Evening Star Newspaper, April 6, 1930, Page 61

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. were red in color. Now only the fife engines lead in that hue and, while all the shades of the spectrum are to be seen, it is of interest to find what color has the lead for 1930. Brown has gained leadership over all other automobile color families for the first time on rec- ord, and by a wide margin, states a recent issue of the Automobile Color Index. For more than two years dark, rich tones of brown have been the dominating fash- fon colors in the dress industries of America and France. Public recognition of the appeal of brown for the present is asserting itself in the automotive industry at the expense of blue. Blue at Low Ebb. Blue is at its lowest ebb in 17 months and reflects the declining vogue of this hue in centers of style leadership. Green is still following the sharp upward trend commenced last November. Brown and green will undoubtedly be the colors of outstanding importance in the automotive world this Spring. Paris has been advocating dark, rich bluish hues of green for many months. The index has shown green very decidedly on the up grade since last May. Maroon has long been a popular automobile color with the general public, but has been unfavorably regarded by manufacturers in the medium and low price car fields, because of the prite penalty the use of maroon formerly imposed. Recently non-breeding, durable maroons have been made avail- able for use without requiring a ground coat to assure satisfactory results. This reduction in the pen- alty has encouraged more manu- facturers to release maroons for production and ‘the public has been swift to welcome the advent of this rich color family. Maroons are extremely popular for use with rich medium browns. Gray Demand Small. ‘There is little demand for gray at this time. The gray color family has lost more ground in a year than any of the five other trends. Refinement and style emphasis in color treatment are the out- standing attributes of the ma- jority of 1930 automobile models. ‘The people of America have be- come decidedly color conscious. Today in our homes and our places of business there are nu- merous evidences of this fact. How- ever, it is only in comparatively recent years that this color con- sciousness has taken on the pro- portions of an insistent demand— a demand which has gone be- yond the confines of art as such and has invaded business and in- dustry, as a result of which the work-a-day world and our homes are today literally drenched in color. But with all this clamor for color and more color has come a growing demand for chromatic hues and shades that fit in well with today’s conception of fitness and harmony—a demand which gets away from both the glaring and the drab colors that shock the sensibilities and denote gloom, ANY, many long years ago M the “horseless carriages” bright, cheerful colors and har- mony in the decorative scheme of the numerous appurtenances, buildings, and so on, to which color is applied. Trend of Today. So today the trend is decidedly toward the lighter, more bril- liant hues in more artistic and harmonious combinations, and especially is this true in the deco- rative motifs of the new automo- bile bodies. Nowhere has this new conception of color been more clearly demonstrated than at the automobile shows in Paris, Lon- don, New York and Chicago. In the cars exhibited at these out- standing motor shows the lighter, more brilliant hues predominated. And, while there were representa- tive types of cars in blacks, whites |and sedate colors for conserva- |tive tastes at these shows, these | were conspicuously in the minor- |ity, a situation which further em- phasized the fact that there is a definite trend toward a more re- ceptive attitude of the things | which make life agreeable. This trend, assuredly a step up on the ladder of culture, is due |to the fact that, as a peoPle. we of America are emerging from a drab age, during which we were concerned chiefly with industrial, commercial and agricultural prob- lems, into an era of greater pros- perity and leisure which makes it possible for us to develop an in- telligent interest in beauty and to overcome our national inertia with respect to the fine and allied arts. The people of the United States are therefore gradually, though surely, beginning to adjust their business, industrial and agri- cultural problems in such a way that they have more time to study their esthetic as well as their ac- tual needs in life. This has awakened in them a renewed in- terest in the artistic decoration of many of the necessary things in life today. No better example of this can be cited than the pres- ent day demand for colorful auto- mobiles. Three Forces at Work. There are three forces at work toward the end that we may have more time to enjoy life and to de- veloi: a taste for beautiful things— wealth, labor-saving devices and rapid transportation, in all of which color plays a tremendous part. It is a matter of record that a nation does not become color con- | scious until a large proportion of its people have leisure to take ad- vantage of the innumerable op- portunities at hand for widening the cultural horizon. We have access to fine libraries, art museums, moving picture pal- aces, shops where experts are em- ployed to display attractive mer- chandise artistically, radios, cars to transport us into the country, where we may enjoy the beauties of nature, and many olher ad- vantages. Moreover, the spirit of youth dominates this new age—and when was youth not colorful? We are discarding the home- spun drabness and slow motion of our forefathers for the scintil- lating brilliancy and rapid vibra- tions of the moderns. In other words, we are being our and emphasizes the need of age. Vermont Hits Back-Seat Driver With Law Prescribing Rights Now comes legislation directed at the back-seat driver. Charles C. Collins, attorney for the American Automobile Association, is authority for the statement that such @ law has been added to the long list of diversified regulations now in ex- istence. ' He names Vermont as the State that 5 certain to win fame for its effort to silence those who attempt to be combi- nation passengers and chauffeurs. “The back-seat driver belongs in the category of national pests,” said the A A. A attorney, “and has been made the butt of numerous jokes and car- toons. Some have gone so far as to suggest a national convention of back- who has not been scared out of his wits at some time by the unexpected shouts and warnings from the back seat, which should be a rendezvous of silence in heavy traffic. “The professional back-seat driver, if there is such, usually begins to prac- tice the art as soon as the car enters an area of heavy traffic and the atten- tion of the operator is fully occupied.” In support of his statement Mr. Col- lins quoted from the Vermont law as mnoAWS: hall not ttem] “A person shall not cperate, attempt to operate, or participate in the steer- ing or operation of a motor vehicle, ex- cept in an emergency, unless seated di- seat drivers. ‘“‘Anyway, there is hardly a motorist rectly behind the steering wheel of such vehicle.” B Motorists Often Must Adopt Old Maxim, ‘Longest Way 'Round ‘Where highway programs have not been completed American motorists ac- cept as fact the old maxim, “The long- est way ‘round is the shortest way home.” ‘They are hardened to the habit of State roads deliberately ducking away from a_direct route to carry the unin- terested motorist through villages which have even less interest in him. ‘This habit grew out of the mistaken belief that Main street would prosper and flourish if the State road could be detourned to pass between its row of stores. Practice has shown that Main street needs only a direct connection with the State road. Motorists then have easy access to its benefits and services if they have need of them. And, if the steady stream of cross-country motor traffic is kept off of Main street. con- gestion, confusion and time loss will be eliminated. With the great increase in long-distance trucking, this item alone constitutes a nuisance to the trucks and a hazard to the town which 3‘1:5 mum}“u;‘n it be put directly on e trunk way. ‘To the motorist, these detours are expensive. For example, Illinois State Highway is the shortest route between St. Louis and Chicago. Traffic over it is constant and heavy. Yet every sin- gle vehicle must make a 10-mile detour ‘when No. 4 gets in the general vicinity AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS Lee D. Butler has taken over the ‘dis- tributorship of '&heths‘““mnuy T re:fi:d Erskine cars, an e agel - some months ago by Joseph B. cReynolds will be known under the ‘The sal -, Butler comes to Washington after lev‘grn years of Studebaker distributing at Princeton, N. J. He is a graduate of Princeton and saw meritorious service overseas for the ?&vemment both in ‘war and in peace es. Parking facilities are pointed out by Mr. Butler at the new quarters, Shortest Way Homé' of Carlinville. Considerably more than a thousand motor cars pass that way every day. That means 10,000 extra in the course of a ‘yn.r At an average of 15 miles to the gal- lon of ‘”. this detour consumes an- nually about 200,000 gallons. In other words, this example of the long way ‘round costs motorists nearly $40,000 a year in gasoline alone, discounting all other operating costs. The straightening of trunk lines ob- viously is an economy measure—pro- viding, of course, the pavement is smooth, hard and long-lived. —Other-~ wise, maintenance costs will eliminate the investment value of the pavement and increase motor operating costs. In many instances the systematic “cleaning up” of highway systems can result in the elimination of railway grade crossings, either by relocation of roads or by the construction of grade separations. The hazard of the Q!ude crossing is one of th:n‘rum the. gmwr a ".he“' e;le:‘t disappearance one o mutual hopes of highway and rallway engineers. UL TE S LIRS FIGHT CAR THEFTS German Service Stations Are Being' Organized. (#). — Service stations throughout Germany have been - ized into a network of anti-theft hur- PENALTY IS IMPOSED: Eighteen States Forbid Damage to Official Boad Signs. mg!lf‘huen u%um nnwwhlva llg m- a misdemeanor willful - age official road , and . with trafic steadily increasing there is a tendency to inflict severe punishment on Ed Neumeyer, president of'the Neu- Co., Inc, Marmon dis- Eietors, announces the appointment of ces of Phil J. K. Relly to his sales department. who interfere with these utilitles travel, according vel, the research partment of the American Association.. miles per day and better than 3,000,000 | to THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, APRIL 6, 1930—PART FOUR. THE END OF THE INTER-CITY TOUR --- AS YOU REMEMBER IT---- MOTORISTS EAGER FOR RUSTLESS AGE Alloy Metals Expected to Make Paint, Enamel and Lacquer Unnecessary. Special Dispatch to The Btar. DETROIT, Mich, April 5—The rustless age, which has been predicted as the result of the use of stainless steel in motor cars, may bring with it auto- mobiles on which neither paint, enamel nor lacquer will be used. The possibility was envisioned in a per read before the recent meeting ere of the American Society for Test- ing Materials. A research expert pointed out that it was not out of the way to expect that alloy metals may be produced that will allow the manufacture of automobile bodles requiring no finish other than burnishing. From this it is evident that the experimenters are on the track of methods to give sheet metals contrast value in brilliancy to replace the rain- bow colorings for which lacquer finishes now are used. Color Life Question. Blue for steel and gray for iron are familiar terms and the scientists are certain to seize the opportunity of see- ing what they can do to give metals more color life. If metallurgy can pro- duce two-tone or three-tone contrasts that can approach present lacquer hues in pleasing appearance, it will be re- garded as a step forward. It will mean that lacquering and enameling of bodies and fenders can be dispensed with. The cost of an ex- pensive process which has to be safe- guarded from fire while it is being done, may be eliminated. The time of manu- facturing a car can be cut down. All this, possibly, can be subtracted from the cost of the finished model, with the result that savings can be made and passed along to car buyers. The logical development for such a trend would be in the present class of sport cars. In these the lighter-hued lacquers now are combined with bright work in nickel and aluminum shades. For some types that are custom-built and therefore cost more than stock models, we have entire bodies finished in the hue of aluminum, to which con- trast is given by plating radiators, bumpers, hub caps and other parts with either chromium or nickel. This alumi- num is paint, not metal. Body Building Changed. Plating metal all the way through, as now done in stainless and non-corrosive steeis already in use, eventually may prove to be an even more important eco- nomic advance in car manufacture than the introduction of the nitro-cellulose body finishes. These finishes of various kinds composing the “lacquer family” revolutionized body building. Their quick-drying qualities cut down the time in which a body could be color-finished one day. Prior to that it took four to nine days and 22 different operations, as c to 19 now. This improvement began in 1923. The process cost more than the former painting method, but the saving in time more than compensated for this. The advent of lacquers also brought hard-surfaced finishes that withstood weather without streaking or fading. Likewise, they were impervious to injury, with the exception of alcohol drip from radiators in Winter. By similar progression, chromium, which is the chief component of the al- loy resulting in stainless steel, virtually has ousted nicked plating from the mod- ern car. This began tc mpfin three years ago. Engineers admit that chro- mium plate has advantages over nickel, although, like the lacquer, it costs more. Its chief superiorities are harder and better wearing surface than nickel, to- gether with mirror-like brilliancy that makes it more decorative. (Copyright, 1930, North American Newspaper STANDARD TRAFFIC LAWS WILL BE URGED Conference Called by Secretary Lamont Will Meet Here in May. By the Associated Press. Secretary of mont to meet here in May. density in automobile reg: istration and travel in the country is wawmnmm“unzzmwoxsuu MILADY’S MOTORING BY FREDERICE The wise woman will r:member that while she may have the right of way, the other driver may have a truck. I note that as warmer weather comee on soms: women feel they do not need to use the choke so much in starting This accounts for some of the unneces- sary sluggishness of engines at this season. ‘the chances are the service man has leaned out the carburetor mix- ture a little, so that starting calls for the same amount of choking as in Winter. An investigation reveals the fact that women frequently fail to lock the car simply because they do not have a con- venient pocket in which to carry the key. If just making an informal call they may not even carry a purse. Some of these days perhaps an enterprising manufacturer will offer an ornamental key that can be carried as the charm at the end of a necklace. Meanwhile one of the Detroit motor kings furnishes a neat leather identifi- cation tag for the ignition key bearing the “swanky name of the particular make. Pride encourages milady to carry the key along and dangle the tag before envious eyes. A reader has asked what to do so as to avold bumping the curb when making a right-hand turn into a narrow inter- secting street. The solution, of course, is to keep nearer the center of the street one is traveling on so that when the front wheels are cut for the turn the right rear wheel will be farther from the curb. Delaying the cutting of the front wheels as long as possible also will help to make a graceful turn. ‘Women who use gasoline for cle: purposes should be especially careful not to use any drained from the car, since the machine is quite apt to be operating on fuel containing tetraethyl lead. While extremely useful in stop- ping carbon knocks in an engine, lead is an enemy of the human system. Now that steering wheels have fewer spokes—three in some cases—cautious women will remember to have a tighter grasp on the wheel at all times. There is less opportunity to catch a spoke if the wheel moves of its own accord or if it is necessary to make a sudden change in the car’s course. Women who look over the mew cars critically need not be alarmed to see more models with carpet in the front compartment nor be puzzled over the fact that some of the high-grade makes are users of such covering. Automobile carpets have undergone a vast change as a result of a new process involving the use of rubber. floor fabrics is composed of a strong fabric backing on which is deposited a thin layer of vulcanized rubber. A deep ravelless and scuffiess pile is placed on top of the rubber as the finishing touch. Not only is the new type carpet soft and luxurious in feel but stronger and better fitting. The rubber-layer offeis insulation against heat and cold. While the clutch always should be operated with reasonable gentleness, re is some inclination at present to o . Let the pedal up more quickly when on a hill or if the car is well loaded. ‘ The front wheels of an automobile actually are as bowlegged as they look, although since balloon tires have come into popularity there has been some modification of this effect. Front wheels are adjusted for “toe-in,” “camber” and “caster,” and since these points will need occasional checking up by your service man it is well to have a general idea of what the terms stand for. Unlike the rear wheels, which run straight ahead, the front onss toe-in a little. In addition, the wheels are mounted in such a way that they pitch. This latter effect is known as the “camber.” Finally, by giving the axle a tilt the wheels also obtain a “caster” effect very much like the casters under heavy furniture. If any these mat- ters are not just right for the car, tires may wear excessively, steering MOTOR DON'TS DON'T OVERLOOK WVHEEL ALIGNMENT ! WHEELS RUNNING OUT OF TRUE CAUSE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, BODY SQUEAKS, _HARD STEERING,AND OFTEN| FRONT-WHEEL SHIMMY. So ‘CHECK UP ON.THEM ! One of the new| . RUSSELL. may be hard and the front wheels may break into a shimmy. The “toe-in” is easlly adjusted by having a service man change the set- ting of the tie rod. ‘“Camber” changes with wear on the king pins, so that replacement of the latter usually re- stores original conditions. “Caster” doss not usually change unless the car has been in an accident. I have gone into some detail about this because these matters have so much to do with steering comfort and safety It is not generally appreciated, even by men who have driven cars for years, that too little or too much toe-in will increase the risk of skidding. “Has anything been invented for the automobile by women?” asks a student engaged in compiling a history of femi- nine accomplishments. Just of I could think of her discovery of at least a thousand and one uses for it. (Copyright, 1930, by the Russell Service.) Australia Uses U. S. Cars. American-made automobiles account for 83 per cent of passenger cars and 3:- ];):r cent of trucks registered in Aus- -——By FRANK BECK 130 DEAF AUTOISTS LISTED IN ONE STATE North Carolina Has Record of Serv- | ice Withowt Mishap for Period of Two Years. Motorists in possession of all of their faculties for sight, hearing and speech should find a safety challenge in the fact that 130 drivers in North Carolina are deaf and have driven for two years without an accident, according to the safety department of the American Automobile Association. The A. A. A. statement is based on a report from the North Carolina Bureau for the Deaf, which made a survey of the drivers in the State who have suf- fered the loss of their hearing. “While it is a known le of compensation that the loss of one sense sharpens those remaining,” says the statement, “the North Carolina record offers a challenge to normal drivers.” Hugh G. Miller, in charge of the North Carolina bureau, explains that the 130 deaf drivers have averted acci- dents by careful use of their sight. ‘Thirty years ago oil .ompanies poured gasoline into the ground. They would now but for the motor car. 3 iCOMPLEMENTARY PARTS OF CAR ARE VITAL TO LIFE OF MACHINE Springs, Frame, Universals and Differ- B ential Play Important Roles Though Seldom Seen. BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW, Automobile Technical Adviser. ‘There are many parts of an automo- bile which are given very little or no consideration by most car owners. Some of these are very important, but be- | couse they are in inconspicuous places lney fail to attract any attention, or it may be that it is because they sel- dom il" the car owner any trouble that knowledge of their existence is not readily acquired. It is well, how- ever, that the automobile owner should at least know of the existence and func- tion of such parts, if perchance for one not come to his attention. bled in the factory the first thing done is to put together a rectangular frame consisting of two long steel beams, which are braced with cross pieces, so as to give rigidity and strength. This frame becomes a foundation on which the automobile is constructed and while not often noticed by the car owner, is, as one will readily observe, a basic fac- tor in the construction of an automo- bile. This frame must be very strong, for it has to resist the distorting road strains to which it is sure to be sub- Jected. Under the body of the automobile and situated about in the middle of the frame are the drive shaft and uni- versals. These are here to relay power from the transmission to the rear axle. The universal joints are flexible coup- lings. They are made flexible so as to permit the angle of the drive shaft to change as the springs which support the frame on the axles absorb whatever unevenness may be found on the high- ‘way over which the car may be driven. Joined to the drive shaft, toward the rear of the frame, is the differential. ‘The purpose of this factor, which is not often seen by the car owner, is to allow the inside rear wheel to revolve more slowly than the outside rear wheel when the automobile is being driven around a curve. ‘The frame of the automobile is sup- ported by steel springs. If it were not for the introduction of these springs the riding comfort of the automobile would be greatly reduced. By using springs the road shocks are reduced to & minimum and the best possible riding comfort is obtained. Usually there are four of these springs, two of them being anchored to the front of the frame and the other two to the rear. The springs of an automobile consist |of a number of layers of steel leaves held together with clips. When an au- | tomobile is being driven over a rough |road’ the springs flex like an archer's |bow. The shock which would obtain but for these springs is now absorbed by the sliding upon each other of the steel leaves. It has been explained that the auto- mobile spring is like the sole of a shoe. | This sole consists of a couple of layers | !of leather, which flex back and forth when the person walks. If these layers of leather chafe against each other, the shoes are likely to squeak. Most eople do not like squeaky shoes—they will probably take them to a shoemaker shop to have the squeak removed. In such a case the workman will probably punch a hole halfway through the sole 2nd insert a few drops of oil, after which the owner of the shoes will be no longer inconvenienced or annoyed by the squeaking. Automobile springs are sometimes known to squeak and (for a similar reason, namely, that | the spring leaves are chafing against | | each ~other. {will remedy such a squeak. It will do even more—it will keep the springs - in popul There really never has been anything quite like the success of the Chrysler-built De Soto Six. It rushed into sudden popularity the moment the motoring public laid eyes on it —and went on to set up a new first-year sales record for reason or another their .presence has | | When an automobile is being assem- | The application of oil /cars “must be in better shape to carry out their funce Ho_lri; as s"l:ockb:lbsorbeu. e automobile owner should see to it that his springs are kept sufficiently olled to give the best possible riding comfort and to insure the least pos- sibility of the springs breaking. When the automobile strikes a bump in the road the springs are straightened out and thus for a brief instant become longer. For this reason springs are at- tached to the automobile chassis with spring shackles, which operate on the | principle of a door hinge, and permit the | springs to become shorter or longer | when™ the car is being driven. The springs are attached to the shackles or hinges with shackle boits or hinge pins. | Due to the fact that springs become shorter or longer, depending upon the unevenness of the highway, it is neces- sary that the spring hinges and spring pins be kept well lubricated, to insure the necessary spring motion. Cup grease is a good lubricant to use in this con- nection because it is non-fluid and will, therefore remain longer n the shackles. These may be lubricated every 500 miles. The axles, which are other little known f.ctors of an automobile, are bolted to these springs by means of steel clamps. There are two of them, one in front and one at the rear. The former supports the front end of the car above the F:)BY. | wheels, the other supports the rear-end | of the car and relays the power through | the differential to the rear or driving wheels. Mr. Brokaw will be glad to write on any subject pertaining to the automo- bile that a reader may request. MOTORISTS TO BLAZE ALASKAN HIGHWAY Caravan Will Leave Vancouver in June on 1,000-Mile Auto Trip. By the Associated Press. VICTORIA, Canada.—To demon- strate the feasibility of the proposed highway from Seattle to Fairbanks, Alaska, through British Columbia and the Yukon territory, a motor caravan will leave Vancouver June 13 for Hazel- ton, British Columbia, 1,000 miles north, | over the route of the planned road. | Invitations to newspaper men of the | United States, especially the West Coast, and of Canada have been extended by Premier S. F. Tolmie of British Colum- bia to accompany the 28 Americans and 12 Canadians who will make up the premier’s party. A regular schedule of travel will be | followed so that the motorists will reach Hazelton June 21, the longest day of the year, when the sun, in that | latitude, will be visible for 20 hours | between sunrise and sunset. Hazelton is the farthest point north in Canada | which can be reached by highway. i Ad e e | Racers Must Be Clean. INDIANAPOLSS (). —Battered, worn, dirty race cars are a thing of the past on :&eedways and dirt tracks governed by the tion American Automobile Associa- n. A new ruling provides that speed in good mechanical con- | dition, brightly painted and neatly nume | bered ‘and letiered.” ‘B4 AND UP, F. 0.B. FACTORY the industry. That success grew and grew and today con- tinues without lag or let-up. All this is simply a matter of cause and effect. The De Soto Six is a huge success in sales becanse it is a huge success in engineering and manufac- turing—a six that definitely offers the owner more for his money in all those qualities that make for enjoyment, pride of possession ad greater value. By no means consider buying any Six without taking a ride in a De Soto Six. orTo -~ SIX., \) WITH v THESE FEATURES .Chrysler-designed, high-compression engine, using any grade gasoline. Iso-therm ventilated bridgetype pis- tons, with pisten rings of tongue and groove construction. Internal-expanding four-wheel hydrau- lic brakes with squeakless, moulded brake lining. Full-pressure lubrication —rubber in- sulation of engine — counterweighted erankshaft—camshaft driven by silent Companion Car Te The Weorld’s Lowest-Priced Eight DISTRICT MOTOR COMPANY (INCORPORATED) 1337 14th St. N.W. Potomac 2% 1000 GARNER MOTOR CO. Leonardtown, Md. RONEY MOTOR CO. Frederick, Md. NOW ONE OF THE L. W. WHITE Norbeck, Md. LOWEST-PRICED CARS IN chain—semi-automatic four hydraulic shock filter—air cleaner. CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUCT k control— rbers—foel 741 .~ - NATIONAL AUTO SALES CO. 0. R. Blanton, Prop. :33 New York Ave. N.E. Metropolitan 9225 W. E. MONCURE Quantico, Va. PLYMOUTH SOLD BY DE SOTO D EALEKRS EVERYWHERE MORELAND MOTOR CO. Wakn?, M4 THE WORLD