes conscious of
other needed improvements. It Is an
easy matter for home owners to neglect
sidewalks. driveways, street lighting
systems, garages and so on. When the
street Ia paved or repaved any shah
hinees becomes more apparent than ever
and soon homes are dressed up, and
all to the profit and pride of the owner.
Such activity means bigger payrolls
and bigger payrolls mean widespread
spending and businesses having no
apparent connection with construction
are benefited.
Construction has always been the
bulwark for employment. Fortunately
construction now need not be forced or
artificial for the need for smooth, rigid
pavements is so pressing that no com.
munity need fear that in ordering pave
ments it is trying TO lift itself by its
own bootstraps.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
INSTALLMENT SALES
LARGE IN AUTO TRADE
Total 81 Per Cent in Passenger
Car Purchases, Says
A. M. A.

Approximately 81 per cent Of all the
passenger automobiles purchased by
motorists in 1929 were bought on the
irlstallment plan the average deferred
payment on each car being $444.30,
according to an analysis made by the
American Motorists Association, based
upon United States census reports filed
by the 426 finance companies engaged
in the financing of automobiles.
The finance companies report that
they financed last year the sale OF s.
478.373 cars, Of which l,820,435 were
new cars, the remainder being second
hand cars.
"One Of the most interesting phases
of the survey, in connection with auto
mobile financing, is the fact that less
than 4 per cent of all the cars financed
were repossessed," declares Thomas j.
Keefe, general manager of the Ameri-
can Motorists Association.
'"The figures show that where the
purchaser made a down payment OF
1913 per cent In the purchase of his
car, that only 2.8 per cent had to be
repossessed by the finance companies
for non-payment. Where the down
payment was IS per cent of the pur-
chase price the reposseSsions were
higher, being 81 per cent last year,
the A. M. A. survey shows.
Another fact OF interest to the
motorist in connection with automobile
financing, as revealed by the figures, Is
that last year out of every 1000 trans
actions financed by the companies
they report that five persons absconded
attempting to avoid payment In this
manner"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW,

There are more people spending their
vacations this Summer in glass houses
than has ever been true in the previous
history of the world Practically all
automobiles are In effect glass houses,
inasmuch as glass is used for large
part Of the inclosure In fact, three
sides Of most automobiles are almost
entirely of glass, and large part of the
fourth side has considerable glass.
Thousands upon thousands of men,
bers are of on their Summer vacation
this month and are virtually living in
their cars while away. These people who
live In these glass houses are certainly
In a class with those who should not
throw stones. They do not throw stones,
and yet in spite of such virtues. acct
dents frequently happen, growing out
of the breakage Of automobile glass. In
fact it is stated by some authorities
that in majority of automobile acct
dents in the United States during the
last year the injuries were caused by
broken glass.
SubcOnsciously Fearful.
It Is also interesting to note that
most people are subconsciously fearful
Of flying glass. This Is demonstrated
when in accidents they are found in
Stinctively to cover their faces in pro-
lection from flying pieces of glass. But
this doesn't always prevent serious dis
asters The results of this knowledge
are seen in the improvement in the
glass of the automobile which the man
ufacturers of these vehicles have made
part of standard equipment. In the
first place there has been definite i'm
provement in the quality of ordinary
glass which is used. 1t is more SUB
stantial and less subject to breakage.
In the meantime, a vast amount OF
experimentation has been going forward,
undertaking to find q type Of glass
which will be even more substantial and
consequently less dangerous in case Of
breakage in automobile collisions or
automobile accidents. For some time it
has been known that certain plastics
may be cemented firmly between two
pieces of glass which will make the
substance unusually resisting to break
age. The principal difficulty in the past
has been that by this method the visi-
bility has been affected and one could
not see clearly through it. Engineers
have been giving large amount of time
to the problem of securing good trans
pArency in such combination of glass,
and much progress has been made in
this direction. In fact. it is now pos
sible to secure for most makes of auto
mobiles what Is known as non-shatter-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
IMPROVEMENT SEEN
IN AUTO INDUSTRY
Optimistic Sentiment Ex'
pressed for Sales RecoV-
cry, Says B. H. Cram.
Special Dispatch to The star.

special DISPATCH 70 The star.
DETROIT, Mich, August 30.-Pas-
senger-car output continues to gain
steadily, with the August total slowly
mounting to levels which will probably
equal II not exceed those established
during the month of June, according to
B. H. Cram, president Of Grams Auto
motive Reports.
Manufacturers report that the SEIZED
ules set up for the current month are
being well maintained and in some
cases surpassed. AS previously fore
cast, current operations will continue
into September with the likelihood Of
continuance of the present upward
trend for at least another three weeks
after which time more steady seasonal
levels will be noticeable.
Dealer Sales Active.
Sales, particularly those from dealer
to consumer, are active beyond expec-
tattons Of q few weeks ago. Early re-
turns indicate that July retail sales viii
exceed those of June by q fairly sub
stantial margin, and in view of this
rather unexpected upturn in the retail
trend q continuation of this activity
Is looked for throughout the current
month. All signs now indicate that
June will have marked the low point
In the automotiye decline, and opti-
mistic sentiment is expressed to the eff
feet that the sales recovery, which be-
gan in July, will mark the beginning
of q return to normal conditions, moi
only for the automotive industry, but
for other leading lines Of industrial
and commercial activity as well.
Truck Industry Improves.
The truck industry made . SHARP
and rather unexpected turn for the
better in July, judging from preliminary
sales returns, which show gain OF
approximately 33Is per cent over june
and in some cases q slight gain over
July, 1929. Manufacturers report that
these better conditions are still in evi.
dence this month, with the result that
manufacturers schedules have had Il
be revised upward AS far as can b
determined, large portion of this In
crease can be attributed to an i'm
provement Of sales in the light delivery
car class This is in itself a g0oc
sign. for it indicates the improvement
of a part of the market that has suf-
fered most so far this year. The heavy.
duty business both as to sales and pro-
duction is still holding up in salts.
factory manner, and the general out.
look for the next 80 days Is good.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
GLASS HOUSE JEWELLERS NEED
ST1ATTERPROOF PROTECTION
Many Motorists Do Not Throw Stones, but
Realize They Live Unsafel y in Their
Automobile Homes.

able glass, and In some cases this is
provided In the windshield Is regular
equipment.
Glass VIII Crack.
1t is not maintained that such glass
will not crack when struck, for instance,
by stone. It is maintained, however,
that even though 1t does crack, the
broken pieces are not so likely to ny
about, injuring the occupants of the
car, because all of the particles of glass
tend to adhere to the material which
joins the two plates of glass together.
II such glass proves to be practical and
can be used at reasonable cost, its use
on automobiles should tend to lessen,
not necessarily the number of acci-
dents, but certainly the seriousness of
injuries of people involved In such &C.
cidentS.
1t makes little difference how care
fully one drives. there has always been
the hazard of flying glass In case some
other reckless driver involves the more
careful operator in an accident. In
creasing recognition of the possibilities
OF such glass for automobiles Is recog-
nized by recommendations which have
been made by numerous safety associa-
tons. In some States legislation has
been produced requiring all automo-
biles engaged in public service to be
equipped with such glass.
Equipment Desirable.
Especially does such equipment seem
desirable for use in the windshield glass,
since this is placed where the greatest
strain Is likely to come on glass in
case OF accident. In some of the large
cities such protection has been made
a requirement for those going into the
taxicab business. A great amount of
time, money and energy which has
been put into the attempt to improve
automobile glass is simply another evi-
dence of the desire of manufacturers
to give the motoring public everything
in an automobile which will make for
their convenience and especially for
their safety.
The niotorist has some other glass
parts on his car in addition to those
mentioned above. There are the head
lights which are protected by glass, also
the parking lights and the red light on
the rear. There is the dash light and
the light in the ceiling Of the body's
interior. And there is glass over the
various instruments on the dash panel.
All glass on an automobile ought to
be kept clean. The headlights and rear
light cannot be expected to perform
their functions satisfactorily If dirty.
Nor can the windshield. And for the
general efficiency and comfort all glass
In doors and windows should be free
from dirt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
AUTO TAG CHANGES
LISTED FOR 1881
District of Columbia Plate
Will Be Reversed, Says
Report of A. A. A.

Thirty-five States will change the
color combination for automobile license
plates in 1881 and 26 different motifs
will be used throughout the country, in
dicating that almost every hue will be
represented in next years parade, &C
cording to a survey by the American
Automobile Association.
There were 81 States to change the
color combination in 1880 and q total
of 16 different motifs were used. The
national motoring body pointed out
that IL States and the District of Co
lumbia will retain the 1880 colors, re-
versing them as to background and
lettering, indicating trend away from
Standardization of colors noted in 1880.
A total of 10 States and the District
OF Columbia retained the 1929 combi-
nations last year. Missouri and Ore
gon are the only two States yet to
select colors for the 1881 plates
The A. A. A. survey reveals that first
rank will be divided between two color
combinations, with white on black and
white on green each being adopted by
f1ve States. These color schemes will
therefore predominant in 1881, with
white on black retaining its 1880 posi-
ton. Black on orange and yellow on
black were also leaders last year.
Second honor will go to the black on
orange, white on maroon, yellow on
black and black on white, which will
each be used in three States. Black on
gold, white on blue, black on yellow.
old gold on blue and green on gray will
each be used in two States. giving these
combinations third place. Beyond these
more standard combinations will be
found variety of colors used to identi-
fy the units in the Nations rubber tired
transportation system
The Canal Zone will use red letters
on a white background, the same
scheme used in 1880 while the Philip
pines will have a combination of gray
on black. Hawaii, Porto Rico and
Alaska have not yet selected 1891 motifs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31

cling in the West And few drivers are
able to repair modern brakes, with their
accurate adjustments and extremely
close clearances. For this reason 1t Is
better to have brakes repaired before
leaving home, where the dealer Is known
and equipment is of the best. BY hay
ing the brakes checked before leaving
you are sure of being able to secure the
best workmanship and highest quality
materials. Your vacation trip then will
be free Of danger, annoyance and
expense"
Use Heat Resisting Material.
The fact that most vacation driving
is done in Summer makes 1t especially
necessary to have brakes lined with
heat-resisting materials, Gillies said.
The ideal material, he explained, will
not burn or smoke and maintains q con-
slant frictional efficiency throughout 1t
entire life Such materials win not de-
teriorate under heat and will stand up
under temperatures far greater than
those encountered in the most severe
service.
Fatigue also enters into the wisdom Of
good braking on vacation. Most drivers,
GillieS pointed out, put in fairly siren
uous days of driving In an effort to get
over q reasonable distance. Smooth,
quiet, efflcient brakes save an incalcu-
liable amount OF energy each day, while
the constant pushing against WORKOUT
or poorly djuSted brakes leaves one
exhausted at the end Of long day.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
Motordom suffers from too much
rough and not enough fairWay.

Perhaps there would be greater ad-
miration of the woman driver II there
were some more competent instructors
was inclined toward such a conclu-
sion upon watching a man trying to
show debutante how to turn the car
on a crowned road. He was encourag-
ing her to back to the shoulder of the
road, which, of course, is contrary to
good practice.
Except for front-drive car, always
keep the rear wheels-the driving
wheels-on the center OF the road
where traction is best. The shoulders
Of the road may be soft.
Don't let friend hus'a and get away
with the complaint that you are wear
ing out the car by using 1t. I've just
been watching several mechanics trying
to get one of the firms cars started
1t stood so long the valves stuck in O
most persistent way.
If the engine sputters as If something
were wrong with the fuel system, press
the clutch pedal to the floor and &C
celerate the engine few times. This
action NAV clear the obstruction.
One of the most interesting fitments
for the motor car is a lunch table
1OtQo dSdlltob tIlC DACh vi JAlc
front seat When raised it makes an
ideal and neat way to enjoy modern
lied picnic en- tour.
With synchro-mesh, internal gear
constant-mesh and free wheeling trans
missions engaging the attention of the
motor world, little consideration appears
to be given the probable effect of these
new features on milady's driving. Not
only do such transmissions make life
at the wheel easier for her but may
actually give her the edge on male con-
temporaries who are still handicapped
by experience in handling the cars OF
older vintage.
A woman in an Eastern city who
pilots a right-hand drive car originally
intended for export to England says
she enjoys surprising cooperation from
others on the road. No one is quite
sure whether she Is going to cling to
the American custom or pass to the
left.
A woman who volunteered to relieve
another at the wheel on q long trip
got into serious difficulties when sud
denly obliged to shift gears on a bridge
in course OF construction. The trouble
was due to having the hand control Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
P0ST-T0URlNG TUNING UP
ADVISED BY RUDOLPH JOSE
overhauling of Generator, Carbu-
rotor, Cooling System and Chassis
Needed, Says Dealer.

Tuning up the car after the tour is
something that never occurs to many
motorists. The point is made by Ru-
dolph Jose, local automobile dealer
who declares that post-tour tuning
up is well worth the consideration of
the owner of either an old or a new
automobile.
There are a number of small things
that should be done which will make
a great deal Of difference In the cars
performance" Mr.. Jose says.
IF, for instance, the generator has
been set back as NOR, and more motor
lists are doing these lays, the charging
rate should be advanced to compensate
for the difference in just average driv-
ing conditions. The carburetor most
likely can stand adjustment, especially
with cooler weather not very far dis
tAnt
THE cooling system undoubtedly will
be improved II 1t is thoroughly flushed
out High speeds may have succeeded
in throwing the valves out of adjust
ment and attention to this not only
will improve perform ance but will save
fuel and wear and tear on the whole
engine.
"Other items that should be con.
sidered include fabrication of the from
wheel bearings, the lining up of thu
front wheels. thorough chassis lubricA-
ton, changing the engine Oil and check
ing the lubricant N the differentia
and transmission
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
MILADY'S MOTORING
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

the throttle set for too high an idling
speed.
The incident stresses the importance
of making few trial shifts whenever
taking the wheel Of an unfamiliar car
When a mechanic removes tn:
cover of the distributor and starts h.
check up on the engines spark system,
milady is likely to be bit mystifie6.
The unit looks complicated.
| In reality it Is quite simple, being a
mechanical means not only to causing
the spark at the right time but of send
ing 1t to the right cylinder. Consider
first the creation of the spark, g. process
which is accomplished Just under the
distributor proper.
Here we find an arm made to bear
against an irregular shaft by means Of
spring. Looking more closely, VIC
find that when the arm bears against
a fiat portion Of this shaft the point
at the end Of 1t touches a stationary
point: The points break when the
arm away. These are the breaker
points which cause so much engine
trouble.
Through these points when in con.
tact flows the primary current of thu
ignition coil, supplied by the battery
and generator. Upon breaking this
current high-tension current is induced
IN the secondary winding Of the col
which runs to the rotor brush attached
to the top of the distributor shaft. II
this brush is near q contact Zen tht
circuit Of the primary Is broken, there
will be current to the respective spark
plug and o spark in it's cylinder.
The rotor simply distributes tht
spark. Both breaker and rotor operate
in synchronized style because they are
run from the same shaft.
| Some of my readers who have man.
aged to wade through the foregoing may
be interested enough to take a look
into the distributor, and may wonder
why their particular car is equipped
with two breaker arms. Such design
simply indicates an effort on the part
of the manufacturer to make spark
more certain by providing a double
breaker Under modern driving condi-
lions spark must be dead certain at al
times.
If you are driving along q heavily
travelled road in q string Of cars and
manage to get ahead of one or two
safely, be sure to close up the gap be-
tween your car and the one ahead, OF
some one else will be cutting in.
IA (copyriGht, 1890. by the Russell Service }
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
Communities MUST
SOLVE TRAFFIC ILLS
Autom0tive Leader Also Advocates
100-Foot Trunk Highways and
Grade Separations.

INDIANAPOLIS Ind. August 3d.
Traff1c problems, though national In re-
lationship to States, seaboards and
large key cities, must be solved primar.
lily by individual communities, declared
COL z. s. Gorrell. executive in the au-
tomotive industry, in addressing q re-
cent traflc meeting here. In many
places motor clubs, commerce bodies
and highway commissioners are Caking
decisive steps, but vital interest In bet
ter highways and relief Of trafic con-
gestion should extend further and in.
clude every man who owns or drives
an automobile, he continued.
Among the moves advocated by the
automobile executive were 100-foot
trunk highways and the right -of-way
for other highways at least so feet,
that in locating highways State road
building agencies should extend the
trunk lines around cities whenever
practicable. The public should be
aroused to the necessity for larger
State appropriations to provide railway
and highway grade separations. These
are the deadly grade crossings" that
annually take the toll Of thousands Of
lives.
But there must be absolute CO.
operation and coordination among the
various bodybuilding agencies" said
Col. Gorrell. Regional plans should
be adapted to conform with those pro-
mulgated for the adjoining areas. Mil
lions have been spent foolishly in the
past because each community went
ahead and built its highways without
thought of its neighbors' roads. Today
most of this duplication Of effort and
expense can be eliminated by careful
planning and wise supervision Of con-
struction."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
HIGHWAY TO Be WIDENED
Contract for Concrete Shoulders on
Annapolis Road Awarded.

Special DISPATCH to The star.
BALTIMORE, August 30.-With the
awarding Of contracts for adding con-
crete shoulders for distance Of f4.3
miles, the widening Of the Defense
Highway from Annapolis to Bladens-
burg will be completed.
The contract was awarded to the
Humphrey Engineering and Construc-
tibn Company on its bid Of $63,05l.50
and calls for concrete shoulders from
Bladensburg along Defense Highway to
Grain Highway and along Grain High
way from Pigeon Inn TO Defense High
way.
At the same time a contract was
awarded for improving with penetration
macadam the Hunters Corner road for
q distance of / mile, to the H. e. Cos
well Company of Frederick on its bid
Of $20,640.30.