Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1923, Page 50

Auto Engineers and Makers Help Drivers Avoid Crashes Efficiency of Present Day .Mechanism Seen as Greatest Aid to Solution of Street Traffic Problems. BY WILLIAM ULLMAN. How the automobile engineers and manufacturers are doing their im- rortant work of helping the automo- bile driver prevent accidents is per- haps one of the most Interesting ories in motordom. Working behind the scenes, those responsible for the dependability of 1he 14.000,000 cars in service get very little of the credit for the work that is being done in safeguarding traffic, vet if the motorist will survey the situation for a moment he will be nothing short of amazed at the progress being made as a result of cdvageed engineering. It is said that if the cars on the o4s today were no more advanced mechanically than those of only ten cars back traMc conditions would such as to reduce materially the cctiveness and value of the auto- mobile, Putting it another way, a {raffic expert has said that if the automotive engineers were riot constastly mak- ing it sier for the motorist to drive there would be no hope of reducing congestion and accidents other than restricting the use of motor cars. §2d Pleture Suggested. ‘The motorist is asked to pletura what he would go on a crowded thor- ocughfare with an engine that would not run in high gear at a speed of less than fifteen miles an hour, as was the case only & comparatively cw years ago. It is shown that his mind would be so busy shifting gears nd trying to keep the engine from bucking and stalling that he would be certain to neglect the more im- portant duty of looking out for other machines and pedestrian Tnstead of being ready with the brakes, one hand would be on the zear-shift lever and the right foot on the accelerator, since he would be obliged to control the speed of the cngine in making the various shifts successfully. Thus if it became nec- essary to stop the car in an enfer- gency he would be obliged to trans- fer hand and foot to the brakes be- fore doing anything about stopping the car Today his car throttles down to hree miles an hour and will accel- atc quickly without gear shifting. This means that the driver keeps hi: Vight foot on the brake pedal in- stead of on the accelerator, si the idling position of the throttle offers fMofent gas to supply the engine 2t the crawling speed. When a quick Stop 1s necessary, therefore, the mo- 1 st {s ready for it, and it is the interval of time saved that helps him allow the margin of safety necessary $1065 $1325 Sedan $1495 to keep his name out of the accident reports. Tmprovement In Brakes., Because there has bden such radical improvements in brakes of all types he finds no need of keeping the right hand ready for the emergency lever. Thisrees another hand for the im- portant work of steering effectively, a process which has been shown {0 be frequently more effective as an accldent preventive than mere stop- ping. Once the modern automobile engine is started the driver has no further thought of what i{s going on under the hood. His attention is free to concentrate on what's ahead of him on the road. This, it is claimed, is what makes it possible for the aver- age driver to handle a car 8o suc- cessfully in complicated traffic, It is advanced engineering more than experience in driving that is making it possible for the motorist to do his share in the elimination of trafo dangers and in being equipped to meet the many contin. gencies which arise. In this connec: tion it is interesting to note that many of the fundamentals of good driving have gone entirely out of date because they are no longer nec- essary. One does not have to know as much about mechanism to drive a car to- day as he did ten years ago: and though he is obliged to know more about fraffic, the two requirements balance in such a way that lack of experlence does not play as con- spicuous a part as one might imagine. Gear Shifting Stmplified. Rules for successful gear shifting have been offered ever since the first selective speed cars came {Ato vogue, but the majority of drivers blundered thelr way along and never did get the hang of it. ' Now they find that there 18 a lot less to know in this respect, and fortunately so, because there iseso much more to know about traffic. In the older cars the driver finds it necessary to locate the position of the clutch pedal at which the gears can be meshed most success- fully, but in the newer cars he is relieved of this detail. He just pushes out the clutch in a general sort of way and the gears slip into the various combinations as by magic. The whole process becomes 5o auto. matic that he hardly gives conscious attention to it. Meanwhile he is directing his at- tention' to the matters befors him on the street or road, making mora of an effort than ever before to direct the car over a safe course. One of the most interesting exam- ples of this trend toward simplicity of car control as an incentive to | greater attention to traffic problems is the determination of the modern THE SUNDAY Winter Demands Autos Be in Good Shape for Traffic Making the car perform magnifi- cently at very low eed In cold weather Is particularly necessary when traffic moves slowly through the snow or sleet. And it is particu~ larly diffcult if the driver falls to provide for proper ventilation of the radiator. With the “drag” on the car as & result of stiff oil and , and the resistance offered by the snow in the streets, more power equired of the engine, and this it is unable to deliver if it is overheating through insufficlent cooling. —The situation calls for equipping the car with one of the several devices which provide for exposure of the radiator core in proportion to the increase in engine temperature. In no other way can the driver tackle traffic with his engine always operating at a temperature that will make low speed In high possible. automotive engineers to render every car function as automatio as possible, resisting the temptation to compli- cate the instrument board with a lot of extra controls. Control of Carburetion. So much attention has been given to this one matter that the control of carburetion has been reduced to a minimum, while its automatic func- tions have been increased accord- ingly. Your car today carries various de vices for vaporizing the raw fuel so that you can start off with a cold motor and not worry for fear it will cough and stail at a critical moment. You have nothing to think about re- arding the operation of this vapor- zation process and therefore all the more time to devote to the vital points about driving. ‘When you go to accelerats quickly there is automatic action of the car- buretor to give the richer mixture. The shutters on the front of your radlator automatically control - the flow of air to the carburetor, and the engine is kept at the right tempera- ture by a thermostat in the circu- lating &ystem, and, in one Instance by a fan that automatically disengages when the engine does not need addi- tional cooling. It is safe to predict that, in view of all these improvements in the con- trol of the engine, it will not be long before choking the engine in starting will be an automatic process. You will simply insert the ignition key, turn the switch and the engine will be ready to deliver power. No inde- pendent starter circuit with its op- erating button to grope for. No choker to fuss with and operate Im- | properiy. It simply means that the work of driving the car is lessening in order to compensate for the additional work of driving in a more complicatad environment. And the change is the result of advanced engineering. In the motor car factories and laboratories behind the acenes one finds the most important of all acci dent prevention work. Important he cause it is basic. It represents pre- vention, not mere remedy. (Copyright, 1923.) JEWETT SIX PAIGE BUILT STAR, WASHING’ ALL-YEAR CAR USE INCREASES IN D. . Motorists Find Autos Needed More in Winter Than Sum- mer, Says Lum. One of the healthiest signs in mo- toring, !n the opinion of Paul B, Lum, president of the Washington Auto- motive Trade Assoclation, is the in- creasing use of motor cars through- out the winter. No other trend, he says, so clearly Indicates the grow- ing conception of the automobile transportation rather than as merely a car. Acocording to President Lum, It used to be the rule to put cars up for the winter, not because they ‘were not capable of enduring it, but because their owners did not con- sider winter an enjoyable season for taking “rides.” “Now,” he says, “the modern mo- torist does not own a car for the number of ‘rides’ it will furnish him. He buys it for the transportation he can get out of it. It is clearly evi- dent to him, therefore, that to put it away for the winter means de- nying himself the most convenient sort of transportation when he needs it most. Winter Travel Congestion. “If the facts were realized there is more reason to put a car up for the summer than for the winter. But that isn't saying much, except that it will give the doubting car owner some {dea of how much more Iim- portant it is to use the car in the winter than he imagines, “Satisfactory transportation is at a premium in the winter, because the cold forces thousands 'who would otherwise walk to use street cars and taxis for short runs. This conges transportation and results in making each transportation user endure re- ducad comforts and convenience, but at_the cost of the best. “If you have to buy transportation throughout the winter and pay for the best, yot get little in return, it stands to reason that a car in the garage is a dead waste of transpor- tation. “This {s particularly striking when one considers that even when a m torist puts his up for the winter he spends money on that car In d nying himself use of f store it and Insure it a, by fire and theft. He must send the battery away to be cared for. Un- less the car s in a heated garage, which costs more, the finish will be damaged and the trimmings rusted. And, finally, the model depreciation keeps lowering the value of the car. “These expenses go on whether or not the car is used during the cold Roadster $1195 Tourtng $1220 Seden $1695 Prices at Detvult. Tex Batvs Closed Car Beauty of Marvelous Power The New Jewett Special Sedan Gives “Open Car’’ Performance the casual observer with its beauty — amazes the motor-wise with its sturdiness, power and spark- ling performance. Such a cax for only $1695 is a manufacturing triumph. ; Jewett's full 50-horsepower Paige-built motor FILLS THE HOOD! Cylinders are 3% x5 inches —giving 249 cubic inches piston displacement. Experienced motorists know what that means— “closed car with open car performance.” Jewett is a sturdy six—not a “light” six. Jewett touring weighs 2805 pounds and the special sedan in progortion —but its tremendous power handles the car mar- velously. v Think of taking most any hill in high —of beat- ing most any car’s time up any hill. Think of crawl- ing along at 2 miles an hour in high when traffic is thick—then jumping ahead to 60 miles an hour or more—ali without touching a lever! And Jewett accelerates from 5 to 25 miles an hour in 7 seconds in high. (Try that with ANY other car.] And per- forming like that, Jewett's big motor STAYS GOOD! and other finest quality cars. Thousands of miles of quiet, smooth, “peppy” performance. WASHINGTON-VIRGINIA MOTORS, INC. 16th and You Streets—1028 Connecticut Avenue DEALERS Frye Motor Co. 2015 14tk St. N.W. Fairfax Service Station Alexandria, Va, Jewett serves long because it’s strong. Paige-Tim- ken axles front and rear; all-steel universal joints, with sealed-in lubrication; Paige-type clutch and transmission; ball-bearing steering spindles; 6-inch- deep frame. Its sturdiness and dependability are continually praised by its 60,000 owners. This New Jewett Six Special Sedan is smart and stylish—a fit setting for any family. Its rich Japanese blue finish is strikingly set off by nickel trimmings. Full luxurious comfort for five. Seats are richly up- holstered; interior fittings are in good taste—you'll agree it is beautiful. Equipment is complete, of course, at the low price of $1695. Nickeled bumpers front and rear; rim and cover carried forward at the left. Nickeled headlights and sidelights. Trunk rack and trunk. Nickeled body guard rails. Automatic stoplight. Automatic windshield wiper. Rear view mirror. Sun visor. and daughter drive it. Women prize its easy han- dling—men admire its power. A telephone call will do. Rickett's Gil"‘l‘e Rockville, Md, (C ] Frazier Motor Co. 518 10tk Bt. N.B. 'ON, D. C., DECEMBER Wheel Looseness Likely Cause of Rear Creaking A creaking sound In & rear wheel when the clutch s let in may be due to & loose wheel on the axle, provided the axle {s the sem! or three-quarters floating type, in which the wheel is not rigidly attached to the axle. In this type of axle the wheel fits 18 locked into place with a large nut, :lhlch 18 in turn secured by a cotter n, 1 {s & bit loose the axle 2 r{ml}e l’nolu ‘l‘!;nnl’; y turning & tapere: glase stop; in & bottle. The wheel will not seem to be loose at all, but & quarter or half turn of the nut will usually stop the trouble and Drove that it really was loose. ——— IMPORTS 6,000 AUTOS. South Afrfca Purchases Increased Number From United States. Forelgn as well as domestic mar- kets are more active in the purchase of automobiles this year than in any previous period. South Africa is one of the leading buyers of motor prod- luocts. The American consul at Cape Town reports that the predicted mar- ket for 6,000 motor vehicles in 1923 will be exceeded. During the first six months of 1923, 4,145 motor cars and 152 motor trucks were imported. Over 90 per cent of these cars coms from the United States or_from Can- adlan factories owned by United States manufacturers. “Little evidence of the severs de- pression prevailing in South Africa during the year 1922 could be found in the motor vehicle trad says the American consul, “which is chlefly due to the fact that motor cars are no longer looked upon as & luxur: but rather as a necessity. Further- more, the decline in prices alero brought motor cars within the means of certain persons who heretofore could not afford them. weather. If the owner will figure his expenses for other forms of trans- portation over the same period of time he will that they would easily pay for his running expenses if he would use the car. “The truth of this has come home to the majority of car owners who are trying to put their motoring on a business basis, and that explains why Washington streets show more cars in operation in proportion to local registrations than during any pre- vious winter. “Because §0 many more motorists are using their cars this winter the local automobile dealers look for- ward to the dawn of a new era when they will sell automobi]ss on a basis of transportation rather than as cars and when motorists will buy accord- ingly.” % : % : : : % : % : : : TR R R R R QIR R IR 23, 1923—PART 3. LOW-PRICED CAR AIDS AUTO TRADE Has Given Many in Moderate Circumstances Glimpse of Automobiling. That the unusual demand for high- grade motor cars in America is the Tesult of the great and growing popularity of the popular-priced car 8 one of the most interesting devel- opments in motordom, in the opinion of Rudolph Jose, local Cadillac dealer. According to Mr. Jose, the popular- priced automobile has enab! the general public to have a glimpse of the advantages of motoring and has made personal transportation a defl- nite part of every household. “It has been the means of the public on automoblling, every class of car {s benefiting direct consequence,” he says. Will Invest Little. “You ean’t expect the averags man to invest several thousand dollars in & car when he has never had any ex- perience with automobiles and ha. no idea whether he is taking a pro- gressive step or playing the fool. But he'll invest a few hundred dollars and take a chance. “When he discovers that his in- vestment produces dividends in a Breat variety of ways and that it gives him a new lease on life he is ready to invest in a higher grade car that he may enjoy proportionately more advantages. “The ~American man progresses through easy stages, trying to avold spending beyond his means. He ap- plies the same rule in the matter of buying his cars, and the result is that he is steadlly going up the scale to ownership of the finer and better products. “The significant point In this trend is that ownership of the popular- riced car leads a motorist to a better nowledge of what he will ultimately want in the way of a high-grade car. He will therefore not be likely to buy recklesdly or without careful con- siderations of his need: “My observation of this year's buyers of high-class cars is that tifey display more evidence than ever he- fore that they have considercd the purchase from all angles. They seem to have a deficito reason for select. ing thelr car, acd this reason s ap. parently the product of their pre. vious experience with varlous grades and types of machines. “This process means ultimately arriving at the most satisfactory type of car ownership. And one can- clating what a valuable contribution it will be to motoring to have car owners satisfi not consider the facts without appre- | when held up at etreet intersections. "Headley Warns of azrds ' In Winter Driving of Autos Chief of Local Traffic Bureau Furnishes Series of “Don’ts” for Motor Oper- ators of Washington. In an endeavor to lessen the num- ber of winter driving hazards In Washington, Inspector Albert J. Headley, chief of the local traffic bureau, has prepared a series of “dog't's” for drivers of automobiles. | Don't fail to read all of them. Don’t for Auto Drivers. | Don’t park or stop your car abr: of other vehicles. o ey et Pass & crossing officer's slg- Don't obstruct a crosswalk when Atopping at an infersection. on’t obstruct or park closer than ten feet of a fire hydrant or five feet of an animal drinking fountain. Don't park closer than twenty fest of the building line at the end of a block in the congested section, Don't forget to give an arm sig when turning, stopping and pull out from the curb. Don’t back your car the congested section. Don't park your car with the left wheel to the curb except on a one- way street. Don't forget to have your permit with you when operating your ma- chine. Don’t feet of or i pa nal ing to turn whilg in pproach closer than fifteen treet car which has stopped | stopping t4 take on or let off | engers. Oare In Locking Car. Don’t forget to lock your car when | leaving it on the street, and have it ®0 locked that it can be moved in case of an emergency, such as fire, ete. Don't forget to give the auto on| your right the right of way when you meet at an intersection at the same time. Don't forget to give the pedestrian the right of way at etreet intersections Pon’t pass another vehicle at a street intersection moving In the same direc- o] Don't make a right turmn at street ntersections if the stop sign is against you. Don't blow your horn unnecessarily Don't drive more than eighteen miles per hour in the middle of a block, ex- | cept whers there are only two houses, then twenty-six miles is permitted for pleasure cars. One-ton trucks and over are permitted to drive only twelve miles between intersections. Don't drive more than twelve miles per hour at street intersections. Don't park your car in “No Parking” areas. Don't obstruct the entrance to public " For Christmas CHEVRO i Chevrolet Utility Coupe $640 f. o. b. Flint, Michigan. has a high-grade body with extra wide doors, large plate glass windows with Ternstedt window regulators, comfortable uphol- stery, roomy single seat, and a mammoth rear compartment for luggage and parcels. It is easy to handle, dependable every day in the year, and has ample power to contend with bad road conditions. See Chevrolet first. Jor Economical Transportation i, [ CHEVRO o — A Superior Two Passenger Roadster....$490 Superior Five Passenger Touring. Superior Two Passenger Utility Coupe Superior Five Passenger Sedan...... Superior Commercial Chassis....:.. g .. 495 Utility Express Truck Chassis. . Superior Light Delivery. .. Prices {. o. b. Flint, Mich. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY Any In A D R DI MR Dealer kl Washington L bulldings, theaters, hotels, etc., also e trances to driveways and alleys. Don't forget your parking light when parked at night. Rules for Congested Seetions. Don't park over thirty minutes in the congested section, except around gov- ernment reservations, where two hours 13 permitted. Don't park closer than five fest t4 the machine ahead of you where parai~ lel parking is the rule, and have yousr front and rear wheels within four inches of curb. Don't drive the middls of tha street, keep close to the right curb. Don't forget to have adequats brakes on_your car. Don't forget to stop your car if you collide with a person or veh and give your name, address and permit number before leaving the scene of the 0 | accident. Dop't forget to watch for ths ‘Ona Way" street signs, they are on the lamp DOSts at street intersections. Don't make the crossing officer’s life migerable by passing his signal, ob structing the crosswalks, etc. He is | there to help you and not as a hin- drance. Don't forget to eecure a copy of tha traffic regulations and read up on them it you are not familiar with the rules. Don't drive past a street car loading platform faster than twelve miles per hour. Don't forget to have vour headlights tested to prevent glaring headlights. Call at the traffic bureau for a list of locatidns where they may b (emte: tor you Don't forget to look out for the smail boy or girl who may run from the side- walk to the etreet without looking for automobiles. WORTH REMEMBERING. Tt is not & good plan to use gnition and lighting switc more than is absolutely nece. A loose switch contact is ahout annoying a thing as any dr alled upon to endure. The switches Ret enough wear without work them overtime. THREE-IN-ONE. A new jack Is under way which Is said to be, in additlon, a tire pump and a fire extinguisher. Chemical ac- is the bagis of the jack of all trade: 1 = g : : ¢ % gE ET .. 495 640 95 . 895 550 o