Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1925, Page 65

UNFORM HEAWAY MARKING IS URGED Safety of Motoring Public Demands National Code, A. A. A. Declares Lack of uniformity in danger and road signals on national highways is responsible for many automobile ac- to a statement ls- un Automobile As- cidents, accord sued by the Ameri, urging the immediate adop- marking suciation tion of a national highway code. A study of the road-markin tems of the 48 States made T hy the A. A. A. revealed a wid sity of signals and si terlal was embodied in pamphlet designed f various tain uniforn Safety Conference, standards committee, the mittee composed of highy and representatives of the Public Roads, automobile chambers of commerce. Urge Nation-Wide Move. The American Automobile Associa- tion is urging its 700 member and af filfated clubs to get behind a national movement to standardize and bring uniformity into the hazard signals on highw Pointing out the need for immediate action, Thomas P. Henry, president of the national association, described the situation relative to highway signs as “highly alarming and a standing menace to every user of the roads.” “The investigation,” said Mr. Hen “has thrown fresh light on one of the contributing causes of automobile ac- cidents. Instead of having one na- tional highway-marking system, we have now practi many sys tems as there are , while not infrequently the arer runs into marked differences of practice within the same State. Even with regard to the most serious accidents hazards such as raflroad crossings, through roads and curves, there is practically no uniformity. The motorist runs into every kind of design, color and symbol, and he must learn a new set of hazard signs whenever he goes into new territory. This lack of uniform- ity, which Is the bane of the high- ways today, applies to all signs and the distance and direction signs as well. Safety of Millions at Stake. “The situation confronting the au- tomobilist on the highways today re- sembles that which would exist if the Iroads of the United States had a different type of block signal, warn- ing sign and crossing signal for every State in the Union, except that as ompared with the motorist the rail- roads would still have an advantage in that trains are run on protected rights of way, in charge of trained crews and under an orderly train dis- patching system. On the other hand, whereas the railroads carried 25,000, 000,000 passengers over a distance of one mile in 1924, it is conservatively estimated that automobiles carried 160,000,000,000 passengers. “Proper road marking is essential to maximum service, while poor road marking and the varlety of signs for the same purpose constitute a stand- ing menace to every motorist. The inevitable reaction of the motorist to the confusing variety of signs is that while motoring he misses the warn- ing for a bad curve or a sunken road entftely, and is further confused by the “prevalence of commercial signs, many of which specifically {mitate warning signs. Up to the present the business of marking the highways has been intrusted to a variety of bodles, State highway commissions, automobile clubs and even adver- tisers. There was all the room in the world for experimentation. There was no uniform legal obligation on one single body. Many States have not yet adopted a standard marking system of any kind, and an extraordi- nary amount of diversity has crept into the po 3 o m an (ustrated by the joiht com- ay officials ureau of clubs and with an EngineYoull Aever Wz%ut FOURS and SIXES All You Have to Pay For Guaranteed Standard Make CORD TIRES o enees.$9.50 Haverford Cycle Sales Co. Automobile Division 522 10th St. N.W. Open Saturday Evenings EXPOSE OF BATTERY FAKE AIDS OWNERS “Trick Electrolytes” Worthless, United States Bureau of Stand- ards' Experts Declare. The action of the Bureau of Stand- ards in exposing fake solutions for charging batteries will save the car owner a great deal of time, money and worry, in the opinlon of loc battery dealers In spite of the efforts of reputable battery manufacturers and their au-| thorized service stations, “trick elec- | trolytes” continue to be offered on a large scalo. The: solutions gener- ally are guaranteed to put new life into the battery—sometimes in a few minates, Bureau experts have asserted that changing the solutfon in a storage battery does not charge it. Their in- stigation shows that these magic ous are nothing more than elec- such is used ordinarily in automobile battery, combined with a certain amount of magnesium with colering matter. The matter of “trick electrolytes” been under investigation also by the national vigilance committee of the Associated Advertising Club —_—_— whose roads are on the whole well mapped. National Code Needed. “Before there is uniformity must be a national code, s flcation and adoption by States. This is something which all motorists can get, and the A. A, A Is putting it forward as a practical and urgent step in a safety program “The fact should not be overlooked that aside from the hazard, the stranger often travels many miles out of his way because of poor marking. Hundreds of vehicles a day go much greater distances than are necessary, and the loss may average as high as 10 cents per vehicle mile to the own- er of the machine and 2 cents per mile for maintenance of the road “The advantages that would accrue from a uniform marking system for the country are self-evident. Drivers from different States would recognize signs as having {dentical meanings. There would be only one sign for a railroad crossing and not a dozen slgns, as there are today. A certaln color and a certain design would con- vey an immediate message of eucces- sive degrees of danger. The use of the same sign for the same purpose would become general. The cost of maintenance would be reduced, the method of installing would become more uniform, and this, in turn, would cheapen installation and expedite transportation. Above all, it would save lives there vject to all the behind Use Fewer Words. “If we had a national code it would be possible to apply a definite test to danger points, and this would pre- vent the putting of danger signs In places where they are not needed. This is one serious criticism of pres- ent-day practice. Again, there would be an agreement as to the distance that & sign should be from the point of danger and the distance it should be placed above the level of the road, to mention two other features into which a great deal of variation has crept; another baneful tendency is the crowding of too many words on a sign, which often causes delays and annoyances to the motorist. “Many of the States already have excellent features, and it should be possible to work out of these a na- tional code that would become a model. Such a code would go a long way to make the highways more serviceabls.and a great deal safer for their users than they are today.” —— A man on his way to execution in ' Two-Wheeled “Bone-Shaker.” Arabia is safe from punishment if he can lay hands on the skirts of a woman. . THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., MARCH 29 : ————— = T C e AUTO ESSENTIAL S DATE BACK ALMOST TO PREHISTORIC AGE Motors and Batteries Principal Modern Inventions. Tires Handed Down From Stone Period—Cush- ion Wheels Feature 3,400 Years Ago. Although the automobile, practical- ly speaking, is a product of thel twéntieth century, certain essential features of it date back almost to prehistorie times., Motors and batter- ies, to be sure, are the results of medern sclentifie effort, but the tire is a part of the motor car that had its beginning in anclent days. A story has been handed down through the ages about one of our ancestors of the Stone Age who built up a large trade by winding serpents around solid stone wheels, as tires. The result is belleved to have looked more or less like our balloon equipped disc wheels of today. Cushion Wheels 3,400 Years Ago. In the days of the Pharaohs, 3,500 rs ago, Amenhotep III, King of ypt, had a chariot, used by his wife, Tiy, which had tires fashioned of strips of cather, stained red, binding two thicknesses of leather padding. This chariot was found in the tomb of Yuaa and Tuau, parents of Tiy, and represents probably one of the earliest successful attempts to cushion wheels. In 1846 a Scotchman named Thomp- son patented this Egyptian idea. His tire was crude gontrivance—ay leather cover boited the wooden rim of the wheel. The tire proved to be impractical and w soon aban- doned. Thompson had foresight, though, for his patent also included a rubber inner tube on the same prin- ciple as those used today—in effect, the first pneumatic tire, In 1871 Thompson bullt several road steamers of the traction type and equipped them with solid rub- ber tires 5 inches thick and 10 inches wide. These were the ploneer heavy truck tires. heeled “‘bone-shaker” or s introduced in Paris in This torture macnine was originally equipped with flat iron tires and hickory wheels. Later solid rubber tires made of flat strips of rubber nailed to the wheel frames were used. With the advent of mall- wheeled bicycle cycling was taken up more generally and the question of vibration became an important one. The “Phantom” bicycle, the pride of 1869, was the last of the old type. Radical changes In blcycle and tire construction followed. Wood was abandoned and wire suspension wheels were introduced. Thick, solld rub- ber tires were vulcanized on & steel ribbon, not quite meeting at the ends. Two nuts were fixed to the steel rib- bon, near the joint of the tire. These were joined together and held to the rim with a right-hand and a left-hand screw. This was the first complete mechanically fastened tire of the solid type. It was not until 1888 that a vet- erinary from Belfast, Ireland, In- vented the first practical pneumatic tire, which gave new life to the bicycle and smoothed the way for the automobile tires, which were to follow in the early 90s. Alr Tube Made of Rubber. The veterinarian's first tire con- sisted of an air tube made of sheet rubber, around which was wrapped a canvas bag whose sides overlapped. The rim was made of a @troular piece of wood. On top of thls tire was fitted a strip of rubber, serving as & cover and taking the road wear. The whole thing was not comely or finished with mechanical accuracy, but it did the trick, cut down vibration and In- creased speed. The first detachable pneumatic was a “clincher,” patented {n 1890. There was a steel rim with slightly up- turned edges, an arch of canvas-lined rubber as a cover and an inner tube The two-: velocipede 1864 or 1865. th of rubber and canvas. Shortly after this a wired-on, double tube, detach- able was brought out, also held by pressure against the rim. This in turn was followed by single tubes and puncture treads. In 1892 a corrugated “clincher” tire was produced. Also a single tube diagonally wrapped thread type which reduced the weight and,gave more resiliency. Then for a short while a laced-up doubled-tubed tire gained popularity. Cuxhion Tires Incurs Doubt. These various types of cushion tires were cautiously recelved in the United States and it was not until about 1894 that they were really accepted. The improvement of the tire has been rapid since then, culminating in the present day distinct type of automo- bile tire, built up by constant experi- ment; improved by experience and reaching its highest development in the modern flexible cord tire, with bead construction looped into the fabric itself. Cords of this type give u long, uninterrupted mileage, with great riding comfort and perfect traction. A tire having the Integral bead construction has an extra thick, tough tread, and engages the road with ease and silence whether a cord tire or the newest of all—the balloon tire. CASH REWARDS OFFERED INHIT-AND-RUN CASES California Auto Club Takes Steps to Put Curb on Criminal Drivers. Hit-and-run drivers will have hard sledding in California as the resuit of an automoblle club {n that State which has announced a series of cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviotion of such mo. torists. The club has a standing offer of $250 for tell-tale Information in cases where death is oaused by a hit-and- run driver and $50 in es where there is injury but no death. Last year the club paid out $8560 in such rewsrds. The prosecutions that followed resulted in three drivers paying heavy fines, one recelving a Jall sentence and three being placed on probation. 5 TO FIND PISTON CENTERS. When flywheels were exposed it was a simple matter for the home mechanic to look for the marks on the fiywheel and tell when the of any one cylinder was at lower or upper dead center. But with fiy- wheels encased this is no longer pos- sible. Some other plan has to be adopted, and the one usually recom- mended Is actually easier. Remove the spark plug from the cylinder under consideration and in- sert a Stiff piece of wire. When the wire I8 at its lowest point the pis- ton is at lower dead center. The op- posite is true for the upper center. WHOLESALE RIMS FOR ALL WHEELS Rundlett Rim Co. 1336 14th St. N.W. Dopce BROTHERS SPECIAL TYPE -A SEDAN The Type-A Sedan has always ranked above its price class in distinction of line and appointment. This Special further advances that leadership beyond current standards. No special feature that could heighten the car’s beauty, , or enhance its com- fort and convenience has bsen overlooked by the builders. 51,330 Five Balloon Tire f. b. o. Detroit — $1,455 delivered SEMMES MOTOR COMPANY 8 DUPONT CIRCLE And 1707 14th St. N.W. 1924 AUTO JUNKING REVEALS DECREASE More Cars Scrapped, However, Than Were Manufactured 10 Years Ago. More cars were junked in 1924 than were produced by the entire American automobile Industry in 1914, according to Rudolph Jose, local Cadillac dealer. Within 10 vears, he says, the in- dustry reached a point where it can count on an annual replacement equaling the original production. Despite this enormous junking of cars, Mr. Jose points out that the 1924 records show that there is a strong tendency either to build longer- lasting cars or to take better care of them. “This,” he explains, “is fllustrated in the figures for 1924 and 1923. Last year 835,770 cars were junked, or at least were not worth while in 1923 the figure touched 1 387,998. 1In 1923 the junking of cars exceeded the entire production of the industry in 1918. This, however, rep- resents the extreme.’ says the diverting of a proportion of the annual domestic output of cars and trucks to foreign markets was considered, but no mccount was taken of the imports. These, he contends, would not materially affect the fig- ures given. “Viewed in the present light,” the dealer explains, “the past year re- flected the ablifty of the public to absorb cars at a still higher rate, de- spite all talk of the saturation point. More than 700,000 cars were glven the chance to live another year, thus representing an enormous check on new car sales. Yet 3,270,000 new cars were gold in America last year and registrations increased 2,634,230, “A return to normal comditions means that approximately a million cars will be needed in 1925 merely to replace those that have worn out. Production can exceed 1924 with a smaller actual increase in reglstra- tions.” 95 PEDESTRIANS KILLED IN YEAR IN BALTIMORE More Than Half Deaths Due to Passenger Cars—Many at Btreet Crossings. BALTIMORE, March 28.—Ninety- five pedestrians were killed by auto- mobiles last year In Baltimore, ac- cording to figures compiled by the Baltimore Safety Coumcil. Of the total number of fatalities, 34 occurred at street Intersectio Fatalities from vehlcular causes of all kinds numbered 124. More than half the deaths, the com- pilation shows, resulted from acoi- dents in which passenger cars were involved, while 37 deaths were at- tributed to trucks. Motor cycles caused only one death, in which case the rider was killed by falling off his _machine. HAVE YOU! TIRE REPAIRS Made by Experts The Rlable Tire Hoves SERVICE TIRE . 1336 14th St. N.W. AS DEALERS FOR THE CHANDLER OU are cordially invited to visit the new Chandler headquarters and inspect the new Chandler models. No other car incorporates so many recent features thatincrease the safety, comfort and pleasure of motoring. No other car offers the Traffic Transmission—which solves the gear shifting problem with its simple, certain, registering, | In arriving at his figures, Mr. Jose | 1925—PART 3 OIL IN GASOLINE. Amount Depends on Service Ex- pected of Car. The amount of oll to be put In with the gasoline when breaking in a ne: car depends upon service expected o the car during that period. If one in just driving it around town for the first 500 miles a pint of oil to five gallons of gas w'll ba sufficient to keep the pistons from binding, where- as a quar’ to five gallons will be & wafer proportion if the owner must do considerabls hill climbing, even thoigh he takes sach hill slowly in second gear. Care shonld be exercised to sea that you do not foul the plugs and cylin- ders unnecessarily. If the car has an easy job ahead and you think the pro- portlon of ofl is too great, then buy some more gas to lower the oll con- tent. INFLUENCE OF AUTO WILL BE DISCUSSED International Conference at Brus- sels Will Be Told How Motor | Has Helped America. The importance of the motor car as a transpottation unit wnd as an eco- nomio factor is the subject of & re- port being drafted by Roy D. Chapin to be considered at the third general meeting of the International Cham- ber of Commerce at Brussels, June 21 27. Thirty-nine countries will be to 27 represented at the meeting. In the opinion of the Ameri | areas and perfect Y tlon, the economic and social effects of the development of motor trans- portation in the U'nited have been of such importance resentation of the ar American situation would b, benefit to I delegat report will show the hmport nomic results of developmen motor transportation the States queh the production K nev ods of dl bution. Partic s will be vpon the use of motor transpor supplementing the exi: 1 and other t port The q highw ment covered port, i construction tlon of high ods of financir the Rules a traffio and taxation of motc also will he @ sed sropean of consump stion of 0 will be with particu of highw s and and maintalning regulations of vehicles The Same Car— * The Same Price— But Worth More 9 The intrinsic value is the same in two 0 automobiles of the same make and model. The price is the same. But the worth of the car depends heavily upon where you buy it. More than ever today the car owner needs the strong support of a respon- sible, permanently established dealer who has prepared himself to meet all the operating requirements of the car he sells. On the salesroom floor a car is only a car. In the hands of its owner it is an automotive transportation unit whose efficiency depends much upon the attitude and responsibility of the man o who sells it. REO Passenger Cars and Speed Wagons DISTRIBUTORS REO Busses and Taxicabs THE TREW MOTOR CO., Inc. 1509-1511 14th St. N.W. JOSEPH B. TREW, Pres. Open Evenings Until 9 P.M. Main 4173, 4174, 4175 DAVID S. HENDRICK 1012 14th St. N.W. clash-proof action. No other car offers the Pikes Peak Motor—famous Washington, D. C. the world over for master performance. Imperial 41595 - No other car combines these advanced units with genuine balloon tires as standard equipment and with the optional choice of four-wheel brakes at a slight extra charge. Present Chandler owners will find this new organiza- tion ready to render a service of the most unusual sort. Complete tool equipment, expert mechanics and broadly liberal policies are the basis of a car maintenance which, in promptness and general satisfaction, leaves nothing to be desired. “Touing. 1595 All prices f. 0. b. Cleveland . Bt $2195 " (The Trafic Transmission fs built complete in the Chandler plant under Campbell patents.) THE CHANDLER MOTOR CAR COMPANY CLEVELAND