Evening star., 1933-02-19
AUTOMOBILE TRADE
CHEERED BY SALESi
Gain in January Business
May Mean Return OF
Real Demand.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SPECIAL DlSpaICn 10 me star.
DETROIT, February 18-The upturn
IN automobile sales for January has a
promising aspect, in the opinion of De-
troit statisticians. January was the
first month since September, 1881, in
which new passenger car sales exceeded
SO per cent of the f1ve-year average,
1926-1930. It was also the first month
in which sales we're in excess of those
for the same month of the previous
year.
What gives the situation a particu-
larly hopeful aspect" said H. H. Blohm
of the r. L. Polk Co., Detroit, "is that
the only sharp upturn of sales of pas
senger cars since 1881 occurred in June,
1882, when a sudden increase in market
prices Of farm commodities stimulated
automobile buying in that month. But
that increase of automobile sales was
short lived.
Replacement Demand.
cat the beginning of the present
year, and with agricultural activity in
the grip of Winter. sales took a de-
cided upward trend, without any spe-
cial stimulus or marked improvement
AL 6CllSi ildS may ILlGkiIl
decided return of conference.-the
thing that is most needed in these
times"
An analysis Of the motor car market
Just made by Sidney A. Swenrud, as
sistant to the president Of the Standard
Oil Co. of Ohio, indicates a needed
output of 22.850,000 automobiles over
the next five years If the cars worn out
and scrapped from 1881 to the end of
this period are to be replaced. To meet
this replacement demand would call for
an annual output of 100000 cars from
1884 to 1888.
Engineers are becoming more tolerant
toward the oversize or "doughnut" tires,
according to survey conducted by
A. F. Denham, field editor for Automo-
tive Industries. Whereas year ago en-
gineers were almost unanimous in ex-
pressing objection to the new tires, to-
day they find many favorable points
A part of this has followed, of course,
the gradual adjustments in mechanism
to conform to steering and traction
difficulties.
Asked by Mr.. Denham whether they
believed even larger cross sections than
those now proposed for general use
might improve riding qualities, only A
per cent of the engineers said NO; %
per cent said perhaps" and "a per
cent voted 'yes."
Top speed seems to be reduced Slight
ly, according to the majority of tests
made with recommended imitation, Mr..
Denham found from his survey. Ac-
celeration also seemed to be slightly re-
duced. The amounts, he learned. are
small, however, particularly at lower
speeds. Overinfiation of the tires, on
the other hand, actually seems to in
crease top speed.
Quicker stopping and starting ability
has been found by less than half OF
those questioned" Mr. Denham said.
The greatest gain is found on gravel
roads-consistent with the findings on
adhesion.
1T seems to be generally accepted
today that the larger tires will not ex-
ceed the conventional balloon as to tire
mileage. The best estimates run some
where around 80 to 85 per cent of that
for standard balloons. With present
designs of low-pressure balloons, it
seems to be the general belief that to
tires, pressure would have to be in
creased to point where most of the
potential riding quality gains would be
lost"
Steering Resistance.
CnanSeS IN IrOnC aXleS ana steering
geometry seem to have corrected the
condition of excessive unevenneSs Of
tire wear found in every experimental
and field installation, Mr.. Denham said. |
Harder steering is commonly regard |
ed as a major objection to the larger
section tires" he observed. when no
other changes are made, one company
found that the installation of semi-low
pressure tires double oversize) in |
creased steering resistance 35 to so
per cent while running. Apparently
there are definite limits as to the re-
duction in steering effort that can be
obtained through reduction in steering |
ratio without introducing other objec-
tions-noticeably wander Narrow tread
tires on the whole seem to show up
better for steering ease, although some |
companies have not found great deal !
Of difference"
DOWNRIGHT. 1033l